Melissa's Musings

This is the end

2009-01-01T20:45:00.002-03:30

Well sort of.

I am no longer posting here. I have been trying to keep up this blog and my 365 one and it just did not work. So I am merging the two :)

From this moment on, my life musings and whatnot will be included in my 365 blog. So it will no longer simply be 365 days of pictures, it will be 365 days of ramblings.

Enjoy. I think I will :)

William's Thanksgiving Essay

2008-11-14T17:02:00.002-03:30

So william came home a few weeks ago with a school assignment. He had to write an essay about Thanksgiving based on the idea that he could invite anyone in the world, dead or alive, past or present to eat with him and enjoy his company. Well William was livid about it. He claimed that there was no one he would EVER want to invite, the essay was dumb, the whole concept was foolish and what the hell would he talk about with a stranger anyway because he hates talkinv to people.

So I told him that he just had to pretend he was writing a story and to use his imagination. And write the way he thinks...easy right?

So he brought me the essay. All typed and ready to go. I took one read and told him that he could not pass it in, that it had to be re-written and that he had to do it completely differently. He was having none of it. So I told him to pass it in but to expect that he would be asked to re-write it.

He got it back yesterday. Not only was he not asked to write it over...but he got an A for creativity!

So without further ado...here is the essay. The essay written completely and 100% by my 13 year old son and passed in exactly as it is here. I'm keeping it for posterity.

Note: I apologize for this typed up rough draft. I didn't have the time to hand write seeing as it's currently 10:00 PM on Sunday and I didn't think of who to invite until basically five minutes ago. If it's REALLY that important then just take off however many marks the rough draft was worth. It is better for me to lose the marks than to try to write right now. Sorry.

Thinking up who I have to invite is pretty difficult for me. This paragraph took me awhile and I only really came up with one person who I MIGHT be a bit interested in talking to. I know I could have five or six people here who I might be interested in, and I'll probably lose marks for not doing so, but the only person I could come up with was Bill Gates. Even then, I wouldn't really be interested in talking to him, but I can't just write an essay about inviting no one, can I? Didn't think so. Anyway, the reason for 'wanting' to invite him would be his knowledge of computers and such.

Moving on, this is the paragraph where I tell you who I've decided on inviting and why, if I remember correctly. Obviously, I've decided on inviting Bill Gates. Honestly though, I would rather invite no one and just have a nice Thanksgiving dinner with my family, but that's not allowed and I have to invite him. I decided on inviting him to ask him questions about how he started his company, how he managed to basically turn DOS into a much easier to use system and the like. I would give some reasons for why I didn't invite some other people, but there wasn't really anyone else anyway so I didn't have much of a choice.

Anyway, as to what will be served for dinner, it would be served at roughly 7:00 - 7:30 PM and my grandmother (Dad's side) would be cooking it. The food will consist of one perfectly cooked turkey, baked potatoes, carrots, cauliflower and broccoli soaked in cheese (or at least, that's what it looked like), and... uhh... some other stuff. Even though granny doesn’t usually cook dessert, for this special occasion she has made upside down pear cake served with cream. Very nice.

Now, this should be a much easier subject. The people attending the dinner would be me, my sister, my father and my stepmother, my grandmother and grandfather, my aunt, uncle and their daughter, some of my dad's friends. All of those that are related to me that would be at that dinner are on my dad's side of the family. Anyway, we would talk about his job and how he managed to make windows, along with maybe asking him roughly how much money he has. I would hope the others at the dinner could carry on the conversation well, as I am really bad at talking, and we'd answer any questions Bill had. Eventually, we would have a 'concert' of sorts with a bunch of Newfoundland songs with my dad playing guitar / singing and my grandfather playing the... I don't know the name of it but it's some small guitar like thing that isn't a banjo. Oh a mandolin, yes, grandpa would be playing the mandolin and the harmonica.

Finally, the last paragraph, where I describe how the dinner... went..? I was supposed to be writing this entire thing in character? Bah. I'm not rewriting this entire thing. I'll just pretend that I did do so and go along with that. The dinner went well. Bill liked all the food and answered all our questions, along with asking a few of his own. As far as I'm aware, he seemed to enjoy the songs at the end of the night as well. I definitely feel better about this then before the supper, more relaxed and such. I'm glad that we had the dinner with Bill and I'd like to see him again, though that's likely never going to happen. I wouldn't do anything like this next year though. Just a nice, normal dinner with the family, none of this celebrity business. Too stressful. Okay, out of character again. Disregard anything I said before saying that I wouldn't do that again next year. I only said those things for the sake of the essay. I would rather not actually have anyone famous over to my house for Thanksgiving. It would be too much of a hassle. Anyway, essay over.

The bi-annual breakdown defined....

2008-11-12T10:39:00.004-03:30

So I had a bit of a breakdown on Saturday morning. I generally try to limit that three hour period of tears, panic and all around hysteria to about twice a year. Usually it is preceded by James being an idiot (sorry honey), Jacob being out of control (which happens often) or me spreading my time and energy much to thin until I snap (I plead the fifth on how often I skirt the edges of that).

Anyway, so Saturday morning I just lost it. Like completely lost it. James was all set to clean the garden and I literally fell into his arms just sobbing and wailing about God knows what, I don't even remember now...I think it had something to do with the realization that I give and give and give and very often it is unreciprocated. Therefore in my warped and complete manic mind I interpreted this tidbit of information as "Nobody loves me, I am all alone in this cruel harsh world, what have I done with my life?"

Obviously I was insensible with emotion.

So I cried and cried and cried some more. James didn't quite know what to do with me...I do remember seeing the blind panic in his eyes when I started to gasp out insensible words of doom and gloom. And then Mom called and needed me to go up to Corey's pharmacy to get her prescription with her and the waterworks stopped just like someone had flicked a switch in my brain. BOOM. Gone. Just like that. I head upstairs, wash my face and came out with the hint of a sheepish smile on my face.

And really, if I think about it...that's the way it always happens. A few hours of absolute craziness and then it is all over. Never to be seen again for about six months or so. I suppose it is a release of some sort, some defense mechanism that I have perfected to enable me to continue on with this roller coaster of a life I have. Either way, it is done and over and we are none the worse for it all. Thankfully, James is used to it by now...otherwise I presume he would have run for the hills a long time ago. So it is now T-minus 6 months until the next bout...I hope he is ready for it.

What a Month!

2008-09-26T09:38:00.002-02:30

Wow...a whole month without posting...what have I been doing??

Well see school started on September 3...and that means a huge adjustment for the boys...and me. Especially me. I grow used to the lazy days of summer, the mornings of getting up and getting showered and drinking coffee and just moseying on in to work. No children to wake, no homework to do, no lunches to make, no fights about not wanting to go to school, no push for bedtimes, no incomprehensible school projects....ahhh...summer. How I miss you.

And so back to school takes a bit of getting used to. I think the children adjust faster than I do. Funny that.

And so with a month in our routines are getting set, the evenings are more frantic but we have a system and so far it seems to be working. The mornings are running smoother than last year this time so that's a good thing...and of course Christmas is around the corner now.

No. No. Stop that. It is too soon to talk about Christmas. TOO SOON.

I wonder what I can get for Jacob this year...oh and James saw something nice at Costco that he said Corey and Amanda would like...I'd better get Jenn to start looking at online stores. And a snowblower for James....that's a definite.....

So my best friend has a girlfriend...

2008-08-28T13:56:00.004-02:30

Anyone who knows me knows that my best friend is a guy named Dave. We worked out last night that we have been friends for 25 years now. Which is insane when you think about, I don't feel 25 years OLD let alone old enough to have a friend for that long...but yeah, thats what it is...I was in Grade 9 and he was in Grade 10 at a different school and it was literally friendship at first sight. Funnily enough I met him the same year I met James...man I hang on to people for a long time don't I?

Trying to define our relationship is awkward. It's more than friendship...its that unmistakeable contentment of being with a person you can trust implicitly and tell all of your secrets too. Someone who is not a lover, nor has ever been...but yet there is an intimacy in our relationship that I have only felt with my husband ('s - sheesh). I can talk to Dave about anything and he does the same with me, even the miles from St. John's to Halifax which separate us now mean nothing. It is incredibly special and I wish everyone could have a friend like him - but not with him...because you know, that guy is mine.

And now a girl has entered his life. No, not just a girl...a girl with POTENTIAL. A girl whose name brings a smile to his voice and a catch in his breath. A girl that makes his voice go soft and happy when he talks about her. And it is not me. It is not me and oh my goodness it is SO sweet. So sweet and I am so happy for him...and her. Because if she is smart (and I think she might be) she will realize what she has and hang on for dear life. And it is just the beginning of this relationship for him and truth be told, like many relationships it may not work out. There have been women in his life before, women he loved and loved him but this is the first time...the FIRST time I have ever seen him positively giddy. And even if it doesn't work out and she ends up breaking his heart (or him hers) I just want to thank her for these moments of absolute joy that I see in him.

So my best friend has a girlfriend. And I am so happy about it that I could squeal. Which I won't do of course but you know what I mean....

Let's compare....

2008-08-19T11:25:00.002-02:30

I have to laugh. I found this older picture on my computer today...it is Jennifer and William in London a few years ago...Jennifer must be 16 or so and William is 10:

Jennifer stopped growing...she was done. Will however, was not. IS not....this is them at the wedding in June - Will is 13 and Jennifer is 19:

I wonder how tall he is going to end up being?? LOL!!

On the eve of Jennifer's birthday

2008-08-18T21:56:00.003-02:30

What can I say? Seriously...Jennifer is going to be 20 years old tomorrow. 20 years!!! What.The.Hell???

First of all I certainly do not feel like I am old enough to have a 20 year old daughter. Second of all, where did 20 years even go?? It's just...bizarre. I can't even explain it. Excuse me while I wax poetic for a moment....

I am an incredibly lucky woman. I have been blessed with one daughter - just one...and she has surpassed every expectation, grown into an amazing young woman, made me so proud and been such a joy to have in my life. I am actually honored to be her mother.

Really...what more is there to say? Tomorrow I have a 20 year old woman as a daughter but you know, it doesn't matter because she will always be my little girl.

Happy Birthday my Jennifer. I love you more than words could ever say.

Hmmmm...

2008-08-12T11:57:00.003-02:30

So I am thinking about merging my 365 blog into this one. Mainly because I can't keep up with the 365 blog. I mean, I CAN I just find it very difficult. God knows I take the pictures well enough...but uploading them just seems to escape me some days. I don't know. I love the idea of the 365 and it does force me to take the pictures and choose the best one etc etc...

What to do, what to do??? I think this one requires a bit more thought.

In other news, my neice Hallie turned one year old last week. A whole year. Incredible really. I have pictures but they are on my laptop so I will bring them over here tonight...

In the meantime, a scrapbook page that I currently love:

It's a scraplift from the July SCrapbooks Etc. Magazine. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it and viola. Here's my creation based on it. Easy Peasy.

That's OK buddy, you'll like me tomorrow....

2008-08-07T00:08:00.003-02:30

Said by my father to my youngest son.

7 little words that made me stop in my tracks and shattered my heart into a gazillion pieces for a split second and then immediately made me feel SO hopeful and happy and loved. All in an instant.

Jacob had a bad evening. He was FINE for the longest while and then something in Walmart set him off and we had to drag him out. I know what it was, I remember now...it was a toy wrestler that we had bought him just minutes before that he opened and was playing with and then all of a sudden he did not want it and wanted something else. Yeah. Like that would happen. So upon refusal he pitched a fit.

And I am PMS'ing bigtime and I am feeling very vulnerable and so it struck me hard. So when we got home he was still screaming and Mom called and heard him and within ohhhh fifteen minutes my Dad was down, and he walked into the Living Room and looked at Jacob and the conversation was:

"Heeeeyyy buddy, whatcha doing?"
"I'm MAAAAAAADDDD!!!"
"What? what are you mad over? you want me to come sit with you?"
"NO!!! You go away!! I don't like you!!!"
"Oh that's ok buddy, you'll like me tomorrow"

And Jacob looked at him and Dad said "you want to come upstairs with me and watch TV?" And Jacob, formally mad as freaking hell said "OK" and went on upstairs like nothing happened.

And my heart broke for a minute. It was so pitiful and sad and heartbreaking - and yet at the same time, that patience! That calmness. That simplicity of thought and action from my father. It was like a lightbulb went off in my brain...and while part of me felt so sorry for myself and so sorry for HIM that his youngest grandson was just so unplesant to be around and so frustrating to be with - the other part of me stopped and listened and thought and stood in amazement as Dad took that child and loved him and listened to him and doted on him in SPITE of Jacob himself.

I guess you really NEVER stop learning from your parents. Especially with ones that are as smart as mine :)

2008-08-05T13:33:00.002-02:30

So I am scrapping again!! Yay!! Upon giving up the scrapbooking message boards, I turned into a scrapping FIEND!! LOL!! I am so much more relaxed and happy. So here is a sample of what I have been doing over the past few weeks. More to follow...

This one is my favorite of the lot. It is based on a sketch from the So Scrappy website which I absolutely love now...

William last summer - this is from a Basic Grey sketch...

Again - basic grey...they have some awesome sketches actually,
Another one based on So Sketchy

See what I mean about sketches and scraplifts...I am SO MUCH more comfortable and able to do so much more when I don't kill myself trying to make things work. Sketches and scraplifts are the way to go for me, especially where I have so many pictures and I love to scrap almost all of them. :)

A Weekend of Softball

2008-08-04T16:46:00.006-02:30

I am 100% certain that I have never mentioned my love of watching my brothers play softball. Mainly because of the children and schedules and whatnot I rarely get to see them play. Well this weekend was FILLED with family, friends, stadium food, screaming, yelling, cheering...and softball. Friday, Saturday and Sunday - all softball, all the time.

Neil and Corey and my cousin Jamie play on the AFN team (yes, Neil's company). The crowd was large and loud...what a TIME we had!

Jacob decided that he wanted to support the team by spraying his hair the team color.

Neil pitches

And Corey is shortstop.

And they are both just awesome players. Unfortunately the team didn't make the finals this time and we were all pretty disappointed but really, it was SO nice to just be there to cheer them on, spend time with family and friends and just have a fabulous time. Next stop - Provincial championships - 2 weeks from now! WOO!!!

The very bad, terrible day...and why I love my Mom

2008-07-30T21:36:00.003-02:30

So I had a bad day yesterday.

No, that's actually an understatement. I had an AWFUL day yesterday.

It all started in the wee morning hours with the painful realization that I am NOT going to Colorado in the Fall with my friends. No miracle is going to happen, no money fairy is going to pitch on my shoulder and hand me a thousand dollars, there will be no trip for me. And the only reason was because I was too scared to book my ticket on points when I had the chance. I am not going to CO because I am a stupid scared child...and I was so depressed about it...

So at noon Jacob wants to go swimming. Awesome. We pack up and head to the park with Tammy and Ben and Aunt Cor. All is well until it is time to leave and Jacob wants to get a shower...but the showers are not on and so I have to turn them on for him. Well this was NOT FINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And hysterics ensued. Complete with a number of "You are ruining my life!! I hate you!! You are the worst Mommy ever!!!" Overreaction much?? Oh you have no idea. So off he runs. Oh yes, he decided that he was going to run away....because the SHOWER WAS NOT ON *insert picture of me banging my head against the wall here*

And you know...I let him run. Aunt Cor was horrified but I let him go on over that hill and just disappear from my sight and in that moment I simply did not care anymore. I knew where he was, I knew he wouldn't go too far...so after a fine time I went searching for him. Found him sitting under a tree wailing about how he had a horrible life and why do these things always happen to him?? Aunt Cor called Mom to pick us up and I dragged that child out body and bones and threw him in the car and we went home. More screaming, more hysterics, more overreaction...

And then the car had to go in for servicing. No problem. Bring her in and leave her there.
At 3:00 p.m. the mechanic called to tell me that my car needed new brakes. FOUR new brakes - at a cost of ohhh a mere $600.00. *insert picture of me fainting dead away here* So I clenched my teeth and told him to do the front ones and leave the back ones for now.

At 4:00 I started to cry. No, I started to sob and I just couldn't stop. I sat here at this computer and I just cried and cried and cried. Jennifer found me and I just started to babble on and on about Jacob and the car and the trip and money and just on and on and on...poor girl...between her and James they didn't quite know what to do for me.

So Jennifer hugged me, Jacob apologized and James bought me wine. And I calmed down.

Which brings me to today - this evening when my mom came down and sent me and James to the store and she took Jacob so we could go alone. And when we got back Jacob was happy, the dishes were done, the floors were scrubbed, the laundry was on, the carpets were vacuumed and the sheets were changed on the children's beds. I just stared at Mom and she just shrugged and said "Well you had such a bad day yesterday..."

I love my Mom. My Mom makes everything better.

Scrapbooking Message Boards and Me

2008-07-22T16:38:00.004-02:30

I'm re-thinking my involvement on scrapbooking message boards. I have been on a few over the past five or so years and really I don't keep up well, don't comment on layouts in the galleries well and just mostly feel like an outsider looking in.

And you know, I feel pressure on those things. Pressure to scrap, pressure to create, pressure to have the newest products, the best pictures, the coolest pages. And really, that's not why I scrapbook. It just isn't. I love showing off my pages but I think I am seriously over the MB thing. I mean, let's be honest here - I rarely do a page without scraplifting or using a sketch. RARELY. I don't actually have a creative bone in my body and I have no eye for color whatsoever...so I scraplift or use sketches or other inspiration and I am cool with that. But MB's expect more than that and I just don't have the time to give it.

I need to simplify. To quote Dr. Miranda Bailey - I need to look for the bigger picture.

So I have decided to drop my scrapping MB's. I will peep in every now and again to see what is going on and to check out the galleries but realistically, I'm out.

I have this friend. A very good friend named Wendy Sommers and she is on the design team for two scrapping blogs So Sketchy and Scrap Schemes

Those two sites are my new inspiration sites. I need simple, I need straightforward, I need inspiration and creativity and all of that other good stuff without feeling the pressure to be immersed and involved and posting comments and all of the other things MB's demand. I've been thinking long and hard about this because I have been a MB junkie for many years now. But I need this, and now that the decision has been made - I feel....free.

So Ally and Shauna have a new recruit. Let the scrapping begin!!

So I am on vacation!

2008-07-21T22:54:00.002-02:30

Yay right?

Well no not so much. I suppose it's ok and all. Today was my first day off. Jacob woke me at 7:30 and we went downstairs so he could play. I poked around on the computer a bit and then looked around and thought - yeah. No.

So I cleaned. I did the laundry, hung two loads out on the line, packed and unpacked the dishwasher - TWICE. Fed the children, changed the sheets, washed the sheets and hung THEM on the line. Cleaned Will and Jacob's rooms, walked up to Mom's with Jacob, left Jacob with Tammy and Ben, came home and washed Jennifer's clothes AND prepared supper...called Tammy twice to make sure Jacob was ok. Went back up to Mom's to visit with Sheryl and Hallie who had come out for a while. Came back home, fed all three children, had my own supper, cleaned up and got mad with James for being late - again.

It is now...ohhhh...11:00 p.m and I have started a scrapbooking layout, gone to the bookstore and bought four books, gotten Jacob to sleep, and am now devouring my second glass of wine while conmtemplating opening another bottle.

Did someone say "vacation"??

The things I need...

2008-07-18T10:34:00.003-02:30

I need to print pictures.

I need to scrapbook.

I need coffee.

I need to talk to my husband.

I need Jacob's allergies to GO AWAY.

I need to get William out of the house.

I need Jennifer to come home from her trip safely.

I need to go see Hallie tonight.

I need to update my 365.

I need a night alone with James. Just the two of us.

I need a lot of things lately it seems. But you know, most of all...I need to get my happiness back. I need to stop fretting and worrying and wondering and being sad. I need to STOP being sad. I'm not depressed, I'm not forlorn or on the verge of a breakdown or anything like that. I am just....sad. Maybe melancholy is the right word...maybe it's the blues. Of course one would thinik that the blues would go away after a while, but no...it's sticking around. Which is weird for me. I am a generally happy, well adjusted (all things considered) person. But lately. I have the blues.

Maybe if I work on my scrapbooks this weekend...yeah...get all gluey and sticky and play with paper and color. Yeah. That makes me feel a bit better. We'll have to see.

Man it is hot!

2008-07-10T12:06:00.003-02:30

Seriously.

It is hot.

It is too hot to work, too hot to sleep, too hot to really be outdoors...it is just too hot.

But I am not complaining!! No sirree I am not complaining. I spend enough time bitching about the cold, dreary winters....moaning about the hot summer would be a complete contradiction. Besides, if I complain outloud then the fates will hear me and deluge us with rain and misery. I'll take the heat thankyouverymuch.

I know I have not updated since the wedding. I have no excuse other than abject laziness. Buty no matter. The wedding was amazing. Amanda looked stunning, Corey was the picture of perfection, everyone had a SUPER good time...it was excellent I must say. So now that it is over we can all relax and enjoy the summer sun. God knows it won't be around for much longer. :)

Oh hey...some pictures of the big day!

The night before the Wedding

2008-06-20T23:24:00.003-02:30

It is Friday night. Corey and Amanda are getting married tomorrow. It has been a long time coming I must say but I am SO SO excited about it all.

And you know, I am excited for Corey. I really am. He is my brother and I love him more than words could ever say. Corey has always been MY boy. MY baby brother...everything focused on him in my eyes for so long - I even went to his high school graduation with him, Mom, Dad and Corey's date. You have to love prom in Newfoundland, it is such a family affair LOL!! When I was lonely in Ottawa, Corey is who I called to come up with me, When my life was falling apart, I cried on Corey's shoulder...

Anyway...yes, it is all about Corey. And then Amanda came along and stole his heart and his soul...and in the process, she stole ours. How cool is that?? So while tomorrow my brother gets married and I am so thrilled and happy for him...This lovely girl that he chose to marry? SHE is who I am standing beside and SHE is who I am more than thrilled for.

Funny how that works eh? He gains a wife and I gain more than a sister in law...I gain a friend and a true SISTER.

It doesn't get any better than that :)

What the hell...????

2008-06-17T14:10:00.003-02:30

Seriously...just WHAT. THE. HELL???

Jacob is sick. On Friday he had such horrible cramps in his stomach and was throwing up so his family doc made us rush down to the Janeway thinking that it could be appendicitis. After 5 hours of tests and observation the pain was still bothering him but they decided that it wasn't serious. Probably just a gastro bug. Lovely.

Saturday night about 2:30 a.m. he woke up SCREAMING about his arm - he couldn't move his wrist. He was just crying and shaking, he was in so much pain...so I wrapped it in a bandage and gave him Tylenol thinkking, I cannot go back down to the hospital they will say I am hurting him! So he woke up fine, pain was gone...Sunday night he started limping. LIMPING!! WTF?? He went to bed ok and then 4 a.m got ip screaming in pain again. He just fell to the floor, couldn't walk.... My mommy mind went where no mothers mind should go - I headed straight for leukemia and then menegitis and God knows what else...it was horrible...

So yesterday morning he was due to get his cast off so we went to the Janeway and I took him right to Emergency first. I had to get to the bottom of this because I was in a blind panic. After another batch of bloodwork the doc said he had parvovirus or Fifth Disease that had manifested in him like it would in an adult - in the joints. So the virus is zinging from joint to joint, doing its worst and then moving on to the next one. It's harmless in the long run and easily controlled by Motrin but still...holy SHIT what a time of it we had.

He is home again from school today - his cast is off (yay!) and he is pumped up on ibuprofin. Poor little bird. This morning it was his shoulder...

And we have a wedding in FOUR DAYS.

GAHH!! Why now????

When girls go wild....

2008-06-08T10:27:00.003-02:30

Oh dear...oh dear oh dear...my head hurts. And my stomach feels wobbly. And I have raccoon eyes because I slept in my makeup. And standing up too quickly makes my knees weak. And if I even look at the wine in my fridge I want to throw up.

But holy crap was it EVER WORTH IT!!!!!

Take 17 girls, pour copious amounts of booze into them, put them all on a big, crazy travelling party machine for 2 straight hours and play "Low", "girls just wanna have fun", and "SexyBack" (to name a few), then drop them off at a rocking bar downtown and you have the recipe for a wild and crazy time.

We had the BEST time at Amanda's Stagette. Seriously SERIOUSLY fun. It was low key until the Party Bus showed up...and then we started rolling down the highway, the music went on blast, the liquor started to flow and we were ON'ER. LOL!!!What a fun, awesome time. That Party Bus was worth every penny.

I was worried that Amanda wouldn't have fun. To be honest, the staggette was actually causing me more stress than the wedding itself. It's alot of pressure to be in charge of another woman's last big blast as a single woman...but I need not have worried, we were all together, we were all laughing and singing and dancing and drinking and drinking and drinking some more - it was perfect.

Pictures to follow as soon as I retrieve my camera from Amanda's house...now I think I'll go lie down for a minute. There is an annoying throb over my left eye that is punishing me for all that wine. Or perhaps the coolers....no, no...it was the shooters. Definitely the shooters....

In the Homestretch...

2008-06-06T10:37:00.002-02:30

For the end of school that is.

Man what a year. Jacob has been fine. He loves school. But WILLIAM?? OMG how annoying can one child be? Especially about school. I mean, I know, I know...he's a teenager and groaning and moaning comes naturally. But seriously. This year has been downright painful.

I wouldn't mind if he was doing badly or if he didn't understand what was going on or if he was being bullied or SOMETHING. But he is a big gronk of a child that nobody would be foolish enough to pick on...and even if they did he really wouldn't care so it wouldn't last long.

As for marks well he has a freakin' 95 average!! 'Nuff said.

No, William's problem is twofold. 1. He is bored. He is bored and unchallenged and he is really too mature for his own good. The usual 12-13 year old boy antics do NOT appeal to him in any way shape or form...and then of course 2. He is inherently lazy.

Combine the two and you have a recipe for a very very very annoying child who hates school for a hundred different reasons and who (if I was going to be completely honest) really could do just as well not being there....(shhhhh...don't tell William that for God's sakes).

2 more weeks....2 more weeks...lather, rinse, repeat....

Once Upon a Broken Arm...

2008-05-28T14:25:00.002-02:30

Our first broken bone...20 years of raising children and my last and final baby is the first to break a bone *sigh*

So on Monday. Jacob called me at work at 3:30 (after soccer) and told me that he thought he hurt his arm. I asked him what happened and he told me that at lunchtime he had fallen backwards off the slide and caught himself on his hands. His right hand buckled a bit but he got up, dusted himself off and went on into school. Teachers looked at him, he could move everything and nothing was swollen so he went on about his day - schoolwork, gym and then soccer.

So when I got home he was playing with his wrestlers but nursing his right arm a bit. After much discussion with Mom and Dad I called JAmes and told him that we needed to go down to the Janeway with Jacob "just to make sure everything is fine" I mean, he was playing normally, moving normally, just whimpering every now and again...

So off we trek to the hospital. As we are there Jacob tells us what happened and he said "I was falling and I thought - I can totally land this!! and then I fell and I thought, what the hell?? I had that landing nailed!"

LOL!! That's my son for you....

Anyway, X-Rays were taken and sure enough, much to our surprise, he has something called a "bulge fracture" which is just a small fracture below his right wrist -which meant a cast for three weeks....

SO all is fine, he had a big old white cast on - the emergency room doctor did it - and he was fine for about...ohhh 12 hours. Yesterday morning he walked downstairs and realized that the cast got in his way and prevented him from playing PlayStation and with his wrestlers. WELL All hell broke loose. He screamed and ranted and raved and cried and banged his cast on anything hard and tried to wet it and finally tried to get a hammer to hammer it off.

I called the hospital almost in tears and asked for help LOL!! Down we go again and the proper cast people put a super cool, super light, super functional cast on his arm...thanks be to Almighty God...

What a week!

2008-05-26T11:06:00.003-02:30

Man does time ever fly! Last week went by so fast that I didn;t even have a chance to enjoy it!

We had a bit of bad news last week too. Sheryl and Neil lost their baby. Sheryl was 12-13 weeks along and something went wrong and she miscarried. It is all very sad and was pretty scary at the same time. Thankfully she is back home and doing fine...physically. Emotionally, it is not an easy thing to deal with so we'll wait and see on that one. I do feel so bad for them both though...

In other news, we have just 4 weeks til the wedding...and you know what that means?? That means a) Crunch time with getting everything ready and last minute details and b) stag and stagette!!! Woo fun times fun times. I think Amanda is a bit nervous about Coreys LOL!! I'm sure it will be fine though...and as for hers well I am trying my best to plan it but I really suck at this stuff so I have some helpers. We have the party bus rented so thats cool and then I think just drinking, drinking, more drinking, party bus for 2 hours and then downtown. There. Stagette planned! now I just have to invite people....

Do you hear what I hear....??

2008-05-19T18:32:00.002-02:30

Noise. Sound. Have you ever stopped to really listen to what's going on around you? Today I took a a moment. Just a small moment and I opened my ears to what was around me:

- birds chirping...it must be more than 10 because it is a chorus of chirping. Birds calling to one another, come see my nest! come feed my babies! Look at me! Look what I can do! here I am!

- Above the din of small birds a crow is calling - harsher, deeper - caw! caw!

- the river is rolling over the rocks and splashing on the banks, I can hear it from the back door just rushing down the river bed.

- children are playing in the front. Little girls are squealing, boys are calling out to one another. I think they must be playing basketball because ever now and again the ball bangs loud on the backboard.

- skateboards and scooters are out in force. The wheels grind on the pavement...

- a car passes by. No..not a car. It is a motorcycle...the engine revs loud.

- my back door is open, the wind takes it for a second and the hinges squeak in protest.

Suddenly, I hear another sound. Footsteps pounding on the stairs and then "Mom!! I need my water gun!!" Jacob turns the corner and throws himself into my arms. All sound disappears as my other sense takes over. He smells like sunshine and little boy sweat and BabyFaces suntan lotion SPF 50. I breathe him in before he rushes away again...

Sometimes, I think I notice too much. I feel too much...too strongly. But on this day I stopped and I listened and I noticed...

Summer. Summer is finally here. I never thought we would make it.

A good week so far

2008-05-14T10:25:00.002-02:30

So we have had a good week so far. By good week I mean that everyone is getting up and going to school without fuss, all hands are going to bed without fuss and nobody has thrown any major fits.

And by "Nobody" I really mean Jacob - but I don't want to single him out sooooo...

I have decided that I need to keep track of these things. I have a tendency to over-generalize I think and one bad day automatically means that the week is ruined...and that is just not right. So this week we have had 4 good days so far! Brilliant!

Now, if someone hears me say that it has been a bad week just smack me up the side of the head.

Mothers day

2008-05-11T09:55:00.002-02:30

So it is Mother's Day. Usually I am not fussed on these Hallmark holidays but this year I plan on sitting back and just enjoying it. Why not right?

Jacob made this for me at school...it's a little heart card booklet thing where he wrote nice things about me...very sweet. "my Mom is beautiful because she loves me" I mean COME ON...how can you stop your heart from melting when you see THAT written in that small handwriting? And you know, Jacob is not the most loveable child. I'll admit that he is more lovable than William who really can be quite the iceberg when he wants to be but Jacob can can certainly keep up with him is he wanted to. LOL!! It amazes me sometimes how I could be rearing two small people who are SO unlike me...

Anyway...a picture for posterity:

Now...I'm off to have a nice long hot bubble bath...and then out to dinner with the whole family. Isn't Mother's day SUPER?

Blockbuster and Jennifer - the Saga

2008-05-07T10:20:00.003-02:30

Man Blockbuster is pissing me off lately. I am seriously considering writing a strongly worded letter...

Jennifer works there you see...and she LOVES it. Absolutely loves it. No problems, likes the people, likes the hours, everything is wonderful. At the end of the school year this year she decided to make a few changes. She was exploring her individuality I guess and thought to do something different for the summer. So she wanted her hair streaked. OK...no problem, I paid $120 for it as a "Yay for a great semester" gift and she got blue streaks put in her blonde hair.

Yes, blue.

And it looked SO cute!

Then she went a step further and decided to get her lip pierced. I was a bit offy on this one so I told her to go talk to her Manager at Blockbuster to make sure it wouldn;t be a problem. He told her that it would be fine as long as it wasn't too big and noticeable. So off she goes to spend $90 of her own money on a relatively painful, yet oh-so adorable piercing of her lip - well actually it below the center of her bottom lip - not in her lip, more like just above the cleft of her chin.

Very cute indeed.

So now I have this blue haired, lip pierced, purple glasses, cool scarved daughter.

And Blockbuster FREAKED. *SIGH*

The hair had to go, the piercing was too noticeable (seriously, this thing is the smallest little round ball I have ever seen). OK, well you can wear a bandaid on your chin to cover the pircing but the hair still has to be fixed...our customers don't appreciate that look.

This is BLOCKBUSTER mind you...a freaking MOVIE store.

So she gave in on the hair - went back to the hairdresser and paid ANOTHER $100 to have the blue changed. Of course the only way to change the blue is to go all dark...so now my once blonde Jennfer is burgundy/chocolate brown. She changed the ball on the lip to a clear one...not good enough, their eyebrows are still down.

What the hell???? They SAID it was fine, she changed her hair and now they are still giving her grief!

Man...a strongly worded letter indeed...I am getting madder by the minute.

Shower hangover...

2008-05-05T17:49:00.002-02:30

Oh indeed. A shower hangover and not a drop of alcohol served LOL!! It was SUCH a success, I am so thrilled that everyone was there and Amanda got some nice presents and a nice little bit of money. All in all, it was TOTALLY worth the time and effort.

Except I couldn't get up this morning. Which meant that the boys did not get up either. So HEY!! FREE DAY!!! I called in to work for the day off and the boys stayed off school. For no other reason than I was just damed tired.

*insert picture of me shuffling here*

But it was worth it...Jacob spent the day gardening with Mom, I relaxed, William was thrilled out of his socks to have an unexpected day off. It was all fine.

And back to the old grindstone tomorrow.

Busy day!!

2008-05-03T10:20:00.002-02:30

Today is Saturday, May 3 and I have a ton of stuff to do...tomorrow is Amanda's wedding shower and Mom, Aunt Cor and I are hosting...SO:

1. Buy shoes to match new outfit
2. Price club for sandwich stuff
3. Put car in to get tire fixed
4. Store for ingredients for Nacho dip
5. Michaels for card supplies
6. Make Amanda's card
7. Mom's tonight to blow up balloons and get a head start on the decorations
8. Head down to the club to make sure it is clean and tidy

Yeah...the day has just started and I am tired already! LOL!!!

Although I am REALLY looking forward to the shower...yay!

The sound of screaming

2008-05-02T11:25:00.003-02:30

Have you ever heard a sound quite as shocking and piercing and annoying as a young boys screams of rage? No seriously...nails on a chalkboard are one thing, jackhammers another, the screams of fighting cats perhaps...honestly, I don't think there is anything quite so jarring as a childs screams - not of anguish but of pure hatred and rage.

Thats what I was dealing with last night...when Jacob realized that he had homework to do that MIGHT take him more than 15 seconds to complete. He had to write a story, a story about a pet robot. I even sat with him and told him what letters to write..but oh no, he was having NONE of it. And so the screams started...and kept going and going and going. *SIGH* I do wonder how his throat can take such abuse though, I mean I let out once screetch at the kids and my throat is immediately scratchy. Maybe I don't do it often enough eh?

So 45 minutes after it started - it stopped. He wrote while sobbing...and then at the second sentence he stopped sobbing and got interested. FIVE sentences is all he had to write:

I have a pet Robot named Jake. I got Jake at Walmart. Jake can lift things. He makes me my snacks. I love having a pet robot.

All that screaming and crying and raging and burst eardrums and beating himself up. Over THAT. Worth it?? I hardly think so. What a strange silly boy I have.

So...about Supernatural

2008-05-01T09:51:00.002-02:30

I know I know, lame lame lame to be writing about a TV show. But you know, sometimes, something comes along and just blows you away and makes you feel good and you enjoy and for me...this show is it.

Let me preface by saying that I was an X-Files junkie. I was completely head over heels in love with the program. Matthew and I would watch it together and it was our time together - every Sunday night - X-Files night. When he left, I almost couldn't bear to watch it by myself. It was just too weird to be sitting there alone watching Mulder and Scully and not be able to talk to anyone about what was going on.

James and I never really had anything like that. I mean, we watched TV and he had his shows that he liked and I had mine, but there was never one that we completely made our own you know? One that we looked forward to every week - not just for the brilliance of the program but for the very idea of dedicating time specifically to be together and enjoy something together.

And then this winter I stumbled upon a YOu TUbe clip of a CW show called "Supernatural" - and I was intrigued. So intrigued that I started looking for more clips...and I loved what I saw. So I rented the first DVD of the First season...and I was a GONER. James came home one evening and asked me what I was watching and I told him to sit with me...and HE was a goner. From that day forward we watched a show a night. When the Season 2 DVD's ran out we frantically searched for online downloads of Season 3...James would come home from work at about 11:30 p.m. and we would sit at the laptop, fascinated with those gorgeous Winchester brothers. Demons, urban legends, good versus evil...it was all simply awesome.

Finally...after ten years together we found our show. LOL!!! Such a silly thing really but you know it has done us some good. Where before we couldn't find the time to barely say hello in the hallway, now we have a full hour together. And it goes beyond that hour as we spend time discussing and wondering and re-living episodes that we enjoyed the most...its just a good thing.

Man I suck

2008-04-30T10:22:00.004-02:30

Seriously. I suck at blogging. I also suck at journalling - both handwritten and online. Basically, I don't really like writing about myself because I think I am boring - and whiny. Who wants to read boring and whiny?? Not me thats for sure...

So I had a bad winter. A very bad winter. A very very very bad winter. I had no motivation (as evidenced by my 365 - poor pitiful thing) I had no joy, no scrapbooking, hardly any photos, no happiness, no nothing. I was just blah. Existing, going through the motions, smiling appropriately and just feeling blah. It is the weather I think...or perhaps the darkness and lack of light. Or maybe I just needed to wallow in self pity for a few months...either way I am feeling better, starting to get my mojo back and looking forward to the bright happy cheerful days of summer. Yay me!

So today is the day, today I am back! I have that little niggling feeling in the back of my head about scrapbook pages I want to do. I am SUPER excited about new episodes of my favorite TV shows that are playing...yeah that will be another blog entry I think...the boys are getting excited about the end of school so they are happier, Jennifer is finished exams...things are looking up!

Now if I can just motivate myself to blog more often....

2008 in the Making

2008-01-13T20:39:00.000-03:30

Well it's a new year. A new year but I am the same. My house is the same, my kids are the same, my husband is the same, my job is the same and my family is the same.

Thank God.

I don;t deal with change well. it may be a new year but everything is on track to just continue the way it is going and I am thrilled with that. Nothing major coming up. well...except a new baby for Jamie and Lindsey, a wedding for Corey and Amanda and a big trip to Colorado for me in September...but those are changes I am thrilled to look forward to. :)

So what then are my plans for 2008? How am I going to make this year better than all the rest?

Well right now there are three things:

1. I am eating better and trying to lose weight. Now for God's sakes don't tell anyone. Especially my mother. I love her to bits but if she got wind of the fact that I am actively trying to lose weight she would glom onto it and never let it go. I need to do this for myself and without any added pressure from anyone outside. So this little factoid is just here for posterity. Yes, I am actively trying to lose weight. Now, we shall never speak of this again.

2. I want to really get back into scrapbooking. I haven't scrapped since October and my fingers are staring to itch. I NEED to be in my scrap-room. I need the paper and the glue and the smell of it all. I need to get my new camera and REALLY start learning how to use it and take awesome pictures. I have a goal in mind and I refuse to let it go so once I get everything organized then I am going to really start in and get those pictures scrapped.

3. I am planning to be more organized. Anyone can tellyou that my house is a crazy lunatic bin. Between the kids and their friends and my family and our cats and the toys and the STUFF....well this is a busy busy spot. And because it is so busy, things can get forgotten...so I am becoming versed in the art of making lists - and sticking to them. You know, this may be harder than trying to lose weight!

Oh and a number 4 - I am officially a new Grey's Anatomy convert. This year I plan on buying all three seasons and watching all three seasons. Such a little thing...but ohhhhhh gives me so much pleasure. And we all need a little pleasure in our lives. Don't you think?

2 More days of 2007

2007-12-30T11:29:00.000-03:30

Well we are almost at the end of the road of 2007. Two more days and it will be a whole new year to look forward to. I must say, this year has gone SO fast...between work and the kids in school and keeping the house up time just seems to run away doesn't it? Hmmm...I wonder what the highlights of this year would be?

William starting grade 7 and Jacob starting grade 1. This meant that for the first year in about 20 or so, I had all hands in school full time. which meant a lovely late summer holiday for me. Yay!!
Hallie was born on August 7, 2007. She is growing like a weed and such a little doll. We all love her so much.
Jennifer started working at Home Hardware.
Matthew got remarried - again. tee hee.
Lily was born on March 5, 2007. Jennifer and Williams FIRST first cousin. Another doll for us to love and adore. What IS it about these little girls???
On a sad note, James' mom died in June 2007. She was very very ill and at the end her death was expected, but it was terribly sad nonetheless.
I turned 37, James turned 39.
Jennifer hit the downtown scene with a vengeance as she turned 19 this year.
William went into his last year as a "tween", turning 12 in February.
Jacob went officially into a school ager as he turned 6 in October.
Mom and dad FINALLY retired this year. Their last day of work was in November and they are absolutely LOVING not having to go in and clean anymore.
Lots of wedding planning this year as Corey and Amanda are getting married on June 23, 2008. I love wedding planning!
Lindsey and Jamie got married and are now expecting little Nolan Gray in March. All of these babies!! So exciting!
To top off the year our roof went on the house. We are still awaiting proper fixing as the snow has made it impossible to get up there, but at least it will be done when the spring comes.
we had a wonderful Christmas and we will have a great New Year. Bring on 2008!!

What a great list...I think I will turn it into a scrapbook page :)

It's too early for this!!

2007-12-13T21:09:00.001-03:30

You know, we have had green Christmases since I started scrapbooking...I would say thats about 5 years now. We have had SOME snow but certainly nothing big and never barely enough to make it look like Christmas. Until now. December 12 and we get socked with 25 cms. It's too EARLY!!! I'm not READY!!

Although it does look gorgeous out there...all white and soft and quiet. And with Christmas around the corner it DOES add an air of festiveness I suppose. Ok fine...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

In other news Jacob had his christmas concert on Monday night! He was a red candy cane on candy cane lane. It was SO sweet. I would post pictures but my camera was just pissing me off and not taking nice pictures - the flash would work and then not work and it would focus and then not focus...piss me off...no nice pictures. But I swear...he was UBER cute!

Jennifer is finished exams...woohoo!!

William got a filling yesterday and now his cheek is sore...so he is doing a lot of complaining.

And thats my life - boring as usual LOL!!!!

When it rains it pours

2007-12-07T14:04:00.000-03:30

Damn the rain...and the snow. And then the rain that melts the snow!!!!

My house is leaking. Quite badly in fact. **SIGH** I woke last night to the sound of RUNNING water...oh yes, it was running from Jacob's room ceiling and making a huge puddle on the floor. Then I looked and it was beating in through the top of his window as well. I was SO upset...James came home and after a good long talk and a few tears from me we decided that the best thing to do would be to cash in the RRSP's and get the roof completely re-done.

I was so proud of that little pot of savings we had too you know?? It was a little bit of hope in an otherwise bleak outlook on the future. Oh well, what can you do...I guess we are lucky that we HAVE the money put away and we can use it if we have to and you know, the kids are all healthy and happy and warm and fed and dry. Thats all that really matters right?

I do say though...I must have been some bad AWFUL person in my other life...cause I am most definitely being punished for it bit by bit in this life.

What a cheerful entry this turned out to be. Oh well. Gotta take the good with the bad :)

Holy Crap the RAIN!

2007-11-21T20:14:00.000-03:30

It is POURING out...literally pouring out of the heavens. It has been raining like this all day and it's getting slightly ridiculous. I WISH my camera took good pictures in the dark because I would love to be able to post a picture of how high the river is behind the house. It's slightly frightening actually...the water has crested the banks and has now made a tributary THROUGH the woods and down the dirt road. It's about two feet from my back gate. I've seen that river high before but this is one of the highest...

Hmmm...I wonder if I actually brave the rain and go DOWN there would my flash be strong enough to take a picture??

I think I'm going to give it a try....

Christmas is coming

2007-11-18T19:05:00.000-03:30

Yes indeed it's that time of year again. the time when I get itchy to clean the house and shop and decorate and listen to holiday music. I LOVE Christmas...I always want it to start early and I never want it to end. But it is also stressful. I always want more you know...more money, more gifts, more decorations...it's like a never ending list of wants...

As the children get older and as *I* get older I am starting to realize that really, this time of year is all about family. About being together and enjoying what we have. Christmas is a time to remember and rejoice, to look back on the year and be thankful that we are all safe and happy and together.

SO...in a few weeks when I am in a frenzy of shopping and cleaning and cooking and I am losing my hair from the stress of it all...I shall look back on this post and I will laugh...ha ha ha...at how I waxed prosaic about the Holidays. And I shall post about my foolish notion that Christmas is about MORE that gifts, cookies and a clean house.

So until then...I will enjoy the peace of the PRE-Holiday season.

There!

2007-11-09T10:06:00.001-03:30

Isn't that subtle? A small change but I like it...adds a bit of interest to an otherwise blah black background (HA! say that three times fast!)

Now I need a new header...something simple...something ME. Time to expereiment with PSE...Bwahahahahahahahaha!!!

Note to self

2007-11-08T23:05:00.001-03:30

When testing out said new templates, be sure you don't erase all of your personal information and links.

Doofus.

Random thoughts today

2007-11-08T22:48:00.000-03:30

So I LOVE the black of this template, but I was recently introduced to the glory that it Blogger templates on the web (Merci Beaucoup Jennifer Dawn) and I am thinking about changing this one up. I'll stick with the black but I may add some things. If I do I will have to change my title banner which sucks so we will have to see...therefore, a new template is more than likely forthcoming.

I have to say...I am LOVING doing this 365 project. Just LOVING it. I love taking new pictures everyday to represent my life. Its a good thing.

I haven't scrapped in weeks. Seriously, its been weeks. I have to get back into it, I'm starting to long for my scrapbooking room...thats always a good sign that I need to jump back into some paper and glue.

This wine is lovely. It's cheap but lovely.

I helped Jennifer write a Folklore paper this week....its titled "From Fear to Fantasy - the Evolution of Fairies in Tradition and Culture" Nice eh? I came up with the title...

Jacob had a good few days. YAY!! breathe a sigh of relief, knock on wood, throw salt over my shoulder and turn around on the spot three times fast. It was a good three days. Let's see what the weekend brings.

I'm going out for lunch tomorrow! Nachos at Fog City...I'm drooling at the thought. AND work is paying for it because I am taking out some people that we work closely with. Can't get any better than free nachos!!

Tomorrow is Mom and Dad's last day of cleaning buildings for FOREVER. YAY Mom and Dad!!

And thats about it...I'm off to bed.

ACK!! My Arteries!!

2007-11-05T09:27:00.000-03:30

You know, falling back in fall and gaining that extra hour isn't all that its cracked up to be. The THOUGHT of gaining an extra hour of sleep was tempting, I'll give you that...but in reality, it threw everyone out of whack and made for a very uncomfortable, out of sorts, moany groany sleepy Sunday.

Everything was good up until about 6 a.m.- when Jacob decided it was time to get up for the day. The daylight was breaking and for him - it was rise and shine time. OK...so he played his game and I dozed next to him, no problem. Then James went to work and when he got back we went swimming at the Aquarena. After swimming we headed to Walmart and Jacob was hungry so we had MacDonalds for lunch. Now, I usually try to avoid eating there but today I was feeling hungry so I had a Big Mac Meal. Excellent.

Then we went home...which is where time seemed to suspend itself and we entered the Twilight Zone of darkness at 5 in the evening. The night was NEVER ENDING. I NAPPED at 4...NAPPED!! Me!! I never nap, it screws up my night sleep...but I napped and couldn't get myself up. Jacob was unusually good and quiet so James and I got enthralled with Conan the Barbarian. Now come on...CONAN?? I must have been in the twilight zome because I NEVER have any interest in those sorts of movies.

Jenn and Will went to Cle and Debbies for supper and I swear, James and Jacob and I roamed the house like stalkers. We went from one room to the other, looking at each other, searching the cupboards - am I hungry? No I just want to eat....but what? I have no idea...I just want to eat. Finally James handed me the phone book and said "Call something...anything. lets just get some food". Then Jacob says "I want shrimp!!" Jennifer had the car so James and I looked at each other and said "Ah fuck it" and we WALKED TO CHES'S...CHES's after a meal of MacDonalds not a few hours before!

My poor arteries...I can feel them clogging as we speak. And lets not talk about the 20 pounds that feast of chips, dressing and gravy on top of a Big Mac put on me.

Damn. It's all the clocks fault! I completely blame going back to standard time...there is just no other explanation!

The Ches's was some good though buddy.

Friday Friday Friday

2007-10-26T20:34:00.000-02:30

So it's Friday.

This has been, by far, one of the longest weeks of my life. I have no idea why but it seemed like every single day was Monday...with the weekend nowhere in sight. The days dragged, the nights were intolerable. It was just a BLAH week. So I have to say that I am glad it is over.

Jennifer has gone to a Halloween party tonight and tomorrow she heads to George Street for Mardi Gras. She wants to dress up as a peacock tomorrow so I have been tasked with making her headpiece. I have all the materials and Mom and I are going to get together tomorrow to make it...I'm actually looking forward to it :) I'll be sure to take pictures actually...I missed her tonight because she left too fast, I didn't have time to grab the camera...but tomorrow I will be sure to get some pics for my 365.

I need some wine. I think I have some in the fridge actually. Yeah...wine would be nice.

My funny William

2007-10-20T08:51:00.000-02:30

I have to write this down because you know me, I'll forget it next week.

William had his first English test this week. He had to know 6 short stories and the author of each, all of his literary terms and then he had to answer three questions on an unseen short story. I was a bit worried because this is his first time actually doing a "real" English exam and I wasn't sure how he would handle the time pressure and whatnot.

So we studied together and I quizzed him and we talked about how to answer the questions yada yada yada...

He comes home and tells me the test went well. Next day I asked him if he had gotten his test back yet and he said:
"No,but Mr. Mercer told us that most people did really poorly and that only two people actually answered the questions the way they were supposed to be answered and he read out one person's test that was the ideal way to answer a question...the one about conflict in the story"
"Oh man, William", I say "how do you think you did on that question then?"
And completely deadpan, not even a smile and with a shrug as he is pouring his milk, he says: "Well I suppose I must have done alright seeing as it was MY ANSWER he read out"

And he came out with a 94% - second highest mark in the class...and he was rotted about the fact that the "other guy" got a 95%

LOL!!!!! Gotta love him eh?

Birthday week!

2007-10-20T08:38:00.000-02:30

Yes thats right, it's been the week of Jacob's SIXTH birthday. I know that we all say this every year but holy moly...WHERE has the time gone?? I have to say that a part of me is so relieved to have gotten to this point. It hasn't been the easiest six years, we have gone through so much emotionally, physically, financially. Jacob has been a wonderful, frustrating, amazing, sweet, maddening challenge. But I think we are at the light at the end of that long tunnel. After six years of wondering WHERE the hell we managed to find someone as spirited and headstrong as Jacob, the time is finally here that we can look at him and say "THERE'S our boy" :) I am so ridiculously proud and in love with him, I wouldn't trade him for the world :)

So on Sunday past we had his party with the family. We offered him a party with his classmates and friends but he decided that he would much rather go out to eat and then come home to have the house decorated, his cake and all of the family here. Excellent! So thats what we did...and it was SO much fun. He got sooooooo many presents and he was thrilled with every signle one of them. The best by far was the wrestling ring that Neil, Sheryl, Corey and Amanda gave him. He opened it and looked at it and was in complete shock. He hugged the box and said "This was SO EXPENSIVE. I NEVER thought I would get THIS" and then he shook his head and stared at it and whispered "I'll never beat this up" LOL!! James got all teary eyed and had to leave the room LOL!!

His actual birthday was Wednesday the 17th and he came home from school all excited because he was the days "Birthday Boy" and he got a present from his teacher AND they sang happy birthday to him TWICE AND "you're not going to believe this Mommy, but in gym during announcements, Mrs. Elkins (the Principal) said my NAME and Happy Birthday to Jacob Moore who is in Grade 1 and is six years old today. Me Mommy...she said MY name!!" LOL!!

So it was a good week.

Oh, I almost forgot, I had Jacob back for his follow up appointment about his throat and it is STILL infected so more antibiotics. And I have it now too. Lovely. Both of us with strep throat. Thank God its not too bad now, by Wednesday's birthday we were both on the mend :)

Two new layouts!

2007-10-15T20:04:00.000-02:30

I have been in a bit of a scrapping slump lately. I found a new website called Scrap Shanty and so far I am loving it there. there is no store, no kits, nobody trying to sell anything and best of all...no one has any advantage in cybercrops or whatever because they are kit subscribers. I REALLY like it there and it has inspired me to scrap more. SO...here are my latest pages...the first is a scraplift challenge and the second is based on a sketch :)

Jacob on Topsail Beach

And our baby Hallie, sleeping like an angel

On the mend

2007-10-13T19:00:00.000-02:30

The hospital called us this morning...Jacob's lab results came back positive for strep throat. Which REALLY pisses me off because I TOLD them at the hospital that he had an infection and they didn't believe me. So he was 24 hours without antibiotics. SO not right...the poor little thing suffered so much...and he is still not very stack there. He is still screaming at night and he won't eat hardly at all. If he is no better by Monday then I am marching back up to the Doctor.

In other news...we have our new beds!! WOO!! I have been wanting a new bed FOR.EVER. Ours was springy and old and lumpy and it hurt my back every single night. Last week Cohen's had a sale on so we bit the bullet and bought a Queen size bed for us and a single bed for Will and for Jacob. Three new beds!! We can't afford it really but holy crap what a difference it is making to our sleep. So in the end, I guess they are worth it :)

Neil came by this morning and took Jacob with him to the dump. He dragged all of the old beds out and piled them in his truck and then bundled Jacob up and took him for a ride. he was thrilled! so now Jennifer is out shopping, William is on the computer and Mom is in the living room coloring with Jacob. That reminds me...I must take a picture of that :)

2007-10-11T15:55:00.001-02:30

This is my night last night. at the emergency Room with Jacob. He has a throat infection and I KNEW it was going to get worse so James and I bundled him up at around 9:30 p.m. and off we went. Luckily it was empty and we got in right away. Unluckily, they said that his throat would be fine and never gave him anything....so right on schedule we go to bed and are awoken at 3:00 a.m. by Jacob's screams. *sigh*

He stayed up almost the rest of the night. By 4 he was throwing up and by 9:00 I had him right back to Dr. Button. He was so sick that I had to sit on the floor of the waiting room with him in my arms because if he sat alone in the chair he would topple over. Thank God Dr. Button saw us as soon as he got in and he was ROTTED because Jacob's throat IS infected and he could not understand why they didn't give him any antibiotics last night at the hospital. So now he is pretty concerned about the pain Jacob is having. It seems to be on the middle and right side of his belly. Right side meaning appendix area...not good. So now we have to watch him like a hawk and if his fever goes up (already it has) and if he can't walk ( I wouldn't know because he won't actually get up to try) AND, and this is the big one...if he has what is called "Rebound" pain after you press his right side (press his side it hurts, let go and it hurts WORSE and so far, that isn;t happening) then we have to go straight back to Emerg.

So he is sleeping right now...he hasn't thrown up since 2:50 and it is now 4:02. So he is keeping his medicine down in him anyway...while he is asleep I am popping online to update a few things and then I am back to my continuous watch of his every move.

Sick kids...I swear...there is nothing worse.

Yawn

2007-10-10T22:43:00.000-02:30

*YAWN*

It's 10:43 p.m. and I am tired. Its been a long day for me. I had a meeting all morning and then at lunchtime I did a "Wednesday at Noon" teleconference presentation with a Dr. friend of mine on smoking cessation. Its a pretty cool set up...like an hour online course where docs link in and they can ask us questions and stuff. But man was it ever tiring...

So I get home, pick up James, head to Walmart, decide to get Mickey D's for the kiddos for supper, set one foot back in the house and look at my Jacob who has gone white and is complaining about a sore throat. Check his head - Damn a fever. Off to the Janeway we head...luckily we were only in there for about an hour. Not bad at ALL from start to finish. Diagnosis of a virus with a possibility of strep...so they swabbed his throat and now we are home. NONE of the children are asleep yet as I am fairly sure Jacob is going to be home tomorrow. Thank God Mom and Dad can babysit :)

But it is now 10:48 and I am dropping...so it's time for stories and cuddles with Jacob, a nice goodnight to Jennifer and a rippy roary eyed fight with William to PLEASE FINISH your homework for goodness sakes and GO TO BED!!

LOL!! What a fun life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-10-07T08:18:00.000-02:30

It's turkey day!! Well technically, tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day but we celebrate on Sunday because it is easier to cook a big turkey on Sunday.

I however, will be cooking no turkey as we are all headed over to moms for a feast this year (and well...every year, Christmas, thanksgiving - always at Moms...but I digress). I have decided that I am going to eat breakfast and then try to not eat for the rest of the day because I want to positively gorge myself tonight....let's see how THAT goes shall we? LOL!!

So it is 8:20 a.m. and Jacob has already been up for over an hour....even though he didn't drop to sleep last night until almost 11. I swear that child just does NOT need much sleep. Must be nice - I am sitting here falling asleep sitting up. Will is still in bed and Jennifer was out to a wedding last night but she has to work at 10 so I assume I will hear her puttering around soon.

Right! Off to fill myself up on breakfast...I wonder if there is any bacon left in the fridge....??

Saturday blues

2007-10-06T09:00:00.000-02:30

It is 9:00 a.m. and already this day is shaping up to be a bad day. Sigh...I wish that I could have one weekend where I do nothing. Just scrap and play online. Drink lots of coffee in the day and wine at night. I wish I could have a weekend where I did NOT have to go shopping, clean the house, cart children around, break up fights, run errands, do laundry or even visit with family. Well that last one I love doing so its not that bad...but STILL!

Over the next two days we need to get the oil changed in the car, go all the frig way out to Costco because James won't buy Halloween candy anywhere else, clean the house, wash clothes, bring Jenn to and from work twice because she gets an hour for lunch and the poor child has to eat, go to Walmart and get things that we need, buy groceries, go out to Corey's with Mom tonight because she is sitting with Willow while Corey and Amanda are in Montreal, visit the baby because I have not seen her all week and I am having withdrawal symptoms, go swimming with Jacob AND at the end of it all..finally sit to a lovely Thanksgiving feast prepared by my mom. No turkey in my oven this year - thank GOD.

Damn its a busy life. Sometimes I wish it would slow down a little. But then again, if it did...wouldn't I be bored?

365 photos

2007-10-05T20:25:00.000-02:30

On one of my online sites I have started doing a 365 photo challenge. basically every day you take a picture having to do with your life...so at the end of it you have 365 hopefully meaningful pictures for your memories. I'm really excited about it and so while I am posting the pics on that site I also started a blog to keep them all in one place and have them easier to navigate.

So I am now the proud owner of TWO blogs...lets see how this one is going to work out LOL!!

Melissa's 365

Special and heartfelt thanks to my friend Cheri who designed the title banner. I wonder if I ask nicely would she do one for here too??

Dusting off the cobwebs

2007-10-05T09:34:00.000-02:30

Soooo...right.

Back again :) This summer was so busy and things were a little crazy there for a while so I let the old BLOG slide. Now that the kids are back in school and things are not so hectic during the day and night, I think I will start this baby up again. At least I am going to try...I've never been much of a journaller. I always think that I am much too boring and really don't have a lot of interesting things to say. But you know...I'm going to try to use this to record some memories and thoughts and feelings. If nothing else, it will be fun to look back on in a few years and remember what I was thinking at this particular time.

SO...new things with me in a nutshell:

1. JAcob is in First grade and he LOVES it. He is staying in for lunch every day and he LOVES it. Enough said. :)

2. William is in Grade 7 at IJ and HE loves it (who ARE these children??). I am still treading very carefully around saying that they are doing good because as soon as I say it outloud then all hell will break loose. So I am not saying they are perfect, but we are getting there.

3. In June we lost my mother in law to COPD and cancer. It was a difficult time for us all - she was ill for such a long time and the end came as a blessing. Jacob is handling it quite well, very maturely and matter of factly. I fear that James has not really come to terms with it yet but he is such an introvert that it is difficult to get him to talk about it. So we'll have to see how things progress...

4. Jennifer is in MUN and she hates it. LOL!! No seriously, she is doing Science courses and has now discovered that she HATES science. Ah well...better for her to realize it now before she is in a faculty or something. Next semester will be all arts courses for her and I predict that she will be a much happier camper.

5. We have a new baby in the family!! Neil and Sheryl had Hallie Elizabeth on August 9, 2007 and she is the most gorgeous thing you ever laid eyes on. I am completely in love with her. I will post some pictures up soon.

6. I have recently discovered Facebook. And in turn...my PARENTS have discovered facebook. Mom is too much a wimp to get her own account so they spend alot of time in the day going through my account and watching all the videos people send me, looking at pictures and just generally catching up with family. So its all good. Funny mind you...but good.

Aaaaannnnnd thats about it. Everything is staying the course and not changing a whole lot. See why I have such trouble keeping this thing up to date?

Finally! Some answers! Ala Dave B.

2007-05-20T16:18:00.000-02:30

I recently read your latest blog entry, and hate to see you in such turmoil. With this in mind, here are the answers to the ten questions that seem to be giving you so much trouble:
1. Yes, it is.

2. Yes, it is.

3. I have them. I have this thing for socks.

4. Because you've been brainwashed by their asinine little ditties. Its the same reason I once caught myself humming the Playtex tampon jingle while walking through the Village mall.

5. Answer to both parts: he keeps his nuts in a little jar by his bed.

6. Everything tastes better when your Mom makes it. If your Mom made you a dogcrap sandwich, it would still taste like dogcrap, but would (in your mind) be far superior to other dogcrap sandwiches (assuming you had some basis for comparison).

7. Mob mentality; its not the cost savings, its because everyone else seems to be doing it, so the lemmings figure all those people can't be wrong.

8. Its one of those recessive gene things; if you and James weren't so frigging calm, Jacob wouldn't have to pick up the slack for you two

.9. They run a disproportionately high number of Playtex tampon ads during that particular show; see question #4.

10. Those are not their children; they're being abducted. Call the police.

There you have it - you're welcome.
Dr. Baker

Things that I just don't understand...

2007-05-14T10:34:00.000-02:30

1. I have seen Return of the King 25 times now...and every single time Aragorn utters the phrase "My friends, you bow to no one" my heart skips a beat and burst into tears...sobbing uncontrollably. Isn't it about time I stopped that?

2. Why is it that every single morning I still have to fight on William to get him to go to school?? He's 12!! I've been playing this game wih him for 7 years now...isn't it about time that he realized that yes he IS going to school no matter how much he moans?

3. Why do I have so many odd socks? Where are the matches???

4. Why do I hate the PussyCat Dolls and everything they stand for and everything that they represent but yet I know the words to almost all of their hit songs?

5. How does Chris Martin from Coldplay get his voice so high? And WHY does his voice go right through me and give me cold shivers?

6. Why do sandwiches taste so much better when Mom makes them?

7. Why do people go insane filling up their cars with gas right before the price goes up a PENNY? Is that 40 cents SO important that you have to wait in a lineup at the station to make sure you get gas at the "bargain price"?

8. Why is Jacob trying to drive me to the mental one tantrum at a time? I'm calm enough, his father is calm...where does all of this ANGER come from??

9. Why can't I get enough of House M.D?

10. Why do people still smoke in their cars with children in the backseat?? Seriously...why??

Dropping off one more page

2007-05-03T15:07:00.000-02:30

I have another one too but I can;t post it yet. On a whim I entered it in an online contest at Pagemaps.com. There is no way I will win but I thought it would be fun to try...I'll post it next month after the contest is over :)

For now, there is this one - cousins!

The joys of Facebook

2007-05-03T15:02:00.000-02:30

So I have a new addiction - Facebook. I can't believe the people on there that I know! 90% of my family memebrs under the age of 40 are there...which is WICKED becasue it is a quick and dirty way to get updates on everyone and share pictures and sing out and stuff...I am talking to old friends that I thought had forgotten about me...and meeting new ones...it's SO cool.

In other news...Jennifer has a job!!! WOO!!! I am so thrilled about it...and it is in a great spot too...just up over the hill at Home Hardware. James is salivating at the thought of a discount...we'll have to see about that one...

The Times They Are A Changin'

2007-04-16T10:44:00.000-02:30

Ever wake up one morning and notice that things around you are just....changing? children are growing....people are getting married and having babies, others have new jobs, new paint in the house, all of those little life things that are so every day and normal but yet...very very noticable when they happen all around the same time?

For me...this weekend I noticed alot of changes around me:

1. William is taller than I am now...no big deal as I am fairly short but he is only 12...and I am well....not.

2. When James lifts Jacob into his arms, Jacob's legs fall below James's knees.

3. Jacob can't really fit on my lap anymore, he can curl up in a ball but he is really getting too big.

4. Jennifer is finished her first year of university and now she is job hunting.

5. Speaking of Jenn, her friend Sarah's parents are going away for 10 days and leaving Jenn and Sarah to house-sit. So do these girls plan a big blow out super party?? No....they are planning a sit down dinner party and are discussing which wine will go with which meal...

6. Matthew is getting married....again. Enough said.

7. Sheryl is showing. Like wearing maternity clothes showing...

8. Corey and Amanda are getting married next June and are planning on trying for a baby right way. My baby brother as a Dad...too crazy to consider.

9. I need to paint every room in my house...when we moved it needed nothing...now all of a sudden...it does.

10. Mom is applying for her Canada Pension. They are thinking about quitting most of their buildings they clean up and actually retiring.

So many changes...so many people growing up around me...so many times I look in the mirror and see my Mom's face over mine. Change is good. It is healthy and it is a part of life...but sometimes...it seems like everything changes at once...and it takes a moment to get your feet back underneath you.

2007-04-13T11:33:00.000-02:30

Speaking of scrapbooking, I did a few more pages...I like to do at least two pages a week...it keeps me grounded :)

Let's talk about junkie's

2007-04-13T11:24:00.000-02:30

I was just going through my I-tunes playlist and it struck me as funny...I don't think I could say that I like a particular kind of music. I mean, lets see here, my playlist goes from GreenDay to Genesis to Neil Young to Rush to Justin Timberlake to the Dixie Chicks to Eminem to My Chemical Romance...there's no common bond! Well except for the fact that it is all good music that is LOL!! I even have a few Weird Al songs thrown in there for good measure. Now THAT is a talented guy...who would have ever thought someone could be SO clever with music??

Anyway, I am a music junkie...and a coffee junkie...and damn it all I loves my wine. Seriously love it...so much so that I have to be VERY aware of how much I am drinking because the last thing I want to do is follow in certain family members footsteps and develop a full blown addiction to alcohol. That would mean that I would have to give up wine and there is NO way I will let that happen...so I monitor closely...funny when you think about it.

What else do I obsess over...well scrapbooking of course...thats a given.

And if I miss an episode of House or Criminal Minds I am off kilter for the rest of the week or until I see it. Now THAT is weird...

So I guess I am a junkie to many things...but you know, my passions are kind of what make me who I am...they define me in some ways...what I like and don't like, what makes me happy and gives me pleasure. Know those and you sort of know me :)

New pages!

2007-04-04T10:42:00.000-02:30

April Showers

2007-04-04T10:34:00.000-02:30

*Sigh*

Rain. It's nice enough I suppose...but relatively dreary. Rain makes me sad, not bawling my eyes out turning into a sobbing mess sad...more melancholy I think. Everything is so dark and shadowy, everyone walks with their heads down or with faces covered by umbrellas. Although, one good thing about rain and fog...it is getting rid of the dreaded snow. WOO! In another few weeks I just might be able to see my flower beds...

On a completely unrelated topic, James and I are going to dinner on Saturday night! How exciting is that??? A sales rep gave him a gift certificate to the Keg and Mom has graciously agreed to babysit the young'uns and so WE are going to dinner! I am so excited...we so rarely get out anymore...between an extreme lack of money and an even extremer lack of people willing to stay with the kids (ok, I'll be blunt, willing to stay with Jacob) we never EVER get to go anywhere by ourselves. So this is a royal treat let me tell you :) The GC is even enough so that we might be able to splurge on a whole bottle of wine! weeee!!!

Funny little epiphany

2007-03-23T09:03:00.000-02:30

Jacob is going to be in Grade one in a few months. He is finishing kindergarten in a few months and then after summer break he will be in school from 8:30 - 2:30 every single day.

Doesn't seem like a big deal eh? Well last night it took my breath away. Literally took my breath away and blood rushed right to my head and I actually felt sweaty and clammy just thinking about it. Panic attck? Fear? Disbelief? RELIEF? I have no idea...but if I close my eyes and think about it, I feel that way all over again.

I've been doing alot of thinking about Jacob in the past oh - five years or so. He has been the most challenging and interesting of the three children. He has been the most idle and the most spirited. He has been the most loveable and the funniest. All three of the children are special in their own ways - Jennifer is the gentlest and has the softest heart, William is the smartest and has the driest sense of humor....but there is something about Jacob that just throws us all off balance - it always has really. And I think last night I was all of a sudden faced with the reality that this baby, this child that we have struggled with for so long..is actually growing up. Sure he is still flipping out at every opportunity. Sure he is still hard to get along with and so ANGRY so often...but he is also helping me cook supper, he is calling friends on the phone, he is sleeping through the night, he is doing things for himself and holding conversations with adults that are sensible! And in school he is one of the sweetest, most considerate, most helpful and pleasant children there.

I think last night I just realized that we are really and truly getting there. The light at the end of this tunnel is becoming more than a pinprick...it is getting bigger and bigger...and a part of me is sad to see it so (a BIG part of me)...there is another part of me that just is so happy that we made it through...and everybody still in one piece too! No small feat let me tell you. :)

Come Away With Me

2007-03-22T10:29:00.000-02:30

Come Away with me in the night....
Come away with me

*sigh* Nora Jones....the womans voice could melt butter...

And a very appropriate song too....last year I was asked to go away with a group of my closest friends...to St. Louis, where they were all meeting for the first time. And I couldn't go. Money being what it is, and living on this island which should NOT be so isolated but actually is REALLY expensive to fly out of...damnit all there was just no way I could go. So the trip was last weekend and I have been looking at pictures and videos of the trip for the past few days and I am crying every single time. I missed my friends. I should have been there and I am literally mourning the loss.

So my husband has determined that in order to keep me from going completely off the deep end that we will start saving NOW for the next get-together! Woo!! I'm in baby!

You know, I think that this weekend and not being there really made me realize something. I realize that I have real, true, actual friends. The ladies that I have been chatting to and sharing with and laughing and crying with over the past five years are much much more than anonymous words on a computer screen. They are real women who LIKE me and whom I love in return. What an amazing thing!! I always say that I don't have any real life girlfriends - someone hurt me badly many years ago and I am simply unable to form that sort of bond with another woman....and then I realize that I HAVE bonded with other women...I HAVE girlfriends IN REAL LIFE - in my life, right now. The KIT girls are my friends and I am so so very proud to be a part of this wonderful group of women.

And yes...I WILL meet them next year...mark my words :)

Lord grant me Patience

2007-03-15T10:32:00.000-02:30

Too bad these BLOG'S don't have smilies...there is a really good one of a person tearing their hair out and then another who spins in circles waving their arms madly...yeah...thats me...

I have come to the stark realization in a very short period of time that I am actually NOT going to escape much of the foolishness of puberty when it comes to William. Not only that, but he is going to be a BAAAADDDDD teenager. Stubborn??? OMG I've never seen anything like it before in my life. Last night I actually screamed at him for the fist time in months...literally screamed at him. The child would NOT move from the friggin' computer, he had to go to his Grandparent's house for supper ...I even gave him fair warning...he was on the computer for SIX hours straight and he HAD to move. His muscles are going to atrophy I swear...and he had the nerve to look at me and just say "No.I'm not going. I am not moving"

HA!! In your dreams mister!

So I unplugged the computer. So there. Take THAT you stubborn teenager you.

So off he went vicious. VICIOUS with me. And I didn't care.....well thats what I told him anyway...in actuality I was heartbroken and out of sorts for the rest of the evening. But he didn't need to know that...

So he comes home and everything is ok, he's still crooked but he's smiling so thats a good sign. Then this morning JAcob goes down to play on the computer and William has locked him out. Deleted Jacob's account and put a password on his own account (Windows XP) with a hint that says "If I can't play on my computer no one can"

Where's that smilie of a person who's head is exploding??????

I'm not ready for this drama. The child needs his father. I don't care what anyone says. So Matthew if you are reading this - get your ass home. I'm not doing this alone buddy.

My week in a nutshell

2007-03-12T14:10:00.000-02:30

Jacob gets the stomach flu
Jacob goes to Hospital because he is SO sick - all is well but he is still sick
William gets the stomach flu
Dad gets the stomach flu
Rebecca's baby is born! WOO!! Yay Lily is here!
Visit Rebecca and Lily - newborns- sigh!!!!
William has the Kiwanis Music Festival - yay! Second place in his category!
Talent show at the boys school
Education week activites all week for the boys
I get sick - NO stomach flu go away! No time!!
Jacob is doing well with his sticker chart
Jacob chooses to go bowling as his reward and completely flips out during the excursion - note to self: no more bowling as a reward
Two big reports at work
No time to scrapbook - boo-hoo! Going through withdrawls
All of the stress has made me snapish and waspish and I yell at my husband - ALOT
James and I make up - only to be thrown completely for a loop by Jacob freaking out and tearing the door off the Entertainment Center
Realize that I haven't updated the old BLOG in a week and so try to update it with a lame list that doesn't even come close to reflecting how crazy last week really was

And so....thats it in a nutshell...update tonight with pictures!

Impulsive Aggression

2007-03-02T12:59:00.000-03:30

Sounds interesting eh? Basically it means that Jacob has anger management problems that need to be addressed. Funny, I didn't think I actually NEEDED a professional to tell me this, but once she did I somehow felt better. Like I wasn't alone, there are others like him, Jacob is not an anomaly and no, I am not raising the next Ted Bundy.

So we have a plan..and we have to see Dr. St. John now every month and each month we will try something different until we find something that works...on the far end and nowhere near us yet is medication, but we are not even discussing this possibility until all else fails. So I have hope. The glimmer of hope really is that Jacob is amazing in school. He is always cheerful, always helpful, never gets into trouble...so he is CAPABLE of controlling himself...it is just that he has all of this energy and all of these emotions and while he tamps it all down in school, when he gets home he explodes like a volcano. It makes SENSE finally...now we just have to try to find a good solution that works for him and that we are comfortable with :)

Let it Snow! Let it Snow!...oh shut up....

2007-02-27T21:00:00.000-03:30

No explanation necessary...yes that is my house...and my husband..poor fellow. I swear to God we are getting a snowblower next year if I have to sell my body to get it...It took him 4 HOURS to shovel the driveway on Saturday...4 HOURS...he was beat to a snot by the time it was all said and done. Notice that the snow is now OVER my fence...the children can literally walk over it...a six and a half foot fence and it is buried...ridiculous.

The Bruise that Ate Manhatten

2007-02-27T20:55:00.000-03:30

Look away! Look away! It's hideous!!

But at least my leg is still intact - no broken bones...just a big bruise (on my calf AND on my ego). Honestly, the picture doesn't even do it justice. I measured it with a ruler today as I was trying to explain it to Laura...the monstrosity is 8 inches long by 5 inches wide...and man oh man is it EVER tender!

Luckily I am unable to really GO very far because of all this snow...see next post...

Snowed in

2007-02-21T13:38:00.000-03:30

Snowed in. This is just silly. I mean, this snow! My goodness, there's just too much. That's a picture of my poor garden up there, the snow is OVER my six foot fence! It has no where to go! You shovel so much and the banks are almost as high as your house...and now they are speaking for more on Saturday! GAH!!! I'm moving to Florida as soon as my children are grown...this is ridiculous.

In other news, I almost broke my leg yesterday. I know...for someone so delicate and gentile HOW could I have been so clumsy?? HA! I am a lumbering ox and I know it....I tumbled over myself getting out of Jacob’s bed last night…DESTROYED my leg. I thought for SURE it was broken. I was crying, Jacob was screaming, William was running for ice saying “Move your toes!! Can you move your toes???” and poor James was trying to calm everyone down. You should SEE the wicked bruise I got…it’s seriously 6 inches long by about 4 inches wide. If I was skinny I would have cracked my leg right off. Now I am hobbling about feeling like a fool…

So between the bruised up leg and the snow mountains, I am fairly crooked about it all...

From the mouths of babes

2007-02-14T15:18:00.001-03:30

Yesterday was a RIDICULOUS day. Jacob was in a snit. There is no other way to describe it...he was in a snit. Everything bothered him, he was bored, he was tired, he was hungry...he was completely out of sorts. And when Jacob is in a snit you'd better watch out - you'd get a toy up the side of the head faster than you could say "Watch out!"

So after an evening of being verbally abused by a five year old, torn and bruised from trying to keep him out of trouble and exhausted from dodging flying toys I decided that he just HAD to go to bed. My patience was GONE, I was tired and House was on at 10:30...that child was GOING to sleep if I had to knock him over the head to do it.

So he struggled and he fought. He yelled and he screamed. He cried and he cajoled. But I stood my ground and lay with him singing quietly just being patient (not an easy task let me tell you) and then at 10:00 p.m. he quieted. He lay with me and he was quiet. Then he touched my face with his little hand and buried his face in my hair and breathed "You always smell so good"

And then he slept. And my heart broke. Just broke.

I watched him sleeping and all I could think about was that one little sweet moment. The trials and tribulations of the night just disappeared into a puff of smoke and I lay there and snuggled with my boy.

Funny how these things happen eh? One small gesture and I turn to mush...out of the mouths of babes - he made my whole night brighter.

The Trouble with Food

2007-02-10T23:53:00.000-03:30

The trouble with food is that I have too many children that eat me out of house and home. WHO knew that having one teenager plus one tween plus one kindergartener would involve SO MUCH bloody food??? I swear to God if they had their way I would be chained to the kitchen destined to only serve them. It is midnight...MIDNIGHT and William is in bed moaning about being hungry....and see...they know I can't deal with that. They know my biggest nightmare is having hungry children...so down I trek to the kitchen to get him a cut up apple with peanut butter. He asked for ice cream. YES B'Y! Ice cream at this time of night. I don't think so mister, not on my watch. It's an apple or nothing.

Jacob - God love him, Jacob decided that right before bed he was hungry...and then wanted cauliflower. Now I should know to keep it on hand because he loves it so much, but you know, it's gone and I haven't been to the supermarket to buy more. So he throws a fit. Good lord what 5 year old throws a fit over vegetables??? Know what appeased him? I dare you to guess....nah, you won't get it. Broccoli. He was satisfied with a head of broccoli. O-K..whatever works there Cujo - eat your broccoli.

It's a good thing Jennifer is out tonight, otherwise by this time I would be hearing the pop of popcorn...and smelling it would make me hungry. I think she is addicted to popcorn...

Aaaaaand...now I'm hungry. I wonder what's in the fridge for me to eat?

Definition of exhaustion

2007-02-06T22:34:00.000-03:30

I am absolutely exhausted...there's no other way to say it. I am actually blurry eyed I am so tired. Yet "House" is on and I must watch..I am compelled to keep my eyes open and watch this show....I know, I'm a nut. If she is so darn tired, why doesn't she sleep you ask. Well because House is on. DUH! Jeepers people get with the program. House, Criminal Minds and CSI...the three shows that I won't miss even if I have to prop my eyes open with toothpicks. Which is looking like a distinct possibility at the moment.

Today was filled with dealing with Insurance people, supper, homework and da-da-da-DAAAA!! the launch of our new mass media campaign. Woooo....applause applause!! Yes yes indeed, the campaign is launched and off the ground. Five months of hard work and MAN does it ever look nice. We were lucky though, we have a SUPER marketing firm working with us...I swear, I had the original vision and M5 reached inside my head and pulled out what I wanted. It was almost scary how close they came to what I wanted. I am SO pleased. And so busy. Hence the exhaustion.

Oh look...it's a House episode I haven't seen..hmmm....

Oh darn it

2007-02-05T22:31:00.000-03:30

So Jennifer has had her first fender bender in the car *insert big tragic sigh here* And really, the term "fender bender" is innappropriate...more like "fender scratch-fender dent"...the dent being on the other guys car. According to Jennifer and William (who was in the car with her) she inched out to see around a snowbank because she was turning right...the guy coming down the opposite side saw her inching and hit his brakes and slid on the snow into her lane and thus into her...but they were both going so slow that it was literally a scrape and a tap. Problem is that I can't figure out whose fault it is...Jennifer swears she was not turning and into his lane because of the snow...but the scratch is on the drivers side bumper of our car so it makes sense to say that she WAS into the turn and he scraped his way down.

ACK...I don't know...all I know is that there is no damage on our car except for a small scrape on the bumper...and even if it IS her fault then we will deal with it the best we can...I just have pains in my stomach thinking about it *insert another big sigh here*.

I guess tomorrow will tell the tale, we have buddy's insurance information and he has ours so I will call our agent and see what the next steps are...I mean, I have a funny feeling that its going to be a he said-she said type deal...and if thats the case, is anyone going to believe an 18 year old girl and her 12 year old brother??

The Big 1-2

2007-02-04T09:17:00.000-03:30

Happy Birthday toooooo youuuuu....
Happy Birthday tooooooo youuuuuu....
Happy Biiiiirthday dear William -
Happy Birthday tooooooo youuuuuuuu!

Yes thats right, William hits the big 1-2 today! TWELVE! Isn't that the craziest thing you have ever heard? He is one full year away from being an official teenager - be still my heart, another teenager in the house! LOL Well honestly, I don't think that he is going to be anything like Jennifer was. Jenn was a moody, cranky teen - sometimes. Most of her troubles came from her friends. William on the other hand....geez, I think William is going to turn into a hermit teenager who never sees the light of day. Bahahahahahaha...poor little bird, I shouldn't talk about him ike that on his birthday...

So tonight we are having all of the family over for pizza and cake and presents. Matthew sent me some money for presents from him so he will have some extra here tonight...all the better, more to open! I am really looking forward to it - I love my children's birthdays...

I will post pictures of my big 12 year old guy this evening after the party.

HA! Twelve....un-freaking-believable.

An E-mail from Dave

2007-02-02T09:18:00.000-03:30

My bestest buddy in the world - well, except for my husband of course - is Dave. The following is his most current correspondence. We will not even TRY to begin to explain how much I miss this guy! I think if he lived any further away than Nova Scotia I would just have to kidnap him and bring him back home. Luckily, it's only an hour and a half on plane...so he's safe. For now.

Hey babe;

Just checked out your blog - pretty sharp! I have to admit though, it all
feels a bit foreign to me, in that same family-oriented way that wandering
through the baby wear section of Wal-Mart makes me feel... but you know me,
ever the bachelor. I was going to leave a comment, but the site insisted
that I sign up for Google something-or-other; since I happen to know that
Google, Microsoft and Coca-Cola are all in a four way pact with Satan to
enslave the human race, I decided against signing up. If you want to post
this on my behalf, feel free to do so.

Hope everything is good with yourself, James, the kids et al. Take care and
talk to you soon!

Love,
- Big Dave

PS: New and improved Dave is now 19.3% smaller! All the Dave you've always
loved, now in the handy 238 lb travel size! Order yours today!

The picture that makes me cry

2007-02-01T23:01:00.000-03:30

And really...lets be honest here...who WOULDN'T cry at a picture of her daughter, surrounded by friends she loves dressed in graduation gear and holding her high school diploma?? Come on...you would have to have a heart of steel to not be touched by this one! Jennifer - on the far left of that picture...my only girl, a child born out of love and into a strange new world. We beat the odds together Jennifer and I (and ok, I'll give some credit to Matthew here too LOL!) ..the child of two teenagers, we grew up together. Babies raising a baby - how far we have come.

Go ahead - I dare you not to feel a little twinge looking at her there...all grown up.

The second picture that makes me cry

2007-02-01T22:51:00.000-03:30

I have no idea why - it could be the look on William's face - that big irresistible grin, those red cheeks. It could be the fact that Matthew is standing behind him looking very "fatherly", it could be the fact that they are together...I have no CLUE what it is but this picture touches my heart every single time I look at it.

Of course, truth be told...pretty much everything makes me cry. I am what they call "soft-hearted"...depending on who you are talking to that could mean that I am a wimp or that I am super sensitive. Either way, I cry at everything - looking at my children, TV commercials, songs, music videos, movies...you name it...I have probably cried about it. But you know, my husband can be very wise sometimes, and he says that my sensitivity makes me who I am...and he wouldn't change me for the world :) So I'll cry at pictures of my eldest son flying a kite with his father, and I'll try not to be too embarrassed about it.

I Didn't Do it

2007-01-31T20:45:00.000-03:30

That will be the name of the scrapbook page..I Didn't Do it.

You know, I really should learn my lesson. Didn't the great vaseline adventure teach me anything? Oh no...most definitely not. I need to tattoo this to my forehead "Jacob Quiet = BAD"

What is this you may ask? What is he into now?? Why BANANAS of course? Can't you tell by the ooey, gooey mess he is in? Bananas...of ALL things. And people wonder why my hair is going grey....

Two boys fighting

2007-01-31T11:10:00.000-03:30

I realized that I didn't go into much detail about Jacob and William's fight yesterday. It was a snow day you see...the second one in less than a week and they were feeling trapped and on each others nerves. At least, thats my theory anyway.

So apparently, Jacob was in the rec room throwing a ball with one of his friends. William was not pleased about this fact and yelled at him to stop. Jacob - being Jacob screamed "I won't! You shut up!" Of course William being William - he grabbed the ball and held it over his head saying "You're not getting this back!" Thats when the real trouble started...Jacob picked up the closest thing to him - which happened to be a CD and let it fly at Will...caught him right below the right eye. DAMN those things can do some damage! William screamed and ran for JAcob and tackled him and proceeded (according to my Mom who rushed downstairs) to stomp on him with his foot. Keeping in mind that William is oh a good 150 pounds and Jacob is about 60 - it was a fairly uneven match.

So Mom and Dad seperated them and Mom gave William a tongue banging for hurting Jacob - meanwhile blood was running down Williams face from the cut under his eye, Jacob was screaming and flipping out and their friends ran for cover. And THAT is when I got called home.

So last night at 10:30 p.m. Mom called me in tears saying "Tell William I am so sorry for yelling at him today! I didn't mean to be so mad" And I tell William and he goes "Well Jacob deserved it anyway"

Ahhhh....all in a day's work eh?

End of the first day

2007-01-30T22:45:00.000-03:30

Well my first day as an official blogger has been fairly normal - filled with work and children and refereeing fights between the boys, cooking supper and finally getting on the computer once all hands are in bed. See? My life is SO boring...every day is pretty much the same LOL

Jacob was in fine form today. This morning he was so quiet, I was so happy to have a nice few moments to myself but I KNEW...I KNEW that he was up to something. So I was just raising myself off of the couch when he sauntered in calm as could be - his face COATED with various shades of lipstick, eyeliner, mascara (do you know how hard it is to scrub waterproof mascara out of a five year olds eyebrows?? - it's HARD let me tell you). I didn't want to make a big deal out of it so I said quite calmly "Oh, so you found some makeup did you?" "Yes", he says "I look like Hawk now!" Oh-KAY..so he wants to look like a wrestler...niiiiice.

So I soak my makeup ridden child in the bath and then I go work and get called home - see previous post. Everything is all back to normal when I get there...except of course for William sporting a nice big cut under his eye from a CD flung angrily out of Jacob's hands. Lovely. I go upstairs and notice that Jacob's bedroom is in a state so I start to pick it up...and notice that the Game Cube games are MISSING. Just missing...well this is a mystery....so I call out to Jacob and ask him where they could possibly be. Oh, he says, I forgot about that. And over he goes to the dresser and opens up a big crock of Vaseline (WHY WHY WHY was that even IN there??) and says "Here they are! I put them in here!"

YEs, he shoved TEN gamecube games fully into a full crock of vaseline. They are literally GLUED together in this sticky, icky mess. We spent a full half hour just cleaning the darn things up.

Note to self: Next time, get the games out of the room...and while you are at it, take the vaseline too.

First real post

2007-01-30T14:13:00.000-03:30

Ok...so my first real post is a rant...and it's a rant about my sons so be prepared..

WHY oh WHY as SOON as I leave the house do those two hoodlems ALWAYS turn into monsters?? WHY??? It is SO not right for me to go to work and have Mom call and tell me that she cannot handle the two of them together and that she is tired and that she can't deal with it anymore. Damnit...*I* can't deal with this for much longer! There is just no need for those two to be at this foolishness...it's a Snow Day people! Get out of the house, stop picking and barking at one another and go play!

Ugh, some days, I just cannot reconcile working full time and trying to raise three children - well, one's almost raised but still....

Hey it worked!

2007-01-30T13:35:00.000-03:30

Well well well...it worked!

Now...I just need to figure out how to do everything else - add pictures especially. I like the idea of putting things into one spot. I've never been one to journal or keep a diary becasue I figure I am too damn boring, but you know, this seems ok. Jenn says that it will be nice for me to have a spot to just type out things that are on my mind. She claims that it will help me de-stress. HA! Like that is even possible!

Hmmm..how do I edit my "About Me" stuff I wonder...off to check!

So this is what my BLOG looks like

2007-01-30T13:33:00.000-03:30

Ok...I'm doing this on a whim and COMPLETELY confused about it all. Maybe Jennifer can help me later on...but right now I figure I'll post and muddle through. I don't like this template very much but it will do for now...how do you find different ones I wonder?

OK...I'm going to post this and see what happens LOL