Around the World in 80 Clicks

Around the World in 80 Clicks

I've been Tagged! I'm going to participate so bare with me as I work on getting this right the first time! First the copy and paste. I was tagged by Cara over at Momma Says in this post Around the World in 80 Clicks.

The Rules.
The rules are to list five things you love about parenthood and link back to the meme's authors, Catherine at Her Bad Mother and David at It's Not a Lecture so they know you need to be added to the departure lounge. Then, you need to tag five other mommy bloggers, some from your country and some from others. David is hooking everyone up - see the HBM post I've linked to above for details.

Now for my 5 things...

1. I love that Parenthood has taught me I do not know everything, my kids continually inform me of the things I do not know or just how uninformed I am about the real world.
2. I love that Parenthood teaches me just how much I can love my kids, I remember the day I was handed my first boy, TJ was so tiny, and I got to hold him for only a few seconds before he was taken to be checked out. He was a 5wk preemie. I also remember talking to my Mom on the phone and saying "I love him SO much" and her saying back "I know" cause she did she knew exactly how much because that was how much she loved me and my siblings.
3. I love that Parenthood is constantly changing, there is no room to be bored here. No way, they rules change constantly and the little men change with each day, if I thought I had it "down" and knew what I was doing yesterday, I was being cocky cause today it's going to change.
4. I Love that Parenthood was given to me by my Hubbie and that I can see my Hubbie in my boys. It's those certain looks that he gets, or the chin dipples that I see in TJ that Hubbie has, the blue eyes in all of them. I also see some of his attitudes, and it's almost funny to watch.
5. I Love the Cuddles and hugs and kisses of Parenthood. I love when they used to cuddle in close for a feeding or hold my fingers while they got down to the job at hand. The tiny little fingers and toes and now seeing how big those tiny toes and fingers are getting. How BIG A hug can get from then to now, and I look forward to the Hugs of the future.

Now I will be tagging some of my blog readers.

Mrsblupete who write over at Tales from the Zookeeper
The Headless Mom who writes over at The Adventures of the Headless Family
Anne over at Teach Only Love
Michelle over at Michelle's Blog
Anissa over at Our Chaotic Life

OK GO! :)

Random Tuesday, we lost Spring?

I think I've lost spring, well maybe it's not so much as lost but having an identity crisis. We went from Snow in the back yard, to kids playing in a sandpile in shorts sitting beside the pile of snow? I did not get a picture though, camera was accidentally still attached to the Computer and battery juice no more. DARN!

Swine Flu? think maybe it's got something to do with Mexico trying to keep other people out of their country due to that drug problem?

There was a lotto Win, 10Bus drivers in my county, yep in my county, no none were friends darn it! seem to have won 106,000.00 between them. I can totally see myself blowing 10,000 without even getting a material item into my house. hmmm Those ads might not be a bad idea on this bloggy thingy? hmmm? "buy my stuff... buy my stuff" oh wait I have no stuff!

There's some late buses going on today, in my neighborhood... you know? I just realized that my kids bus driver yesterday was a fill-in? maybe they said the name of "that" community but really meant mine? I'll be the sub is still trying to find all the kids to pick up.

Summer, yep it must be, today's high is to be 28C! but we're also still on flood watch here. There is a part of the highway system closed due to high water levels. We're on high ground here, well kind of, there is that swamp in my side yard, and behind my lot that we kind of own but don't pay any attention to. We just have to watch for Bears, Fox, Deer, Beavers, and other critters of mass distruction. So far our most distructed feature is the front lawn, it now has a tunnel system with structural damage and sinks. Sometimes it's a nice flat law and next thing you know your up to your ankle in hole!!!! Damn Gophers!

Now that it's warming and the sun is coming around the back yard, I'm off to do my part for stopping climate change for a minute longer and hang out my laundry. Really it's more about saving me 30cents a load in electricity for drying those clothes.
Happy Tuesday, if i you have no idea, why I'm writing so Randomly, go on over and visit Keely The Unmom and get yourself a Random Tuesday Thoughts Badge and start randomly typing away... :) Also Hi to all the other RTT Bloggers out there reading and popping in.

KTTS and KTTD

I'm not sure if you've all heard this before but CTTD is Cute Things They Do, sometimes there are CTTS ,Cute Things They Say, but this one can get even the most tame parent in trouble.They just have to repeat everything you say don't they? Today I bring you my versions, a combination from MJ of KTTD and KTTS, as well as an update from the older boys. I think it's only fitting they now be known as K TTD and K TTS cause really my kids are Kyoot!(for those just joining or first time readers, Kyoot=cute)

Today MJ got up after the boys were ready at the door to go to school, this is good it makes hte morning move so much faster. He sat in his chair, I gave him a bowl of strawberries, the other boys had their in their lunches so he starts pulling them out 1 by 1 and lining them up on the table. I think there may have been a strawberry parade, but instead it was a strawberry beauty pageant where only the best strawberries get to stay in the bowl and be eaten. The other strawberries were sent to me for cosmetic surgery. "this one is dirty" in reality it's just a patch that's seedier then the rest or where this strawberry has run into another strawberry and got a bit roughed up. No Berries were harmed in the making of this breakfast. YES I took their heads off, yes your right I did cut them in 1/2 or 1/3s but they were big. Oh no! maybe I've become a strawberry judger? "you fat strawberry, to the back of the line..."

So after a bit he says "I'm cold" it was 0C here over night but got up to 2C by 630am, 7am it was bout 4C the sun is coming up, it's suppose to reached about 11C but there will be wind. Sorry Tangent, I get a bit carried away when it's weather. So I have to tell him that one of his little Einstein guys is by the radiator (hot electric rads), and he comes to get him and tells me he's missing 1. We go looking,
I said "which one? is it the one with the blond hair?"
and he says straight faced as ever" yeah like me but it sticks up straight like this!" and he pulls his hair up off his head. He just got a hair cut Saturday, there isn't much to pull up. Boys!
I said "was it like this", and I'm sitting here making pony tails in my hair with my hands, "yeah!"
I looked at him and explained "those are called Pony Tails"
and that's when it turns into another KTTD his nose gets all scrunched up and his eyes give me that "you can't be serious look" HA!!! now he's moving the sofa, and looking for the lost blond girl, at least he's determined.

AJ's turn this weekend had his first communion, he will not make it as a priest, since it's a bit too "subdued" for his personality. I think this boy may have to become an actor/musician/center stage hog! like his Dad. I was actually thankful that my mind was on MJ most of the mass so that I didn't see with my own eyes all of what Hubbie and the other 75-100 people in the pews saw. I know someday I'll be able to go to church and hear all of what's said and some day I will "get" the Homily? right? Good thing most masses are reruns from the year before. (see tangent)
AJ did okay.

He picked out his own clothes Saturday. I took him shopping and I offered new jeans and a button polo shirt, he directed me over to the manly looking dress pants and Shirt, and wanted a TIE too!!! We went off to the "family" dressing rooms and he tried them on. This was a first too, I'm more of a "measure it up to your legs get is a touch big, and bring it home and wear it" kind of shopper. This was good though, we went in, he tried the clothes on and they fit! and Oh didn't he look so handsome! I was so proud! I almost squished him with hugs. He is at the age where hugs are still okay. So we bought that, I also had to add in shoes for me, sneakers for TJ, T-shirt for MJ, T-shirt and jeans for TJ! 130.00 later I left the store. Oh Hubbie took MJ and TJ for their haircuts hear that cash register cha-ching. AJ had already been to the hair cut, Tuesday, more cha-ching for the store.
The results? AJ Sunday...


ignore the windblown and puffy mom...

TJ is at the age in life where KTTD and KTTS are a bit more few and far between, he also doesn't want you to notice these things and becomes easily embarrassed. I of course think that falls under KTTD, but I can't say that to you all, please read my mind here...>Whistles innocently while remembering how he tried to tie MJ's shoes for him, while I was chatting with other Moms and Dads at the after party, I mean, little social gathering in the church basement with cake) He's still hugable and still says "love you". (hoping no friends' read here)

Another Funny story, but it's Hubbie. I was telling him that based on AJ's attempts to steal the show from the priest, I think that Maybe AJ should get into something stage based. I pointed out, "your mother warned me about this, she said anytime there was a stage or a presentation, you were front and center".
He looked at me shocked? "My Mom said that?"
I said "yes and she had some examples for me"
to which I hear "you know as I was watching AJ up there, I had a flash back, high school,(cue the flashback dream sequence) I was in a few bands. There were some of us that had been in bands before, but others that just never had any stage experience. So me and some guys got together for a talent show. We were up on the stage....(he's now taking his playing base guitar stance while tell me this, see any audience will do?) and we start in with the theme from Cheers, and then it's time for the singer... and he's not singing, he's standing there FROZEN! stage fright. we start into another song to save this show and he's not singing, just standing there holding the mic" Hubbie still has Base Guitar Stance while tell me the story, and you can see the arm of the imaginary guitar move around and the strut is starting, and he concludes with "so the curtains are starting to close and so I figure it's not getting any worse then this and I walk out infront of the curtains and start me a little Base solo" I had to walk out of the room all the while saying
"Your mother warned me, and she told me she could see you in the boys, but did I listen?..."

so that's our CTTD and CTTS for Monday, no of course there are no "me" stories. I can only be so Kyoot while trying to raise this much Kyootiness in one house!

Last Friday of April

And...here we go!

1. Apparently there's some sort of _rule that when your child turns 4, their brain must instruct their mouth to tell you every single thing that was floating around in the brain. Today I've heard that "the sun is out, oh wait it's gone".
I helped him making a paper air plane, "Okay I'm going to fly it", (ouch, he hit my face) "I'm sorry mommy, oops" "it almost hit that picture, cause me and dad made it" (uh dad's at work and the picture is a gift from my mom), "Maybe my plane is faster then my new toy (points at Little Einsteins Rocket ship that flies at his speed), "maybe we can get Grandma at her home so that she can see my plane" "oops, just hit your back...sorry mommy again(and the again was said with great dramatic effect)" "wohhhh it just went around you again, I don't know where it flew, Paper Airplane?" "no I don't want waffles" "I want waffles but not toasted,please" (plane just zoomed over my hands on the keyboard) "it goes super speed" "not yet (picking it up for a retry) "oopsy it got stuck in the door, mom it got stuck on the bathroom door". I rescued the plane. So when do they get to the rules about keeping some thoughts inside their heads? I could go for that now_.

2. __Today is due to be a ___ sunny day. We will go for a walk together hand in hand and get some much needed vitamin D and warmth and exercise. I'm sure I'll hear about the cars, the water, the ditch, the foxes the real airplanes over head, the rubber boots, the swing set, the back yard the front yard, the crack in the driveway. :)

3. 2009 __has been busy___ so far. We are working on replacing our roof in May. We've already had to replace the screen door on our porch, it didn't last over the winter. It didn't help that I had to kick it open when I was unable to push it so I could let the kids in when we had a snow storm. I was trapped! hehe The boys have also decided to grow 2inches each which means new clothes and shoes. This weekend I'll spend Magic Money, Magic cause it will have to appear out of thin air.

4. __Snow, last day of snow pics,
__ that was it.

5. For too long I've been ___healing, and not moving. I'm actually craving the moving, I miss playing with the boys actively. I missed out on the last sledding of the season, and long walks, little walks are good but I'm missing those long ones were the older kids finally open their mouths and tell me all about their day__.

6. I am not obsessed with ___Blogging,and reading Blogs__; I am not!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to __Chinese food tonight with Hubbie after the boys are in bed, and maybe finally getting to watch a movie that was recommended to me by a fellow Blogger in reference to some music I blipped over at blip.fm___, tomorrow my plans include __sleeping in, no bowling again, but really I'll miss it. And calling the babysitter to book a date night. We haven't gone out as just adults since the week before my surgery___ and Sunday, I want to _take pictures of my 2nd boy's First Communion, I'm so excited for him, because he's been waiting since he was about 6. I think he was feeling left out. I wonder what he'll think about it once he tastes it? Oh my_!

We got Mail!!! Thank you note!

I've been on the internet now since I met My Hubbie in 1992, and in the words of my new friend in a note I received yesterday "The world just keeps getting small" and you know she's so right. I've met some really nice people online. I love reading blogs, I love reading emails from real people. Yesterday I got some more Friendly internet interaction. I love replying to blogs, I love talking to you all. I love that you read my blog, cause really it's all about attention for me. But yesterday, some of that attention shifted to my AJ.

A bit back Headless Mom over at The Adventures of the Headlless Family Posted about her HBs being done with Pokemon cards. My boys are just getting into it. Funny how that works. I think both our boys are about 7ish?
The post by Headless Mom was here And being a good reader I replied, and learned a bit more about Pokemon.

Yesterday when Hubbie got home he had the mail pile, you know the "bills" I'd really wish Bill would change his address, I'm tired of cleaning up his dirty work. In the middle of the pile. I see a package! YAY! package. I had just been talking to Headless Mom the night before about the fact that it can take 2wks sometimes for mail to come from 7hours away, her mail was coming from the west Coast of the USA, we are patient. Also anticipation is part of the fun! really who doesn't love to get mail!!

So we gave AJ the envelope, and my batteries died on my camera! can you believe this? yep we have a Kodak that's about 3yrs old, it now will only recharge it's own batteries, it used to take disposables or other rechargeable, not now. (sorry Tangent.. there) He was so excited about what was in the package he ran from the Dinning room to the sofa to examine the cards. Do you know how many times a child of a mom from the 80s says "oh cool!!"? Many I lost count, he was so very excited. He then said "and there's a note for mom!" YAY I like getting mail too. Headless Mom wrote me a lovely note. I love making new friends. I had called her "friend" before, I call you all friends really, but this is icing on the cake.

The Best Part of all this? it arrives on Earth Day!!! I'm just so sorry that I didn't get to writing this post yesterday to post. This is our R! reducing landfills, yes the cards are paper and yes they will break down but before that ever happens, there's a chance for these cards to be "reused"!
Thanks for the Headless Mom and her Headless Boys, from me and my KyootBoy :)

Random Tuesday returns

and I didn't do my homework, let me think... thinking... oh now that's random...

Go to Unmom and get yourself a Random Tuesday Badge, like this here... and play along. I have to say because it's Random it's the easiest Blogging idea I've ever done.


Let me see... more thinking.

The chair? yes the chair is still in the back yard but is gaining power vs the snow back there. I'll have to go snap a picture before it rains today... (rushes to deck to take picture....hunts for camera.....okay this no longer qualifies as rushing...)



This week we've made some changes to the house, got to work on that Canadian stimulus refund for home improvements. We replaced all the door knobs in the house. It's a small change but I'm amazed how "nice"they look. Now, I want to throw money at the outdoor light fixtures. There's that Job word floating around in my head again. (eying resumes still anchored under scanner, wipes brow)

Hernia healing is still going on, I've managed to move my brisk outdoor walking up to 30minutes but no lifting. No laundry. I'm doing okay, but it's 6wks tomorrow, and I can still feel that pulling feeling.

We got our family picture taken in November for our Church Directory, we got the copy of the Directory this past Sunday, we look good! Amazing how much "SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT THAT CAMERA OR NO DS FOR A WEEK" will do for a nice looking photo. Oh and an Elmo on an Elastic coming at you at BAM! speed. The boys really do look fabulous. We've had the pictures in the house since about 2wks before Christmas. They aren't on the walls yet, they are next to the wall and in frames we want to put on the walls, but uh no not on the walls.

Carbohydrates are not my friend, no no no, not moving much and sitting on my butt and eating toast? not good nope! there are inches that must now somehow airbrush themselves off my body.

Hubbie just sent me a link to a article on BBQ safety, looks like "we" have to clean our BBQ. Which really means "he". It's so much easier to get things done around here when I say "Let's go clean the yard", he walks outside, I point at what "we" need to do and I walk back in to "Watch the kids" it's good, it's a system it works. It really works well for the lawn mower. "I'll make sure the kids don't go out while your mowing" ha! would they ever? or "Let's get this dishwasher unloaded" and off I go to read a book to the kids, hehehe. Maybe it's not the "let's" but the kids?

MJ is getting to the sneaky phase of life, he got into AJ's Easter Treats, and "found" his DS. I didn't know he found it until I saw the electronic glow coming from underneath MJ's Bed. Lock your toys boys, move them higher, MJ is 4!

I was reading over at Stacy's Random Thoughts... She's got voles, I've seen holes in the lawn here for about 2-3yrs. We had to get a load of fill to put the dirt onto the front lawn 2yrs ago. I wonder if we have Voles? but why would they leave the Irises, Hosta or Tulips alone? I think here it's Moles, or Gophers. Hubbie is continually saying "Damn Gophers"




but this guy looks bigger then the holes we see out there. More research...

If you'd like more Random Thought Posts, go see Unmom, she's got a list full of great Bloggers, read,scroll down there, click and read more. Happy Tuesday

Another Sport Season Ends

Bowling, yes I know your laughing, but yes this was our sport, Fall and Winter. We play at the Kingswood. It's a big bowling alley, with plastic ice skating, a jungle gym, birthday parties, Gymnastics, and those coin operated games. We go for the bowling. Today my kids learned about the games. oops! I did well for 5yrs we went bowling with the kids, bowl, and go home. They would go over to the games look at them, watch others play them, sit in the car driving ones but never got to the point where they realized that they had to put "money" in. I've been foiled! the Jig is up!
The last day of bowling and the alley gives them 5 tokens and off they go to use them. September we'll go back, they will remember the tokens, and tickets and so on.
My favorite part of the bowling though, is the other parents/grandparents there bowling with their kids. My Adult time! I'm looking forward to going back in September. I even asked if they had summer bowling. There is a Day Camp there for the summer, bowling, games and meals. I'm a SAHM, it would fall under "added expense" and might also fall into "oh the kids are at the daycamp, maybe you should get a job" (eying resumes under Scanner on desk...and never given out) I can't work, I"Ve got kids! yeah that's it... kids! ACK!!!!!! I think my 11yrs of being a nonworking housewife/ mom might be really really coming to a close fast. Tickets cost money, kids want new clothes. Anyone got me one of those get rich quick skeems that isn't a scam? hmmmm? Maybe since I'm up to 30minutes walking now, I'll walk up to the store and play me some lotto?

Friday Fill-ins my first attempt

And...here we go! These I got over at...Friday Fill-ins


1. Join me in __celebrating Friday,4days work weeks are hard work, well so I'm told___.

2. Put a little __fun and laughter___ in your day!

3. Happiness is _playing with my kids, and their memories seem to be better then mine when it comes to board games and cards____.

4. ___I'm watching that Chair out there, and just have to keep looking spring makes me excited_ and confused.

5. I'm waiting for __the snow to melt___.

6. __Chocolate Caramilk Eggs___ is hard to resist.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to __spending time with Hubbie___, tomorrow my plans include _bowling, with me doing scoring but no playing____ and Sunday, I want to __get everyone to church on time without the rest of the congregation turning around to see who came in late, especially when the priest is good about starting 2-3minutes late himself___!

Abandon Chair still fighting for yard power.....

almost, and I don't need a jacket today...:)

Let the Easter weekend stories continue

So last I left you it all the kids were in bed, the adults were gathered in the kitchen talking about the "amazing size of the kids" and the Hubbie was recounting the "most horrible trip ever!" with sprinkles of "why do we do this to ourselves" while I'm fanning the fames of OMG with "because we love our family, and we didn't even attempt to travel at Christmas" and "no it's not a sign, and why don't you just go to bed"well then the Wii pops out! I'm sitting chatting with my dad ( he still doesn't know about Saturday afternoon) he, who is the smartest Dad I have,(yeah only 1), directs the Hubbie's attention to the wii, heh heeeeee. We get him a profile set up, and next thing you know I'm going to bed, while Hubbie and his prescription sleep med are trying to aim skis through the course! oh BTW Wii says I'm over weight, well how nice of you wii! I can only image what Wii would have said in 2003 when I was at my top weight.
So next morning was tricky, we had to get some things for Saturday nights egg stuffing and basket hiding. Hubbie and I and 3 kids left the house we were going to the inlaws, in reality, the Hubbie and kids were going to visit the inlaws, I was being dropped off at a secret location to meet my SIL and Brother (my side) to cut and chop fruit while my sister was out doing last minute shopping, my other sister was at her own house making Birthday Cake for my Dad's 65th birthday party.
Before I left my sister had to call and get me to great google-y moogle-y some instructions on how much oil to use for 5lbs of chocolate in a chocolate fountain. I found that and sent her the link, she did the rest, but I forgot to close dad's Firefox browser. The Hubbie rescued that snafu. oops! Hubbie said "Mom's(his) waiting for us" and off we went! I went to the Hotel, he went to inlaws. He had already been out earlier for Mr E Bunny work, oh and a potty seat!!! we got that ring of magic too. Sometimes you have plans for things that "should" happen and sometimes you just have to let it slide. Hair cuts! this is what we let slide. AJ could use a hair cut like you wouldn't believe, MJ and TJ can get away with another week due to the shape of their heads, and age. AJ? well it got pushed to the back shelf. Not done. My 3 boys are raggamuffins, the kind of kids people point to with their eyes and say "will you look at that?" to their friends and family. I hang my head in shame, nope still not cut!
So we chopped Fruit and we got sponge Toffee cut, marshmellows laid out, got the room decorated, and got Chad Tetford set up to entertain our Open House guests. He was great, everyone enjoyed the music, he sang some of his own material along with some other music that fit right into the visitors.
I went back home with SIL in her van with her boys and hid in the basement at my parents house until my Hubbie came back with the boys, then darted to the enteryway when he came so that it looked like I came home with him. Yep that worked! We all went to the hotel, last thing I said was "what's for supper tonight, want us to pick up anything?" and darted out the door.
Mom had the hard part, all 5 of her kids and grandchildren were gone, so she's trying to look bored. She then says "there's an Egg Hunt at the hotel, why don't we go there" :) They know the Hotel well. Martin Arms. (let me find you a link)
This Hotel used to be a Hospital and is VERY fitting because my Dad was Born in there!!! 65yrs ago. Dad arrives through the door way of the Banquet room and he's looking around nad everyoen starts singing "For he's a Jolly Good Fellow" and you can actually see him putting together all the events of the week. Me crying on the phone saying "we can't make it for Easter" the people that had been calling on the phone that week after seeing the "Ad" in the paper "Open House Surprise Party"(mom hid the paper, for 3days!) The person that came in the yard saying "I saw your picture in the paper (B) I knew it was You!!!! he went into the house to look for the paper, mom said "it's here somewhere" but she didn't go looking for it, instead she had it stuffed in her Cedar Chest I think. OK now I"ll go back and insert some pics for you all!

Random Tuesday with a bit of an unrandom Theme

It's another Tuesday, but today is a little Less Random, but since it's VERY busy I'll get my Unmom and babyboogers Random Button and start now.

OK as I'm posting this. I'm listening to this... http://www.chadtetford.com/ Take a listen, I've mentioned him before and there's a story I'll get back to it in a bit... more Random kind of in order events.

I started the day trying to catch up on blogs but hey you all wrote so much from noon Friday to now, I have to give you all something to read too.

The Drive in to the island! well it's over, we're home again. Thursday night we went to the grocery store to stock up on "car snacks" for the 120km/h Tin Can adventure and came out to the parking lot to find a puddle of gas!! Hubbie "is that from our van?" uh no it must be from the car parked here before us. uh no! we get home? the smell and the puddling producing gas was under the car on our driveway about 10minutes later. The Filler Hose into the Gas tank has a leak. Hubbie then tells me "we can't go, we can't drive in this" wellllllllll then I started Crying. See, it wasn't just about getting home for Easter Weekend, it was about getting home for my Dad's 65th Birthday party! Surprise Birthday Party. He didn't know about it when I called to tell him we wouldn't be coming home,he was disappointed, we didn't go home at Christmas this year, but he and my sister exchanged some emails and FB wall posts, and in box messages, and looked at Van rentals for the weekend. uh did you know that between the 300.00 in gas, (it's an older van we own, Hubbie said 9yrs later that cost would be better) then the 200.00 they wanted for the weekend, and uh holiday Friday, and Monday? uh we cracked open the wine. I was tipsy in 4oz, I guess I didn't eat much that day.
Friday morning, I had stopped packing, Hubbie wakes me up at 830am "if I only fill the tank to 1/2 or 3/4 of the way, we can probably make it by 8-9pm tonight" OK well then let's do that. Mad packing.

So get in the van, about 1hour out of town, 3 deer thought it was a good idea, to come RUNNING at the BIG RED 120km Tin Can! luckily no one was in the other lane and for the most part, the first deer wiped snot on our rear fender. (I've got pics of his snot wipe)

At about 2/3rd of the way to the island paradise, we hear this repeated thump thump thump like every time the wheel turns, OFF RAMP! so we stop turn into a fire station parking lot, and I drive the car around the lot while Hubbie listens. Something is stuck, well in this end of the world? EVERYTHING is closed. Jesus, next time you carry your cross, maybe just make you could add in an extra day of mourning that isn't a CLOSE EVERYTHING But McDonald's in there? So Just as we're saying "what will we do in the middle of nowhere?" I see a man opening a BAY in a Automotive place. Johnson's Automotive in Bible Hill Exit of Nova Scotia. Mr Tech, I LOVE you! you where there doing a bit of work on your own van on your holiday, you saved our lives, and my sanity. He took the van in, took the rear wheels off, loosened the emergency Brakes that were JAMMED into the wheels and rubbing. He fixed it! He didn't want money, I gave the man some CASH for his beer fund. :) back on the road....to the island

Next Fun and Random, it can't get worse right?... MJ wouldn't use public washrooms and we forgot to pack his potty seat!!! I can't lift him onto the toilets, Hubbie was in charge. When a 4yrold is Terrified of something... they SCREAM! so the picture is frazzled high tension Daddy, Screaming 4yrold, Locked in public toilets, okay, everyone got your "OMG that man must be abusing that child" brains on? cause well the faces on the people walking by the restrooms told the story. Next trick, try again, nope.... OK mommy has an idea. yep..we'll be that disgusting family that let's their child poop on th side of the road.The Plan Sit on the floor of the van, and hang your butt over? SCREAMMMMMMMMMMMM, OK I'll hold you, you squat, yep squat! yep just like the deer, we'll just leave that there... Adventure we call that, at one with the outdoors? yeah


So when a 4yold is nervous, worked up, has eaten about 3/4 or his snacks, with abandon, what comes next is more expected then random, yep, screaming added to this fun... yep! carsick! so open up the back of the van find the right suitcase, unpack a shirt and pants, put that on frozen child.

Next comes the Causeway, now if you've followed some of the hints or been reading for a while you know where my island is. It's a Very pretty island, it has beautiful waterways, beautiful hills of green and boats, and we saw Seals out on the ice. yep the left side of the cause way was Full of ice, and seals. Right side water, warm heading to the south side of the island, this is our direction.

No more things happened, we arrives at the destination, we climbed into my Mom and Dad's house, we got the boys into pjs, we got the boys into beds, and we went upstairs to chat it up and of course share our adventures.
Saturday morning went well, I'll have to post again about the party, it's LONG you've probably given up. Dad was surprised!!! It's hard to surprise a 65yrold Engineer, his brain is always spinning.

Chad played at the party, Chad grew up with my Brother, he stood in his wedding, listen to his music, it's great. I'll post that link again,I know I sound like a commercial but when you grow up with people you want them to succeed, and you when you know they are good you want to share.
http://www.chadtetford.com/
Coming soon, pictures, of the chair, party pics, the CAKE,the chocolate, the eggs, the sibling fun from the adults. :) so to be continued!!

120KM/hr Tin Can here we come

After some Technical difficulties we're now working on getting on the road. Can is not quite in the best condition, so Pray for us and for the nut balls that toss cigarette butts out car windows.
Happy EASTER!!!! :)


Also keep Abandon Chair in your thoughts,he needs warm thoughts.

Random Tusday strikes again

Without this little Pushy clickity Button up there for The Unmom I'd seriously never have anything to write about I'm sure. These little blips and Blabs are great. Thanks Keely
I've been trying to prepare for Easter Weekend. Easter with the family is my favorite kind of Easter, because I don't have to cook. I can contribute to the meal but I'm not in charge of the Star of the show meat! I'm not sure who is doing the feeding but I'll have to see. I did thought bake 2 orange loaves for the trip they are currently living in my freezer and may or may not defrost before we hit the island but it was hard not to eat them before getting there. Truth be told I baked a double batch of them, and I I mean the kids, at it the majority of it, OK so maybe I had a few more slices then they did. EASY recipe,so I re-baked another one last night. 1 is missing the "end" pieces because Hubbie found it cooling on the counter!

The boys are excited for easter, MJ came to me yesterday while I was stalking the markets for my Packrat application obsession, and says "MOM why are there Eggs in your closet?" My only response was they are for Grandma because the Easter Bunny doesn't bring her chocolate anymore. ACK! my sister suggested that The E.Bunny left them here for us to bring to his cousin Matty. It works for very loved hand-me-down clothes it might work for Plastic Eggs. The Truth of the story is that the Eggs are for Grandma's house. We aren't going to imply at all that the eggs are from MR E.Bunny, but they are from Hubbie and Me for a BIG hunt in my mother's yard. This is a first for me, usual most of my egg hunts are indoor events but there is no snow on that section of the island says my informants, soooo I'd like to do it outside. This will also protect Grandma's precious "not for babies/kids" furniture and knick knacks? Maybe? If it's Raining I'll just hand the eggs over to the kids, and my siblings will be so happy to see their kids covered in chocolate and sticky candy goo! :) When your the oldest you can do stuff like this. (ok I Want to believe I can do stuff like this and that I'm the boss)

I've warned Hubbie he'll be run ragged and need a break after the weekend to sleep! He's warn out enough from doing kid patrol during the nights. MJ is getting up way less then he used to, maybe because I'm not going in there? and it's harder to explain to Hubbie who's almost brain dead from lack of sleep, what he wants or what I usually do! I just go to the kitchen get cup of water, put it on the table, or hand it over, say here's water, go pee, and get back in bed. Hubbie do the "what do you want" stuff which just leads to MORE discussion and way longer up time. hehe (downtime in this case is preferable)

I'm not looking for the "trip to grandmas" the Trip part, it's a bit more then over the hill and through the woods, the extended version. My Friend Mrsbigblupete (one of my faithful followers and friend with Island living skills) says it's like being TRAPPED in a Tin Can hurling down the highway at 120kms hour itching to get to the END". We've had some successful trips, but it's those Stuck in the parking lot of a church at 12am trying to get the child to stop puking only 1hour from your final exit that get etched in your brain. Those trips though were 14hours from the island. Now we live 7hours from the destination. It makes a difference but the 2 children that know the 14hour trip are easy, they've been there and done that, their brains know how much longer it could be. MJ? he's only ever done the 7hour version. This 7hour version is if they get out, pee and get back to the car instantly. There are no stops along the way to just see the sights, no it's GET IN GET THERE AND GET OUT and kiss the ground. The stops are pee, gas, snacks if the driver is hungry for something other then what the copilot has packed. We will try not to resort to eating the frozen orange loaves.


for those playing at home "spring what's that?"




The kids Slide is now part of our water front property, April showers are in full swing. And what Canadian back yard isn't complete without Tim's Wrappers?

Abandon chair vs the April Showers

The picture I posted in the previous blog was lastnights, before the sun went down and the RAIN came down picture. This is this morning's results!!

I've posted these to FB for friends and family. My family aren't in on the blog world. I'm not sure why yet but I think I'll have to do some archive reading before I open up that idea. The caption I used on FB today was "Excuse me! can't you see I'm taking a shower here? Not even a towel to cover up out here... " said the 1/2 nekkid Abandon Chair.

Happy Saturday, Recovery update

The biggest plus of my recovery is that I'm getting to sleep in, and when I say sleep in you know that means nothing after 9am but still it's later. The Hubbie has been getting up with the kiddies. I Love it and yes I might even be staying in the bed longer then I need to but come on, someone else is on the job, why waste that?


Today I got up at 9 and the boys were fed, oh well easy remedy for that one Box of Cereal, and healthy Milk. I have to be sure to give AJ the skim milk, he gets belly aches when he drinks 2% or Higher and luckily he's the child that wakes up last on the weekends so it's hard to get it wrong, when he ROLLS out of his room, Nintendo DS in hand.
So here I sit drinking my tea...I'm a new addict, I found out this past year that I can't drink Coffee anymore, I get MASSIVE pain. I was on acid blockers for about 3months to fix my poor stomach, as long as I keep eating well though, I don't need the blockers. I wont be telling my dr that though! and I do take about 10 at a time in my purse just in case I have a Being BAD Day. I've got to say this sitting home not lifting or over walking is really not helping my weight loss. I think Weight Gain is going well though.
What's been going on here lately?Me nothing, I've done nothing. Oh wait I did sneak down yesterday to the basement and put a load of dark clothes in there. I Did not carry the clothes down, or take them upstairs. It worked out OK. The laundry was down there and I just had to push buttons and move the clothes 1 at a time into the machine. I wont be telling anyone I did it, cause once they figure that out they'll figure they don't have to. This morning I got TJ to open the machine and pull out the clothes for me, wet clothes are heavier then dry. He did a great job! This boy learned to do laundry at a VERY early age. oh wait this is is a story!Maybe I've already told it?... (scanning archives...)nothing mentioned that I could see
When TJ went to Kindergarten he LOVED the water, LOVED it! was the best place ever. Recess ROCKED his world, he'd go out in the playground and start digging and driving trucks around and of course sit in the puddles! oh the teachers were not pleased, I wasn't pleased. Splash pants? yeah they don't do much for sitting in the puddles. TJ would come home (the Hubbie would pick him up)a nd he's BE COVERED in wet and mud. I had to wash his jacket, splash pants everything right down to his undies, ever single day after school. I finally got smart. I said "TJ you go down stairs, put all your clothes in the washing machine. I'll give you the soap, you poor it in, and you sit here"(pointing to little red chair) until the clothes are washed, then you come get me, I'll help you get it out of the machine, you will put it in the dryer/on the clothes line depending on the season, I think it was too cold that time of year. The punishment of course was the sitting on the chair waiting for the washing machine to stop. We managed to nip it in the bud by a week later, he could get 3 days out of his jacket by then, buTTT grade 1? yep it started again as soon as fall hit! boys and Mud! but the plus of all this is that he knows exactly how to use the washing machine and dryer. My plans for kids doing all the slave labour in the house are working splendidly... (insert evil laugh).
So the wash is dry now. AJ is now off to clean his room, and MJ can raid the fridge all on his own successfully. I put the milk on the bottom door shelf in the fridge and premade him a sub yesterday. Today he ate that while waiting for me to wake up and the cereal to be served.
This weekend we are going to get into a more organized slave labour chore chart and plan. I can't be doing everything, and I've still got 1+month of healing. I am getting back to feeling normal though. YAY!!!

also if your interested... It rained A LOT lastnight, this is before the rain got going fast!