Thinking of Thanksgiving

I know I know I'm not in the USA anymore but we still do the things that became traditions for our kids while we were living there. One of those things was to have a Thanksgiving Meal in November here in Canada too.  The reason I'm starting this post today is I'm curious, what will my American friends be cooking next week. If you aren't American, what will you be cooking this week or next week that you want to chat about, or comment. I like Comments and it's fun to read.
 Some of this:

 maybe gravy?

 definitely carrots, it's a veggy the boys will eat.

 Mash Potatoes!

 maybe lemon pie? or another

As long as there is none of this going on

Time Changed This Week,But Where is that Extra Hour?

Yes hi, there I'm still here. It's another November the Clocks have Changed and I'm trying to post more than I did before. You may have noticed there aren't a lot of things I post about. My kids have grown so much. Today I was getting my day together and planning what I need to do and where I need to be. I've got to the point where I'm doing less running around. The boys have not joined any sports. My oldest is going to College, and if he's joining anything it's up to him to get himself there. That was quick.

found on:giphy.com #poof

There was a time when I was picking kids up from Judo, Band, Art club, driving too and from Curling, Scouts, Bowling and Fastpitch (not be confused with Baseball, because, nope not the same rules... don't let anyone try to tell you they are the same) all Summer. Oh and let's not forget swimming lessons. I was very limited in time and resources so they joined only a few things but as those with more than one child know, it's the juggling that reduces your time.  Some of that time has reappeared, but quickly fills up again.

I'm very lucky to have a husband that enjoys tournaments, coaching and helping anyone. This becomes the other time cruncher, my husband is involved. He has helped set up Drums for one, coach bowling teams, Fastpitch teams  and run fundraisers for the schools. His endless energy is contagious, and as our kids moved up to a new school he followed and I took his place for our youngest. One School down 2 to go.

I have to ask though, for those that have gotten some of their kids to High School and higher, have your kids stuck with the sports they chose? We left Curling when High School homework demands sucked time out of space.

 I don't know how your kids are doing it but my middle son is spending almost 4hours a night catching up with group members for homework, he doesn't live near his school or his group members. And there are times his group is waiting on him doing it all. There's no heading out to So and So's house to talk projects because So and So lives in town, and we do not. My oldest left Bowling when there was a new fee for the weeks we weren't there, and his homework demands increased. Then there is social time, if you aren't friends with your team mates, you want to spend sometime with others. There are only 24hours in the day. My youngest still has time for Scouts, and I think that will be the activity that sticks for him the longest. What are your kids into? Where do they find the extra hours in the day? Also Jobs? Where does it all fit? I can't even imagine the Demands on those that compete in Sports at the Olympic Level? Do you think they are stressed?

Clock change!!

Don't

 forget to change

 your clocks!

 Fall Back.

Fabulous Friday "foto" haha

This was taken while on my walk Thursday but here it is Friday before I got to posting.

My First Kyooty Grad

So this guy right here? This guy Graduated from High School this week. Does this mean I've been promoted? or does it mean that I've completed the first level of Awesome?   And he did it all without a smartphone at school. hahaha

For those that have been reading for the last 12yrs you may remember him as this guy.

in white! how is it they grow up so fast. Who would have thought that back in 2010ish

So proud of my TJ! As he goes off to College in the fall to study one his favorite things in the world Automotive Service. The kid that has to know how it works and why and how he can make it work better.

Getting Out of the House

Chairs Competition

I went out shopping last night to pick up a few things. A trip to the local Grocery Store, is a "get out of the house" kind of night. There in the Deli aisle is a HUGE chair. My friend took my pic.  HA!!
The count down to Canada's 150th birthday is in full swing. Red and White everywhere.

Mom Needs Tech Too

So this week I've been reading in the news all kinds about opportunities for New Brunswickers for employment. Of all those opportunities I've read the most common denominator is, you guessed it, Technology.  I've got a Son that is heading to College in the fall he's been accepted into Auto Repair but in the back of his head he's asking himself, "should I go into technology instead?"

Auto Repair is always needed but so to is technology. Cars are no longer just moving parts and a combustion engine, they are computers and codes and safety features that run almost exclusively through chips and fuses and electrical.  I can't even start my husband's car without pushing a button. There is no more key for his car. My fob's battery is dead, I have to take his fob with me to open/lock/start his car. How will my college bound son get through his job without computer knowledge? Or will that knowledge be so narrow and product specific that it leaves him only working for one car company?

My middle son is 15, almost all his friends are inside his computer. He does moderation and Sys Admin from his own computer for others playing Minecraft. They are all helping each other to figure out how things work and what they can do next. All my sons excel with 4(stupid grading system) in Tech in school. They excel because they are not afraid of technology. They love it. They do not want to be what my Hubbie (Also IT guy) calls "end users."  I am an end user .Plug and play baby!

My youngest son, well he's 12, & I think I worry about how he uses technology the most. He got a DS when he was 7. I had made the rule of 7 and that was fine he waited but I guess in my comfort in what my oldest two knew about technology I forgot to point out the rules. He's watched his brothers us technology for everything! I don't even think he knows how to write a paper for school without typing it.

Then there is me, the Mom. Social Media is my thing, I LOVE it. I got married at 22 and moved away from home. I dated my Hubbie(DH**) using a computer, we bought out house over the internet, we used computers to chat with our friends and family from afar. I did all my parenting using newsgroups* and Yahoo Groups* and blogs because it helped me to feel not so alone in how I did things or how I could help others. I helped moderate Breastfeeding groups,and Mom groups and owned a few too. Facebook and Twitter added to that, but there are times I am still a 12:00 flasher when it comes to technology.



 My VCR or digital thermostats are still set to Standard time vs the DLS time we are supposed to be in now. How will I learn these new skills without saying "oh Son! can you come to supper tonight?, oh and while you're here can you change the clocks?" I've turned into my Mom then again Mom maybe ahead of me she went to the local library and took a FB course.



*these groups are still active and we still chat in a place that isn't FB groups. I can be slow to change. 

**does anyone still use these multi-use acronyms 

Getting Our Spring On

Happy First Day of Spring. Yes really it is spring, I know you can't tell but it is. I saw a bird fly by, I suspect that she is building a nest. She was in a rush I didn't ask where she didn't see to have time for me today. I'll keep a watch. 

The Chairs are busy waiting for spring in their yard. It really is their yard all winter. Without a spot to slide or skate the people aren't doing anything back there for 6months of the year. Snow is too deep, sun is not strong enough and the pool is just sitting. I'm excited for Spring to heat up back there. I really enjoy my back yard in the warmer months. 

Chairity and Chairold not Springing into Action today.