Shake Shake Shake, Shake Shake Shake, Shake Your Bottle

About a week ago we got our own Soda Shaker. After about four tries and watching the instructional video, it worked. Yea! Now we can make our own pop. Our problem was our pop tasted like vinegar. But now it doesn't. Its all in the technique

Chicks and Chocolate, A.K.A. Hen Party

Tuesday, jenthemom, Beautyshop momma and I visited A day in the life of a blonde. We went to her house for a last hurrah before her baby came. There was brownies and no bake cheesecake for the two prego ladies and Veggies and crackers for the two who were not. Actually it didn't work out that way. I have no will power. I think I could almost eat anything in front of me, its some sort of oral thing. My solution is not to be around it, but I have to eat sometime.

Now back to my story...

We went there to pamper the blonde and ourselves. Pedis, manis, and waxing were on the menu, but we were laughing so hard we forgot (plus there was food). Its probably a good thing too because who can paint a decent toenail when your doubled over and imagine trying to wax. Waxing is serious business; not for the lighthearted. So what if things didn't go as planned.

I think the blonde secretly wished all of the laughing would induce labour. Nothing! I feel bad for her she seems so uncomfortable. I do hope it comes a week or two early. The babe should stay in there just long enough for the lungs to finish developing and then out it should come. Unfortunately for me it didn't happen that way for me. Both my kids were a week + overdue. I honestly hope that doesn't happen to the blonde. However I have a bit of a confession to make. Most of the time I secretly wish pregnant ladies to go over one week. I don't want anything bad to happen, just that the gestate a little longer. I know I'm a sicko, but misery love company, or I just want to be more normal. Just to make it clear, I don't want the blonde to go over. She is miserable enough already.

So here is to a bunch of women getting together, talking about sex, and eating chocolate. Oh look my husband is shaking his head over there in the corner. I bet he wishes he had mental "earplugs". Oh honey you know I would never ever talk about us;)

I Want To Ride My Bicycle, I Want to Ride My Bike.

One Week Ago

E: "Can I have a bike mom?"
Me:"Not right now."
E: "Can I have one for my birthday?"
Me: "Yes possibly."
E: "When is my birthday?"
Me: "Not until August. It is a long time."

E: "Dad can I have a bike for my birthday?"
Dad:" Yes but that is a long time away."
E:"OoooKaaaay."

Six Days ago

E: "Can I have a bike mom?"
Me:"Not right now."
E: "Can I have one for my birthday?"
Me: "Yes possibly."
E: "When is my birthday?"
Me: "Not until August. It is a long time."

E: "Dad can I have a bike for my birthday?"
Dad:" Yes but that is a long time away."
E:"OoooKaaaay."

Five days ago

E: "Can I have a bike mom?"
Me:"Not right now."
E: "Can I have one for my birthday?"
Me: "Yes possibly."
E: "When is my birthday?"
Me: "Not until August. It is a long time."

E: "Dad can I have a bike for my birthday?"
Dad:" Yes but that is a long time away."
E:"OoooKaaaay."

Four days ago

E: "Can I have a bike?"
E: "Pleeease can I have a bike? I want to ride like D."

Dad "Maybe we should look in the bargain finder"

Dad finds a bike pays for it only to find out its not the size that was advertised. Its too big. Not to worry, we can put training wheels on. So we go purchase some training wheels. Can't get them on because the frame is bent. Crap we are out $45.

Fast forward to today

We return the training wheels and buy a new bike with training wheels already attached. Then we buy a helmet and a bell.

E:" Dad can I pleeeeaaase ride my new bike? Can I please ride it now?"
Dad: "Not until after lunch."
E: " I don't want lunch I wan to ride my bike."
Dad"We could take it back."
E: "NOOOOOOO"

We ate lunch
After lunch it was time to pick up D. I tell him he can ride his bike to the school. On the way there he started singing

"E____'s got a yellow bike.
E____'s got a yellow bike.
He is riding it to school.
He is riding it to school."

I must say his maiden voyage was far better that D's was and I think I've taught him that if he is persistent enough, he can wear me down to getting what he wants. Now what am I going to do with this other bike?

In Heaven There Will Be No Phones

For those of you who hadn't heard about my previous phone bill problems check here. Well guess what we have been sold again. This time my cell phone bundle with home phone has been separated like twins from birth. Yes This time they billed us wrong. I fell a little bad for the customer service guy who called me this to time see if I was happy with my service (he is probably thinking open can worms everywhere). He managed to calm me down but really is it that hard to get a bill right? The thing that gets me is right after we went line by line and discovered yes I do need a credit he asked me if I wanted to make automatic preauthourized payments. Are you kidding? Why does that always happen? Why do they offer me something that would cause me more frustration in moments like this. How much longer would it take to get my money back? All I have left to say is that whe I die there had better be ESP or something instead of phones.

The Heat Is On

I am not much of a sports freak but just so you know...
Calgary won their first playoff game.

Lets Go Flames, Lets Go! Woo Woo.

Come On Baby Light My Fire. Try To Set The World On, FIRE!

I started writing this as a comment to Fourth Fret's Pyro post but I had so much more to say.

I am a pyro too. My mother threatened to burn me herself if I ever had an unsupervised open flame. The best was when I wanted a night light, but didn't have one, so I used a candle, but instead of a pillar or votive they were birthday candles and instead of being in a cake they were tied to my wooden bunkbed. I was 4 or 5 and my dad was supposed to watching us. Just as I lit the match, my mom pulled into the drive way. I got scared and dropped the match on my mattress. Somehow we managed to get through it without burning down the house or bed, just a black quarter size spot on the mattress and a burned thumb. Obviously the consequences were not big enough because this spawned many similar instances over many years. Maybe that is why my mother finally threatened me. Ok it is the reason why my mother threatened me.

The funny thing is I am afraid of fire.

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin' Easter Weekend

I don't usually like wasting food. In fact I blame most of my weight problem on this very fact. I don't know when I go to be this way. I remember as a kid never finishing my meal and not caring much about it. My father hated wasted food, still does. Maybe the constant nagging to finish my dinner, when I was young, got stuck in my head and has made me the human garbage disposal I am to day. That being said, I do have certain criteria under which I find it acceptable to waste food. One of those being Easter.

Growing up my family coloured eggs like everyone else. My mom used the vinegar, food colouring and boiling water method. My husbands family bought kits. I've learned to accept that neither way is better than the other. After colouring the oldfashioned way we tie dyed our eggs. How you ask? Get the kit I say.

Anyway now back to my wasting food. It has been a tradition in my family to hike up the closest hill and "roll" our eggs down them. I don't know why we do this or if there is some symbolism in the act but guarenteed you will find us on a hill somewhere launching eggs. It takes some practice to learn the technique that will enable your egg to not break (my egg is still whole). We have contests to see who's can roll the farthest and who's can remain whole the longest. My kids and their cousins had fun, and my dad ate his broken egg.

Sunday morning was a different kind of day. We like to keep our bunnies and our savior separate. My kids did get their basket that morning just barely, because I forgot. In stead of focusing on the bunny we had our kids watch the DVD "Faith In Christ". Thankfully there isn't too much graphic depiction of the torture of Jesus, but I should have know my sensitive 6 year old would start crying. He comes by it honestly. I tried to get him to focus on the resurrected Christ but he was so sad that people could be so mean. We talked about it for a while and by the end of the day he was ok I think.

Monday was back to school and we met up with my uncle later. We had a basketball game at the mini hoops , so the kids could play and my husband could slam. Then we had pie. I like pie. My favorite part is the crust. I guess I could blame my weight problem on that too but I don't have pie too often.

I Can't Believe It.

I can't believe it I am in awe. I never thought that would happen. I bet he feels really stupid.

Happy Marriage 101

One of the secrets to our happy marriage is Date Night. Frequency may depend on the available cash but you should always make time for Date Night. Date Night should be sacred.

Some Less Expensive Ideas:

Renting a movie and wait till the kids are in bed.

Go for a walk (your heart will thank you)

Go for a dessert or hot chocolate

Sit in a book store and look at books

If you have a gym membership, workout together.

Visit a show home (safe for us because we don't have a down payment)

Have a picnic.

Play some cards


Here are some restaurants in the Calgary area we have liked:

The Keg- I had been craving steak for six months. It was about time.

Basils- You need a reservation and its packed but good food



As you can see we don't eat out much or we don't like many restaurants. I think its a combination of both. What are some of the things you like to do or places you like to go to?

The Signs of Spring

The weather has been warm here. My tulips have broken through their prison of soil. Rain has begun to fall. Girls have pulled out their sandals. Toenails have been painted. And yes, oh yes, today I killed the first mosquito of spring.

Link Heavy

Go David

Band/starwars Geeks

Know When To Hold 'Em

My husband and I have been enjoying watching celebrity poker on Saturday. So much so that we went to the local dollar store and purchased a set of cards and poker chips ($2 at your local dollarama). Before I get any gambling lectures, we are not playing for money. Well we discovered that Texas hold 'em is more fun with more than two people. Also we lack the smack talk that you would get with more than just us. I have also learned that I don't know when to fold 'em.
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My oldest rode his bike to school today (training wheels and all). This is a big deal. We bought the bike almost two years ago for his birthday. He rode it the first day and fell. Then he was too scared to ride it for the rest of the year. Last year he rode it twice; once at Grandma's, where the streets are even, and once in our neighbourhood. He fell in our neighbourhood and didn't ride it again until today. He did really well on the way to school not so much on the way back. He fell four times. He told me when he got home he wasn't going to ride it tomorrow. I say yes he is. Tomorrow he will ride his bike and he will get better, but tonight I will hold 'em
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My youngest just tried to leave the house in the funniest normal clothing outfit I have ever seen. He was wearing a t-shirt and shorts two different socks and swimming shoes. One sock was pulled up to his knee and was black and red with a flaming "C". The other sock was short and white. When confronted on his artistic choice of foot wear he said "Dad I like Mrs. Match socks." Tonight I will fold 'em some sock and yes I'll probably hold 'em too.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Blah blah blah

Last night, as we were getting ready for scripture study the following conversation took place.

Me: "I should do my financial home work tonight."

Husband: "What do you need to do?"

Me: "I need to finish Rich Dad, Poor Dad. I'm having trouble..."

My oldest: "Mom don't you mean Kingmen, Freemen?"

This may seem like an inside joke. That's because it is. Sorry. But of all the things to pull out of the Book of Mormon, the Kingmen and the Freemen. Too funny D.

Goodall, Jane Goodall

Right now I feel a little like the Jane Goodall of Sea Monkeys. For all of your sea monkey mating question look here.

Freaky Friday

Today has been really random and I have a few things that I want to post about but none go together so here is the generic version of Random Friday.

1. Do sea monkeys mate? Because if they do then wow. I have two that have been attached to one another for two days now. Not only do I find them creepy but now I'm a little jealous.

2. For those of you who don't have a T.V. (jenthemom) or live somewhere other than Canada (almost everyone else), There is this Scotia Bank commercial that has a slogan "You are richer than you think" they show people doing a happy dance after meeting their banker. Well my husband and I just found out our net worth. Lets just say No happy dance for us. The slogan for our bank should be "you are as poor as you thought you were Hahahahahha".

3. I didn't weekly weigh in this week because I am ashamed. Last weekend Mr. Wonderland and I went out for our anniversary, with our children, and pigged out. Sunday a lady made us a cake for our anniversary. We were to share with the marrieds class, but we were the only ones who showed up , so we ate the whole cake, over a couple of days but still. Then when I went to weigh myself today I found out the scale has been out and I actually weigh significantly more. I only thought I gained a bit. But wow. So now I don't know what to believe. I do actually know what to believe but I don't want too.

4. Mr Wonderland and I are officially no-longer "Young Marrieds". It was a bit of a rude awakening. I still have young kids, but I guess my crows feet have been shining through the spackle I call make up. Note to self get better make up. Anyway. We have been taking this marriage and family relations class at church. Every time the class is set up they have a couple who has been through more are a little older and can share their wisdom when there is discussion. Well the first day we went around the room and everyone introduced themselves and said how long they have been married. The average marriage length for this class is 3.1 years. Lets just say that its us who brings up the average. We have 2 couples who have been married under a year, one ~ 2 weeks. Ahh to only have wisdom to share. I do however remember our first fight. It was over a sandwich. I laugh about it now.

5. I just fed my 4 year old some pudding for lunch. I'm such a good mom. This should make up for the fact that I took their game boys away, for fighting, and hid them and can't remember where they are. Its been 2 weeks. I'd better go and try to find some fruit.

Have a great Freaky or Random Friday.

Alyson OUT!

And The Oscar Goes To...

For his inspiring interpretation of a Ninja , Clockstopper, Jedi, Wizard Superhero name Cody Banks. Lately my youngest has taken on every character in just about every movie he has ever seen and rolled it in to one. The only problem is my son does not break character. He constantly battling demon bad guys even during church. It was all I could do to get him to fold his arms during a prayer and even then there was some awesome high kicks to ward off any ankle biting evil beings. The thing is he wasn't being noisy. He was "shadow boxing" or "shadow hand to air combat". Regardless of what one might call it, almost all appendages were involved. That my friends is just a distracting as a child wailing as if they were having their arm cut off by a lefty pair of scissors. I did eventually take him out after trying to redirect attention and threatening punishment.

I love that he has such a vivid imagination and I don't want to crush it. It has to take a great imagination to remain in character for days on end, but not everyone wants to live in a movie. I must say that it is hard to find a balance on teaching appropriate behavior and fostering a good imagination. So far so good.

Anniversary, Schmanniversary

Is it lame to take your children along on your anniversary date with you? I mean if you child was a couple weeks or even months I wouldn't think so, but in my case they are neither. I have tried to get a babysitter for a week now and we are on our third one. I almost don't want to call because I'm afraid that the notice is too short. We already didn't get to celebrate on the original day but tonight looks like it won't happen either. So I'm putting it out to the internet. Is it lame to take your children with you?

I had envisioned for tonight a quiet escape for dessert and conversation. Nothing lavish. We have to cut back because Tim gave notice at work. If we bring the kids, there goes the quiet. Oh well I guess you do what you have to do.

:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Edited: Turns out babysitter #3 cannot do it either. Guess we are takin' the kids. YAY THEM. At least I don't have to run around like a chicken with my head cut of tidying up. YAY ME

Divine Secrets

Tonight we had our Relief Society Anniversary it was so fun (at least I thought it was, but then I planned it). Our Theme was The Divine Secrets of the ***** Ward Sisterhood. There were 3 phases (or divine secrets). First there was guess who (pictures of you when you were younger), Second there was Sisterhood Bingo, and third (the most fun of all) was to tell the truth. The ladies had to give me stories of them that no one (or very few people) knew about them. Then with each story I got 2 "liars". The three people were a panel and had to tell their story and answer some questions. At the end everyone had to vote on who they thought the story belonged too. I gotta say we have some pretty good liars. They were also funny too. I almost wet my pants. Anyway I was glad for how the night went. I'm just sorry that some people chose not to go. They really missed out. If someone didn't have a fun time I don't want to hear it because I thought it went well and I only want happy memories. Thanks to Mr. Wonderland (my husband) for helping me and supporting me. I Love You.

Weekly Weigh in #5

Start 158
Week #1 156
Week #2 157.9
Week #3 157.5
Week #4 157.1
Week #5 156.3

Net Loss 1.7 Lbs

Yahoo. I finally see some progress. Don't worry I won't let it go to my head and binge. I've got to go and drink my water now, Slosh, Slosh, and make a healthy snack.

TTFN

Deep Thought...

...With Alyson Handy. I don't know JACK.

1. If through some break in the Space/ Time continuum my younger me got to meet my older me, would my younger me be happy with the person I've become?