Mommy can I have a scamwich?

It has been awhile

2012-02-05T16:02:00.010-06:00

It has been awhile since I blogged anything and since I had written Robin the other night I thought I would straight out copy it and add pictures. Maybe I would add on later.

Dear Robin and Samuel,

This week we are getting ready for Patience's surgery. It is scheduled for Feb 23. I took her for her pre-op appointment and she hid under a chair. I tried to get her to weigh herself but she screamed and cried and refused to put her legs down. It is amazing how she can hold up her legs and climb the walls. After the doctor left she said "that was good" and decided that I could weigh her and measure her. The next day we got to have blood work. Good times all around. After that we got to have great big slurpees. She got a large Booster Juice. She picked the pink one but decided that she wanted the purple one. This week it is very hard being almost 4. Every day is a fight. She doesn't ever like supper, she won't share, and she doesn't like to do anything except what she wants to do. She is happy except when she is sad and the mood swings are crazy. Lots of fun.

(At the giant sausage in Mundare AB. You have to go. The meat is great and there is a great convenience store. It has the ice cream with the flavour swirls).

Xavier is super busy. He is in Tae Kwon Do (working on his blue belt), track and debate club. He tells me that he is too busy but he won't pick what to give up. I am sure it will shake it self out later. Next year he tells me he will also be in jazz band. Now he wants to play french horn but I told him that he can't have 2 new instruments. We will figure it out when we get there.

Niles is less busy. We have taken him out of Tae Kwon Do. He only has piano. It is working for him right now. Maybe in the spring we will put him in soccer or something. He gets too stressed out too fast.

Niles and Xavier at Vaegerville

Yesterday we had family movie night. Rob decided it should be a funny family movie so he picked Marley and Me. Have you watched that? It has it's funny parts but at the end (spoiler alert) the dog dies. Niles is bawling, Rob has tears in his eyes, Xavier is crying, I am crying. Good funny movie Rob. Way to wreck the night.

Rob has gotten farther on the bathroom. There is drywall on many of the walls now and the potential for a spout for the bathtub. We can use the tub but the ambience is not there. It just isn't restful sitting the the bath around a whole bunch of tools.

I got a permanent 3/4 time position in the health region. That means I can balance my work and home lives better. I see the kids more and they are happier I think.

The weather this winter has been crazy weird. It is hot. Minus three, plus 4. Melting in February. I don't like it. The kids don't like it. Where has the cold gone?

I took this picture of my flowers in November. See how they are not dead.

These are the strangest November flowers I have ever seen.

I was tired of watering them. Why had they not died yet?

That is all I can think of right now. Have a good week.

Patience visits Vaegerville

See interesting things.

Fun at a playground.

Do fun things.

Love Diane

Meet the Teacher

2011-10-04T21:03:00.005-06:00

Today I got to have a meet the teacher with Xavier's teacher. I actually had met her before because he has the same teacher this year as last year but I was making the connection and checking in. Apparently I was the first parent to do this although we were all invited to at the beginning of the year. Not to worry though Xavier is doing well. He has grown a lot this year and we both (teacher and I ) agree that it is better than last.

Xavier and Rob running the Bridge City Boogie.

Xavier just finished the cross country season and can't wait for the training for the Bridge City Boogie to begin. He loves running. He gets a groove going and can really put on the km. Think we will all do it this year.

Niles watching the Bridge City Boogie.

Niles got to watch this year and it was his birthday so that was exciting. Now he is old and in grade 3. He reads and plays piano. This year we are trying Hip Hop instead of Tae Kwon Do to see how that goes. He has such great expressions of dislike that if it weren't so annoying I would laugh. You really do know what he is thinking. No poker face on that one.

Xavier loves babies. Hanging with Josh. Isn't he cute? And the baby is too.

Patience and Elizabeth at the playground.

Before the meet the teacher Patience and I got to go to the playground to meet friends. It was windy enough that I flew Niles' kite for the first time. It looks really cool, but it was so windy that I could not take a picture and keep from escaping so just imagine it, tie dyed and rectangular. Very cool. Joelynn came home to watch Patience while I went to get my braces adjusted and she got to stay so I could meet the teacher. Good that Patience loves Elizabeth and Joelynn.

Thankful for the great chickens that you can buy at the store because we were cutting it very close by the time I got home and had to take Xavier to Tae Kwon Do. He had a good time but he says that his partner is very talented so he has to try harder and that makes him sweaty. Poor thing.

(I can't get the font to work properly so it doesn't look as nice as I was hoping but I must move on with my life now.)

I heard the monkey song...

2011-09-23T22:46:00.006-06:00

When I run outside I take my music and I never add anything and I also don't take anything away. Actually I think Richard picked all the songs that I listen to, but they are good and I get used to them. Although random they play in approximate order so I get to expect certain songs around certain places in my run. My run starts with New York New York and there is sounds of Canada from KD Lang, It's Raining Men, a little Prince and somewhere in there is the monkey song (not called that). Yes my monkey song. It gets stuck in my head, it picks up my feet and makes that darn loop seem better (and it is nice that the shopping song comes next). But what the monkey song also does is it makes me think of Robin.

Love how the bubbles look fake

I wonder what Robin is doing. I wonder what Korea looks like when you live there. I wonder about the kids she teaches and the stuff she does. I think about her life with Samuel and pray that it is well. I think about it for the whole song. I don't know why monkeys and Robin go together but they do for me and now maybe they do for you. So play the monkey song and spend some time thinking tonight.

Today

2011-09-21T16:29:00.004-06:00

Today I slept in until 8 and then I drank coffee until 9. Patience and I went to library school where she listened to stories and I looked and books and then visited with other moms (there were 2 dads as well). Then we had noodles for lunch and I over came my aversion and made cookies. I don't know what had been my problem but cookies seemed too difficult lately so I pulled out my mixer to do the mixing and made chocolate chip (because you can drop them) and made them. They are delicious. Patience went down for a nap and I went for a quick run. After we both went and picked up the boys from school because the weather is so nice to walk. Tomorrow work, the next day the world.... or work.
Niles with wacky hair at camp
Patience's wacky hair day at camp
Xavier did a great job (he plays to win).
Gloria looks great.
Justice League of Saskatoon at the Bridge City Boogie

Ice cream

2011-06-21T15:19:00.003-06:00

I love ice cream and so do the kids. Yesterday we went with Val and Curt out for ice cream. Nice pictures huh?

C is for cookie (again)

2011-04-25T15:11:00.003-06:00

He is risen indeed.

Happy Easter. Best Holiday of the year. In addition Easter is the end of the Lenten season so I get to go back to blogging and facebook. I will admit I already went on facebook and got bored so I think I have forgotten the excitement of it. Mom always told me that it took 30 days to break a habit and I just finished 46 days so it might take awhile to get back.

Monica was telling G after she gave me an Easter greeting, about when Xavier and Niles were little and giving the Easter greeting but Niles was running around saying "C is for cookie!". He was two then so therefore very cute.

Patience got a great picture with the Easter Bunny. I will get permission to post them and you will also see.

Mom says that I haven't been posting and she has noticed so here I am back to the grind. Now it is up to you my readers to update your blogs so I can stalk you.

Sunday

2011-03-20T21:48:00.004-06:00

Day 1 no necessary post but posting anyway
This week in Diane land:
Xavier ran in the semi finals of the 4x100m track relay. He has speedy feet. His team did not move on but it was fun anyway. Another positive this means that track is over so we don't have to get up so early on Monday and Wednesday to get Xavier to track.

Niles got his new Nintendo DS after showing how responsible he was to earn it. Ask him what he has learned about electronics and being responsible. He is also reading quite a bit by himself but won't let me see it in case I want him to show what he can do.

Patience is super cute as always. She can get into just about everything that she wants to with the help of a stool, tells fart jokes to her brothers and gets by on her looks and stunning personality. A regular kind of week for her. When she gets older she will be a good friend because one of her friends she hasn't seen in 9 months but she still says "Keli my fwriend". Cute.

I am going through a cooking rebellion meaning I want nothing to do with cooking and I guess it means that it is time for some new recipes. Going to try to get to have a peanut butter sauce sundae this week because I have been thinking about them. They are nice and I don't have to share them at all. Finding I am out of touch because I gave up Facebook for Lent and am not getting status updates but still not getting anything extra accomplished. Oh well there is always next week. Rob signed me and him up for the 10km run at the Saskatoon Marathon. Something to do I guess. My goal is to beat Rob but he runs really fast. I saw evaporation this week on the pavement the morning before it snowed again and everything refroze. The roads are great! It is a good time trying to go down the street. A real lesson in patience. Slow and steady wins the race.
I tried to take a picture of evaporation with my camera phone but it didn't really get the misty quality. Maybe when I get a better camera.

Day 30-a dream for the future

2011-03-17T18:10:00.000-06:00

Last post of the 30 days! Thank-you to all of my loyal readers, whoever you are because you don't comment.... yes that was for you. A dream for the future, I would like to learn French well enough to speak it to others, not just in my head. Maybe then I will go on cool adventures in cool places and meet differently cool people. Then on to Japanese.

Day 29-hope, dreams, and plans for the next 365 days

2011-03-16T23:56:00.000-06:00

Mostly I am hoping to make it through the next 365 days with my sanity intact. I find that I am too busy with the kids to do much planning for me. I dream of increasing my skills at my job but that isn't actually up to me and I would like to do more things but mostly one day at a time. I will live in the moment and learn to appreciate everything that comes with being alive. Dreaming leaves so much to be not experienced because you are too busy waiting for the dream moment and not this moment. My small hopes include seeing Gloria ( we don't get to see her as often as I would like), preschool for Patience (?) maybe so I can have an hour to myself, take a class (in all the extra time I have) and camping for the boys. Small plans.

Day 28-what's in my handbag/purse

2011-03-15T21:55:00.000-06:00

I just changed purses today so I actually know what is in there. I have my makeup pouch, containing lipstick for me, chapstick for the kids, batteries for the camera and an emergency brush. Next is my Guatemala bag that has my toothbrush, floss and toothpaste in it. I have my purple eel skin wallet, (it is really nice and so roomy) from Robin, and it has wallet things in it. I have a pack of gum at the bottom of my bag so Patience can't find it and one shopping bag, black and white. I also have my cell phone and the case for it. It is a small purse.

Day 27-my worst habit

2011-03-14T21:55:00.000-06:00

Two for one day
My worst habit. Facebook. Love it. Rob bugs me about it but I know so much now.

Day 26-your week, in great detail

2011-03-14T21:54:00.000-06:00

Like the french my week starts on Monday and ends on Sunday.
Monday: Sleep if I was working nights, or laundry, playing with Patience and cleaning the messy weekend house and lately I have been squeezing in an exercise class on the not sleep week. I would also start supper so it will be mostly ready. That should take me until the boys get home at 4:07. Leave the house at 4:12 to go to Tae Kwon Do. Niles has class at 4:30 and then we wait 45min for Xavier's class at 5:45. Get home around 6:45 gobble the supper I made and rush out the door for Warman band. Get home around 10. Sit on couch and die.
Tuesdays: The easy going day. If Monday was not a sleep day Crystal is coming to clean so I do a quick put away when the boys have gone to school and grab my work out clothes. Move dining room around so I have room, take out weights, etc. Start one load of laundry. 9:30-10:30 workout with Val then a quick stretch and wash to run to Village time. Have lunch with the village, maybe get some groceries (especially if I worked Saturday because there will be no milk), and go home for nap time. Finish load of laundry and start another during nap time. Purge some stuff when the boys won't notice and start supper. I try to make this one fancy-ish because it may be the only meal that there is time in the week. Boys come home. Ensure piano gets practised, check on homework, and make rooms tidy. Boss some more to get table set, dishwasher emptied and laundry put away. Supper. Clean up and rest for a little. I hang in the living room because I can see everything. Get kids ready for bed. Stories and bedtime. Then more clean up and my bed time.
Wednesday: Recycling day. That means I clean out under the sink and take the bottles in. Some weeks I just clean out the sink and put the bottles in the van because it is such a little return that it is not worth it. Then I clean out the fridge, and run any errands that need to and purge the mail. Too much mail. I hate the mail. Boys home, general after school things (see Tues) and then supper and Weds night church. Home, bed.
Thurs: Easy. Wake up. Make coffee go to work. Come home. Tuck kids in. Go to bed. (Rob takes the boys to piano on this day.)
Friday: See Thurs. If I don't work the next day we may do something. (Rob takes the boys to Tae Kwon Do)
Saturday: Leave house before kids wake up. Unsuccessful take at least one to breakfast and then shopping. Make-up day for Tae Kwon Do if we didn't make a class. No plans for the afternoon. Something, nothing, good. If I work nights I nap in the afternoon. If I work days see Thurs.
Sunday: Wake up. Get ready and go to church. Have lunch hopefully at the Museum. Have naps. Small group but I miss most of them for work.

Day 25-your day, in great detail

2011-03-13T17:30:00.000-06:00

Saturday is a good day. I usually try to accomplish some things but I wasn't very effective this time. I woke up at 8:00 but the kids had been up for awhile, so much for sleeping in. They had already gotten breakfast so I just harassed them for a bit to make their beds and clean their rooms then I dressed Patience who thinks running away is so funny, and the two of us went to get a haircut. Patience listened and I explained that she could only have a sucker after her haircut and she thought that maybe she could sit this once to get her hair cut. Lovely place, Beaners. It was really busy there so Patience got to sit in the pink jeep to get her hair cut. Patience now looks less like a scruff and more like a little girl. After we paid, which was an experience in itself because the machine was down, we went home for lunch.
Lunch was bean dip, fantastic although bean dip is better with football but we can't change that right now. There will be football soon enough and then what will we do?
After lunch I had a nap to get ready to work nights and when I woke up I made supper. My new and fancy mac and cheese with pesto. Yum. Then I got ready to work and my ride picked me up and off I went.
Then I worked twelve hours and came home. A full and exciting day.

Day 24-where I live

2011-03-11T23:57:00.000-06:00

I live in a house in Saskatoon with a lot of mirrors. A lot. There's the 60's for you. It does make the living area appear to be quite large and it is. Really a lot of space. We truly are blessed. I even found it on google maps. It is not a bad picture because I have never bothered to take a picture of the outside. Many of you have been to my house but for those of you who have not now you have some good directions. (Attach smiley face here).

My house even has a white fence. Cool and strange all at the same time. Makes for some good play time. It is unfortunate that it is not fully enclosed but the kids are old enough to stay in with Patience if I have to run in. There is a sand box, always a hit, and swings, and a slide. Face it. We have the cool yard.

We also live in some killer prairie. What a great place to live. Look up and there is sky. Look around there are beautiful things to see. The grass is cool. I love thinking how the great glaciers shaped this place. Awesome.

As a bonus today you are getting lego scenes. The talent of Xavier made this possible.

Day 23-a YouTube video

2011-03-10T09:54:00.001-06:00

I love this video but I can never remember what it is called so I google Lightbrite song and I always find it. You think I would learn but I never waste time learning what I can find so easily in Google.

Day 22-a website

2011-03-09T20:00:00.001-06:00

I like to hang out here. It resonates with me as I am trying to raise free range kids as well. It is interesting. FreeRangeKids

Day 21-a recipe

2011-03-08T21:53:00.000-06:00

My favourite football recipe;

Bean Dip (by Diane)

Beans lots (two cans, I usually use half a pot, black beans, kidney and pintos are good, but white beans are not)

Onion, 1

Salsa, 1/2-1cup

Old cheddar, 1/2 cup grated

Finely chop onion and begin cooking in heavy pan with some oil until translucent. Add beans. Mash with potato masher until mashed. Add some water to make a soupy consistency. Stir, bring to a simmer. Add salsa, stir in well. Let return to simmer. Bit by bit add cheese stirring between additions. Let simmer until consistency of dip but remember that will get thicker as stands.

Hope you like it.

Day 20-a hobby of yours

2011-03-07T17:45:00.001-06:00

I think my hobby is brooding. It is amazing what I spend my time obsessing about and what I do in response to that.

Day 19-a talent of yours

2011-03-06T21:53:00.000-06:00

Having thought about it I would say that my talent is being assertive, giving direction well as necessary. That is important to do because everyone just wants to be told what to do. They don't want to be in charge. I can also be talented at taking direction when it is offered. Try it some time, but you better be prepared with what comes next because I have a short attention span.

Day 18-my wedding/future wedding/past wedding

2011-03-05T21:52:00.000-06:00

Our wedding was great. We had it in a city park, the tree park we call it. (President Murray I just discovered). An affordable wedding, parks are free as long as you don't rent chairs. We did it in two months, so about 150 people attended because we did not give a lot of time leeway and it was summer. It was a beautiful day.

There were only two attendants , which is sad, but Rob didn't have any friends, so one each. Now if we did it again we could have more because Rob isn't so friendless any more. That would be nice because I have more than one friend.

We went in-line skating in our dress clothes and drank Slurpees. There are pictures of us skating. In fact in the print that we handed out we are still wearing our skates so I am holding on for dear life on the stairs. It was so hot in the morning but it didn't rain and the wedding was in the afternoon so it wasn't too hot by then. Besides it was on the grass and there were trees. A relaxed affair. You got to sit in your own chair and it was near a playground for the kids. Now they have expanded the playground so when we bring the kids we are playing where we got married (or at least where everyone sat).

The nice thing about doing things so quickly that there was not a lot of time to stress out. The details were taken care of and everything happened and we got married. Good that was the point.

Day 17-an art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc.)

2011-03-04T21:46:00.000-06:00

Kandinsky Farbstutie Quadrate 1913 (follow the link for more information about Kandinsky and the original link to the picture. Thank-you Word-press.com)

I like this picture. I bought the print in university and had it hung until I broke the frame. One day I will get another and it will hang again. I like the circles in the squares.

Day 16-a song that makes you cry (or nearly)

2011-03-03T21:45:00.000-06:00

Since I was a small child I Don't Want to Live on the Moon by Jeff Moss has mad me cry (or nearly). It is really sad when Ernie is looking down on his friends and can't be with them. I even bought the book for Xavier when he was little and it took me months to be able the read it to him.

Another one is You Are My Sunshine performed by Anne Murray. I can't even get through the first line. This version is for Jasmine if she ever blogstalks me. The video is not great but the song so good.

Day 15-your dream house

2011-03-02T09:45:00.000-06:00

My dream house is an Eaton's catalogue house. The two story one with a wrap around porch, a big kitchen and room for family but I would make the doorways bigger and make an elevator shaft in one of the closets so I would never have to move again. I would also pimp out the kitchen. Then I would paint it yellow and white.

I love going to the Western Development Museum to check out house plans and look at the model. Too bad you can't go upstairs.

Day 14-a non-fiction book

2011-03-01T21:44:00.003-06:00

I See Rude People

According to the cover this book is "One woman's battle to beat some manners into impolite society", and funny all at the same time. I read it because I see them too and I wanted to know what she was doing about it. While I don't agree with everything she does I do think it is great that she is taking on the anonymity that keeps society separate and unwilling to stand up for politeness. It was a good book. Reminds me of my sisters.

Day 13-a fiction book

2011-02-28T22:30:00.002-06:00

Mistress of the Art of Death is a delicious book. I couldn't put it down. Follow the link to get to the synopsis, but it starts like this...

In medieval Cambridge, four children have been murdered. The Catholic townsfolk blame their Jewish neighbors, so to same them from the rioting mob, ......Hoping scientific investigation will catch the true killer...

Day 12-something you are OCD about

2011-02-27T17:40:00.001-06:00

So I have previewed the comments by my siblings and I figured out that we are the same person. Before I go to bed I have to close my closet door. Sometimes I can leave Rob's open because I think he should close his own closet but usually I have to close it too. I also have to close all the cupboard doors in the kitchen.

Day 11: A photo of you recently

2011-02-26T20:30:00.002-06:00

This was taken on our trip to Nova Scotia the day we went to Lunenburg to see the Bluenose II, a replica of the original Bluenose schooner. I think the best part of the day was the little cafe we found on a side street. Good food and it was not so hot.
I almost didn't give Rob his burger back.

Day 10: A photo taken over 10 years ago of you

2011-02-25T21:18:00.000-06:00

Oh the pain to publish this picture. Appreciate it. Rob could use a new computer.
This is me 11 years ago in my uniform. I love that sweater. I would still be wearing it if it had not worn out. Taken on Vancouver Island.

Day 9: A photo I took

2011-02-24T21:40:00.000-06:00

So this is a picture I took for Jasmine's facebook page What is in your grocery bag? See the three kinds of beans, cold pressed canola oil and avocados? It was a strange grocery day.

This is my lobster from Nova Scotia. Lobster is yucky. The picture is nice though.

This is Patience sleeping. If you look closely you can see her feet aren't touching.

Day 8: A photo that makes you angry/sad

2011-02-23T20:20:00.001-06:00

This image makes me sad because I had never thought of using bacon like this before. I am posting this in response to all the other sad posts today. Let's eat bacon and be happy.

(My picture is the same as Roy's and it can stay in Mom's office and not be splashed around. It is a really cute picture of Xavier and Grandma looks so happy. It just makes me sad that she only got to see Xavier (Phaedra, Tyler and Kaleb) and there were so many more to come especially since she was looking forward to it as well).

Day 7: a photo that makes you happy

2011-02-22T09:23:00.002-06:00

This picture makes me happy because it is a family picture where everyone is looking, everyone looks decent and no one cried. That is amazing. I also don't have a copy of it yet so I am going to send it off soon.

This picture makes me happy because it is a family picture where everyone is looking, everyone looks decent and no one cried. That is amazing. (Ha! I know I said the same thing but I think it applies, and don't we look great. It is because we are all happy that there will be no more family weddings for a while. Thanks Samuel.)

Day 6: 20 of my favourite things

2011-02-21T22:36:00.000-06:00

1. Smooth natural peanut butter (chunky not one of my favourite things)

2. 90% cocoa chocolate

3. Good coffee with cream in it (whipping cream is even better)

4. Rainbows on my walls

5. When you are in the middle of the music and the harmonies are just right and the hairs on your arms stand up.

6. Fall smell

7. Taylor family get-togethers

8. Red jelly beans

9. Nimrod (the song) playing really loud with surround sound

10. the hour when the kids are in bed before I go to bed

11. Beans

12. Yelling "Congie" for field goals

13. Football season

14. My boots (they are really nice)

15. Doing nothing

16. Band ( I love band)

17. Beaver Creek with the kids

18. Seeing new places

19. Vanilla perfume

20. Running outside.

There they are and I have been told that a certain one of my siblings is a cheater and did not do 20 so ha ha. You lose Roy!

Now for a regular blog thingy

This weekend was Patience's third birthday. We blew it out with a shing-dig and she made out like a bandit. She got a doctor's bag and she has been fixing me up all day. I have had so many needles in my bum I will never get sick again, and I am assured that my blood pressure is just fine.

We had some great cupcakes as well. They were super cute and apparently tasted good as well.
Don't you love grouches?

Xavier and Niles have been very busy. If you ask Xavier he is in eight activities. I haven't had him list all of them for me but he seems to be busy. Niles is also busy. They are looking forward to the week off so they have time to unwind and just be.

Day 4 and 5

2011-02-20T17:12:00.006-06:00

So my siblings and I (minus Robin because she was sleeping in Korea at the time) had a discussion (heated according to Rob) and we agreed that Roy was right and we are posting every day so we can finish before Lent. But since we hadn't decided that until Sunday, or at least we were in discussion, I am two posts behind. Therefore you get two posts today.

Day four: My favourite book

My favourite book is Invitation to the Game by Monica Hughes. I first read this book when I was in grade 7 and I loved it. Somehow I lost the book while I was in the middle of it and I just kept thinking about it. Finally I finished it and loved it. Check out the link. Not a bad review on Amazon. I do love Monica Hughes. She writes great books for young adults.

Another favourite book is A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter. This book was given to me by Grandma Mary when I was about 13. I think she thought I read too much science fiction and wanted me to branch out. I still have my copy and have not read it in awhile but still remember the story well. An enjoyable book and free online now. Just follow the link.

If you are still looking I also love The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I always wanted a garden like that, a private place where I could just be with grass and flowers. Apparently the book is old enough that you can read it for free. Link with it for daily excerpts.

Now you must think that I am well read with all those classics and you would be right but I really love funny books. Read Terry Pratchet. He is really funny. In fact I googled Thud to spell his name properly. It totally worked.

Day 5: My Favourite Quote

Common sense is not so common.

Voltaire

I got that one from Melissa but she says "Common sense is not universal".

I also keep this one on the post-it on my computer screen

The conception of two people living together for twenty-five years without having a cross word suggests a lack of spirit only to be admired in sheep.

Alan Patrick Herbert

(I thought of this one later "Did I just use bacon as a verb?" DQ lips )

Day 3 favourite TV show

2011-02-19T05:29:00.001-06:00

I fell asleep in front of my computer so Rob put me to bed. Here it is late.

Star Trek: The Next Generation. Love it.

Day 2-your favourite movie

2011-02-17T07:58:00.004-06:00

Nightmare Before Christmas is my favourite movie. I own 3 copies on DVD and one on VHS. As well I have the sound track. Really I prefer the original version with the long poem in the beginning because it makes the movie make more sense, but if you have never really compared them I guess you should. That is right take some time out to watch the original and edited versions and then get the extended version and watch the outtakes. I just love that pumpkin head.

Well. What the heck? I went and did my best and by (golly) I really made it something great.

Jack Skellington

Here is a clip of Jack introducing the concept of Christmas to Halloween town.
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi937034009/

Now apparently my siblings can't only write about one so here is another option that I can't pass up.

Star Trek: The Future Begins .

As I say to Rob, maybe we should watch the "Star Trek". I have heard it is good.

I also like So I Married an Axe Murderer.

Day 1 My Favourite Song

2011-02-16T18:26:00.002-06:00

Joyce challenged us and we are competitive so here it is. My favourite song is Nimrod by Sir Edward Elgar (but not the version that I am listening to right now. It is terrible. Listen to a symphony play it). I would add more but I have to run to work. Maybe I will edit tomorrow. Roy beat me. He is uber competitive.

Sick Day

2011-02-09T18:25:00.006-06:00

Xavier got to be home today because he was sick. Truly he sounds like a goose when he coughs. Reminds me of Robin. The goose part. He felt much better after he slept all afternoon but out of consideration to others we stayed home tonight. Better to not spread this around. Hopefully he will be better tomorrow because I am off to work and no one will be home with him.

So while looking for pictures for this post I realized that Niles is under-represented in the photo category, followed by Xavier and then Patience is leading. I do know that Niles runs away from the camera so he is hard to get a good one of but maybe I should let them take out the camera themselves. This is a good one. Yes the boys are sharing a pair of pajama pants.

Niles is getting big enough that I keep commenting on his pants. It seems that this month every pair have become floods and the give him a wedgie. I will have to move him up a size but he will then wear the same size as Xavier and the fights that will occur. Ugg. I don't look forward to that. Oh well we have been preparing Xavier since Niles was born that he will grow taller and although Niles is not taller he is built more Taylor and less Waddell. Think small Roy, or Robin as a boy. Xavier is his dad in miniature. Different bodies wear clothes differently.

(Pretend this is Niles. It is Patience wearing Niles' shirt. It is a great shirt.He loves it.)

To round out the cuteness we have Gloria and Patience modeling aviators. It is a great look for winter. Gloria had a great time in them while Patience is displaying a more pensive look.

Okay a short update. Wow this won't get me on the most read blog roll but it is an update. Maybe I will get funnier later.

Coo's coos

2011-02-02T09:39:00.004-06:00

So in super cuteness Patience continues to live and I thought it was time to record some of the cute things that she says. I know that mostly she does not do it on purpose, she is just cute but let's go with it.
While I am typing this we are watching Coo's coos goes to the Docker. Maybe you don't know this Coo's coos. It is alright. I do spend much of my time interpreting toddler, so I will give you a hint. Got the idea? That's right! We are watching Blue's Clues, more specifically Blue's Clues Blue Goes to the Doctor. Last night while I was making supper I also got to play doctor with all the toys. Patience would bring them in and I would let them stick out their tongues and lift their arms and then Patience would tell me they needed medicine. I did mention once that Patience should be the nurse to which she replied " I not furse, I a mommy! You a Docker, not a furse!" It must be hard being that cute. She knows it too because she uses it to her advantage. "Mommy, I yove you. I give you smooches". Try to resist that.

And there was Cheesecake....

2011-01-11T21:33:00.004-06:00

Today I feel old as I sit here drinking my hot water while I write. (I will admit that this new habit of drinking my water plain and boiled is not helping my old feeling.) Today Xavier turns 10 and that makes me old. A good time was had by all who attended at our small family gathering, (I am glad it was small because even with only some of the family there was still 12 plus our family and it starts to feel crowded, and loud)and most importantly (according to Xavier) there was cheesecake.
As you can see he was very excited about it. Xavier told me that today was awesome because he thought that nothing was going to work out and then he prayed about it and it all did. I will add that he was so excited about his birthday that he ran up stairs before anyone was awake, turned on Niles' stereo so loud that he make him wake up crying and put everyone in a generally bad mood. Thanks for prayer because once that cleared everything got better. In many ways Xavier reminds me Roy. Maybe it will pass.

Linaya and Gianna came to have cake.

I happened to look over when Linaya was grabbing an entire handful of whipped cream to put in her mouth. Both she and G refilled their cupcakes three times with topping. G never did eat her cupcake but it had a well licked top. Patience enjoyed sitting with the girls. They have been spending enough time together lately so they were having a good time.
Here is a picture of Niles at the Science Centre since he kept hiding tonight. Taken after the bodies exhibit. That is fodder for another post.

Another one

2010-11-28T21:44:00.006-06:00

Trying to get back into blog mode but apparently I am failing. I will give it another try. The above picture is my kid scamwich. Xavier wasn't as happy about it as the others.

Twenty-five things you didn't know about me continued again
11. Sometimes I smile when I am angry because I don't want to yell at you.
12. I miss hanging out with my sisters.
13. My favourite colour is purple but I mostly wear black.
14. I prefer to spell with Canadian spellings which is mostly like UK but not quite but a lot different from American spelling.
15. The name of my imaginary fourth child is Violet.

Xavier is getting a lot more independent this year. He is practicing giving attitude so we are working on getting that under control before he thinks he can get away with it. The best part is that when Niles sees Xavier getting in trouble he goes into superstar mode, "Mom I did my homework is there anything else I can do?", "Mom, can I help with supper?", "There I practiced my piano". Xavier stands and pouts. Ah, children. They keep you humble. I used to know things and I am an idiot.

Patience is cute and two. She speaks in sentences but hasn't got to the question stage yet. That is nice because she talks a lot already and I don't have the energy to answer all of the questions yet. She is quite independent. She dresses herself, pees all by herself and generally makes mayhem. My favourite is that she loves to help cook and to do that she climbs into the kitchen sink and up on the counter right by the stove. I hear a lot of "Mom I need room to cook," and then there she is right beside me. At least she is showing interest in it so she might be able to care for herself when she is older.

This is Xavier's sunflower. It bloomed and then it snowed one week later so it won't come back next year. Makes a nice picture though.

I let my fingers do the talking

2010-09-28T15:21:00.002-06:00

Today as I was applying paint stripper my mind drifted to a person that I have not seen for years. Now my mind often drifts to this person when I have a quiet moment and so I drafted this message.
Dear ___________,(the name is not important)
It has been many years since I have seen you and although you likely never think of me I often find myself thinking of you. You may not know it but I learned many things from you. For this I owe you a huge thank-you.
Thank-you for teaching me to respect others because they may have something to teach me regardless of age. Indeed I learned that it isn't age but life experience that teaches and people experience things at different times. It is from you that I learned that a child can be harmed by an offhand comment that I make and so I try to caution my speech around children, you never know what I may be teaching them. Thank-you.
Again I thank-you for the lesson that it isn't the amount of money a person makes that makes them worthwhile but the knowledge they contain, that God knows each of our hearts and loves us all. This lesson has given me the opportunity to learn many things from others. I do not put it into practice perfectly but I continue to try. Thank-you for providing me the opportunity.
Finally I thank-you for teaching me the importance of family. It is from you I learned that although I may not agree with my family or the family of my husband it is important for me to treat them with respect and remember that the sacrifices that were made that allow me to be where I am. It was from this that I also learned that family is who you make them. That it is as easy to let someone into your family as it is to take them out. This lesson is both easy and difficult. Thank-you. I have an increased family because of this lesson.
God has blessed me greatly. May His blessings continue to be on you.
Diane Taylor

I sent it too.

25 random things about me

2009-11-02T10:43:00.004-06:00

Hey! I know that I haven't been keeping up in a while. IN fact right now I am only posting because I am angry about something so far in the past that it shouldn't matter but it still does so I am taking this time to clear my head before I go and do something that I will regret later. So here is a continuation of 25 random things about me.
7. My computer is eating my programs so I am really annoyed with it right now. Where did photoshop go anyway?

8. I am perky at work. That is right perky. I know it blows my mind too.

9. I would like to be fluent in french but am too lazy to do anything about it that would require effort.

That is it. Three more things and I am still angry. On another note I am currently awaiting photos to download so I can put some new ones on.

Thank You.

2009-03-24T15:50:00.002-06:00

Dear God,
Thank-you for putting me in situations where I am out of my comfort zone. For making me act towards people as I am not inclined and for letting me know that I can survive and be a better person for it. Help me to continue to grow in my love towards others, in my forgiveness and in my humility. I have learned today. Thank-you.

25 Random things about me.

2009-03-14T10:49:00.004-06:00

Okay so this is really a thread off of facebook but every time I start it it gets lost and then I get nowhere. I got to 22 once and then Facebook cacked so I gave up for awhile. Three cheers for blogger and autosaving.

1. I only pretend to be confident. Inside there is a loud voice telling me how crazy I am for doing what I am doing and that no one cares anyway and that I am a great big screw up. See everyone feels like that.

2. I bite my nails. Gross huh?

3.The name Xavier comes from an alphabet game that I used to play with my siblings. What else do you use for X?

4.I haven't told Xavier that yet.

5. I am terrified of heights but I still try to help when people need shingles.

6. When I was little I thought that the second floor would fall down onto the first floor so I couldn't stand near the edge and look over or I would fall to the bottom.

I can only think of six right now.

Back to work

2009-02-15T19:11:00.004-06:00

Paid vacation is over and I am back to work. So far I have done the learning part of orientation and this week I am starting buddy shifts. We will see how that works out. Patience is really enjoying her time with Helen and Avyn. She is full of smiles when I pick her up but she was rather pissy this weekend. Hold me, hold me. Where are you mom types of things but she is better now that we played with her and had popcorn. Popcorn heals many sorrows, and is also healthy for you. It is, after all, a whole grain.

It has taken a long time to finish this post. Our internet failed this week and between that and work I have not been able to complete this. Ah work. What can I say. I don't know much about what I am doing so I feel lost and like I don't belong. Nights are worse because I am trying to learn but my brain wants to be in bed. Let's say I am not at my best. Right now the best I can do is give myself a timetable so I don't give up. After all you can do anything for a year. . . right? See, I am a little overwhelmed at the moment. I had not realized how much twelve hours shifts take out of your life and how much life I need to have for three children. Something is not adding up.

Time for token pictures.
Tobogganing at Christmas

Xavier's stripe test

Patience is ready for Grey Cup

Happy Birthday. Patience got a baby.

Home again, home again.

2009-01-26T15:03:00.002-06:00

It has been a busy weekend. We made a trip out to Winnipeg on Friday arriving at the hotel late Friday night. It is a long trip out there. We arrived with sufficient time to visit with family who were all there for the same reason, watch our cousin (niece, etc) Stacy get married. It was a joy-filled day but I have to say it would be nicer if we did not live so far away. The trip meter says 1500+ km in 3 days. I am pooped and so are the kids. Patience is a little out of sorts, being in the car seat for so long and is taking today to recover. We are on the third nap of the day but she is still grumpy when she is awake. The boys did not have school today so they stayed home to sleep in and recover. I think we should make that trip again one day but plan on a week or more to ensure a good time, going in the spring or summer wouldn't hurt because then we could get out and run for awhile. So we didn't take pictures but we still love you all. Now if you keep updating us...

Dear Xavier,

2009-01-15T22:55:00.003-06:00

Seven was a good year. You learned so many things and you grew up. In grade one you started reading and enjoying school. I got many phone calls from your teacher about you having difficulty listening and not disturbing others in class but I understand. You like to be noticed, and you have already figured it out so why are they going on and on. We will take the small victories.

You were very excited to participate in school spirit days. Your favourite ( and Niles') was wacky hair day. I am not sure it is because you had the greatest hair or because Patience was born on that day but whatever it was you looked great.

You are a fabulous big brother. You honestly love babies and Patience is your own to play with. You loved to wiggle her and keep her happy. "Mom you do it this way", as you bounced her to keep her quiet. You are a great helper with the baby and you care deeply about being helpful.

Ah seven. You became less fearful about swimming lessons, fairly sailing through the last batch. Very nice. You also started Tae Kwon Do and that seems to be a favourite right now. In addition you started reading on the sly. All of a sudden you could read the tv listings and then you were reading over my shoulder. You are enjoying the new found skill.

Not everything was easy being seven. You had an adjustment period with the new baby and I got a lot of phone calls from school but those settled as you got more adjusted and great improvements in your self control occurred with grade two, the return to day care and sports.

You love the piano. I am glad we got it. Although practicing can be a struggle you enjoy learning music. It is a great joy to see you growing and learning. Your ideas of right and wrong are developing as well as your love of God and family. I am so glad you are my son and I look forward to the time God gives us together.
Love,
Mom.

Ah December.

2008-12-17T09:35:00.003-06:00

As my friends children grow up I am getting to see, from outside, my children in a different light. Wow is that a wake-up call. Sweet La-La and Sigh and two and almost two. Great kids, still rather dependent on their respective mommies, but big enough to do some things by themselves and I think, "Niles was this old when I went back to school full-time. What was I thinking?". Wow! I took my baby and left him with someone else ( a completely competent grownup whom I trust), and went to school. Then my brain shuts off for a second. Then I wake-up and decide that he is perfectly fine, he is happy and well adjusted although fearful of new things and that going to school allowed my family to be where we are right now. It was a factor in everything that has happened since then. Would we be where we are if I hadn't gone, and I have to say no.

The strangest thing is that I forgot about Rob's illness,the all consuming part of our year when Niles was two and newly three. I put it out of my mind. It came up when I took Niles to counseling to work on his fear. I guess there isn't a standard question like "Was there a life threatening illness in your family sometime in your child's lifetime?", and I forgot about it. Crazy huh? Do you think that has something to do with Niles' fearfulness? When I look at Jasmine's Longlegs I think that he is the same age as Niles was when Rob got sick. That was a big deal to him, and I forgot. Some sort of coping mechanism?! So I understand, but I also move on because I can't change the past, only learn from it. So now I deal with the things that come from the past. It is good to remember, but also good to live in the now.

On a totally different note, we have been rather busy this month and I think that something will have to give. Good thing Christmas is almost here and we can be done. Patience is tired I Santa vying for my time. How exciting, a first Christmas again. This will be our last first Christmas until the kids bring home their own firsts' so I am excited for many years I our family being together before we add more.

Patience eats more things

2008-12-10T11:42:00.002-06:00

Since the last post Patience has discovered the Christmas tree. She is busy eating the decorations. In fact I am not sure that she didn't achieve actually eating part of one. I hope it comes out in the end (ha, I am so funny). This is a busy month. Walking is quickly being learned. Standing is old hat and crawling has been mastered and discarded. Now if only Patience would learn that the cup is for drinking out of and not playing. I guess we can't have everything.

Patience eats

2008-11-03T15:25:00.001-06:00

Patience does her beany baby impression. Really I am so behind with the blog but I took a month off of the computer. Really selfish of me. I started enjoying my upstairs and ignoring my basement (I got distracted in the middle of the last word and almost wrote baby, but caught my train of thought before you all thought that I was the worst mother in the world).

Patience also discovered that I have better food than she gets. She remedied that by reaching up and grabbing the cookie out of my hand. Good picture.

We got new side tables and Patience thinks they are the best new toy. So much fun to crawl through. Josiah came over to help out. Aren't they cute?

There I did a short update. I am supervising Niles cleaning up so I am actually in the same room as my computer.

A good story

2008-09-24T21:49:00.002-06:00

Patience is getting much better at creeping. She would crawl but the extra effort needed is not worth it. On Monday she found a squishy ball that she could keep in her hand. It was a great time and then she got lonely and went looking for me. She's crying and creeping one hand at a time because she still has the ball in her hand too. So left hand back, back to centre, trade ball hand, right hand back. Repeat. She took that ball to bed too.

New Picture New Year

2008-09-22T21:15:00.001-06:00

Got to love the boys in the park. Thank-you Roy and Monica for the picture day.

They get so big so fast.

2008-09-15T20:44:00.002-06:00

This is the picture I promised earlier. Here is Niles ready for his first day of kindergarten. He is very excited. He actually wasn't even worried. Check out the huge grin.

Patience is reading the paper like her mom. Well, sort of like her mom, if reading the paper involves ripping and tasting the paper, then she reads it just like I do, if not. . . well there is no accounting for taste.

Here she is really getting into the paper, or sleeping. Take your pick.

Being extra cute.

Ah Thanks.

2008-09-14T22:05:00.004-06:00

I knew you loved me. Thanks for all the comments. Keep them coming to maintain motivation. Send suggestions for things you want to see.

Here is a random picture of me on vacation. It was really hot there but it was vacation. I love vacation. I need more vacation. Everyone join me in a call for vacation.

Okay People

2008-09-13T14:08:00.003-06:00

I know you are out there reading this stuff that I am writing. Right? So where are the comments? This isn't something that I just slap together in a minute; it takes at least 5 minutes and with pictures sometimes upwards of ten. Yah I know. Sarcasm does become me.

But in all honesty it has been weeks since you have commented. I am putting out some good stuff. All I am asking for in return is some COMMENTS! Give me some love.

Look what my computer found!

2008-09-10T21:45:00.000-06:00

So if you have been following my recent activity you read that Picasa disappeared from my computer. Today I installed a new version and as it installed I got the program to scan my entire computer for pictures. Look what it found.

Aren't they cute? This is Niles at just 2 and Xavier at 4 1/2. Ahhhhhhh. Love those kids. Lets do a compare and contrast with the newer pictures.

Movers and Shakers

2008-09-10T15:20:00.005-06:00

It was only two weeks ago that Patience started to think about crawling commando style. Chris took a video of her on her second day.

This is Patience at Dryden's 13th birthday. I will try for the video later.

The next week we put her in the annual baby crawl. She was the youngest in her heat and she would have won if she had started moving in the first twenty-five seconds but she was too interested in what was going on. Melissa and Josiah were recording the moment for posterity and Robin was along for the enjoyment of visiting. There were also shoes to look at.

Xavier is getting very good at wiggling those loose teeth. He lost one of the front top ones yesterday. An exciting time. He was very excited about the tooth coming in and he was also excited about the Tooth Fairy. I have such funny children. Xavier is getting ready for bed and he is very concerned about putting his tooth where it can be found. "Mom," he says, "will you be able to find my tooth if I put it under my pillow in this box when you are being the Tooth Fairy?". Ha! I let them have the joys of childhood, the pretending and everything, and they still know that Mommy does it all. Xavier ended up deciding to leave the tooth in a box in the bathroom so the Tooth Fairy would not have to trip over things looking for the tooth. He was also excited about the money that was there in the morning.

Niles has started kindergarten.
I took a picture of his first day but it has not made it onto my computer yet. I am a slacker. He likes school. I hear him singing the songs as he walks around the house. It seems to be working for him.

Xavier is in grade 2 and all the French grade two got to be in the same class this year so he is with all his grade two friends. We will see how this year continues. He is not sure if he likes it yet.

Both boys started piano lessons and have had one lesson so far. Xavier is stoked. Niles is more wary. He thinks he won't like it because it will be hard.(First Xavier, then Niles. How did I get two perfectionists? It is too much effort).

This is a blog in progress. Check back for more pictures. I am publishing it but am not done.

Funny! Oh So Funny!

2008-08-29T17:13:00.002-06:00

Ah, we all need a little more laughter in our lives. Not to say that any of the other peoples' lives that are follow are depressing but you HAVE TO SEE THIS ONE! I laughed, out loud, like Roy. I am not kidding. I read the whole thing, including her old posts and I plan on returning to reread and read the comments because I have not done that yet.

All of you can stop holding your breath,
http:// www.cakewrecks.blogspot.com

You need to click on this one. (Yes I do have permission to link to this. She gives it right on her site).

A short post for right now. Perhaps I will return later.

How did this happen?

2008-08-27T21:16:00.002-06:00

Do you ever feel like you are just floating through? Honestly I don't know how I ended up like this. By this I mean, you know, an adult doing adult things. How did this happen? When did laundry become interesting? When did I get to be in charge of little people? When did I have to be mature and responsible and planning things? Here's the thing. I think I am failing at adult. I haven't made any significant things yet. I have to yet achieve goals that I planned on as a child. Honestly I remember being a child. I thought that I was a child, but now I know that I am an adult but what is being an adult? I will be an adult for the rest of my life, a very long time, and it is getting monotonous. I do the same things over and over and they are not what you would call very interesting. Laundry anyone?Stagnation is occurring.

I do all the things that other adults do. I surf the internet, watch tv, read but it seems so . . .stupid, wasted, repeated. Even music is the same thing over and over. Nothing is new under the sun. Laundry anyone? What should I make for supper?Maybe there are too many choices. Maybe I am overwhelmed by all I can do. I think the most terrible thing you can say to a child is "You are smart. You can do anything". Why? This is most often told to teenagers before they finish high school and think about their futures. This is also a time where a teen thinks that picking the wrong belt to wear with an outfit will destroy her life,and where she also thinks that when she walks into a room everybody notices that there is a huge zit on her chin. And we make this person choose what they will be doing for the rest of his life! Wow! I couldn't imagine being 25 when I was 17. How could I decide what I wanted to do? What had I seen to choose from? You know I still do not know what those people do in those tall office buildings, but I want to. Do you think it is interesting?

The time is near

2008-08-25T09:14:00.002-06:00

We started our back to school routine today. Got the boys up at 0730. They did alright. Xavier starts school on Weds and Niles starts in Sept. Niles is really ready for school. In-fact he should have gone to school last year except for the part where he was not old enough. He really was ready and now he is over ready and is refusing to do things that he used to do before. This is why I appreciate the public school system. They can get my kids to do things that I would never be able to do. Niles won't even write his name (something he was doing at Christmas last year) for me.I am sure some of the regressing is because of the baby but some of it is because he is really stubborn. Now I have mentioned how stubborn Xavier is but Niles has to be more stubborn because he has to be able to stand up to Xavier's bossing. Oh I am so excited for him to have learning presented to him by another person. I ran into the mother of one of Xavier's classmates and she said the new French Kindergarten teacher is supposed to be the one that replaced the old one on her maternity leave. That is good. She was a good teacher and she met Xavier so Niles will not be too much of a shock. Back when I took Niles to sneak peak I understood the way my children will be remembered by the teachers. Like everyone teachers learn the names of the people they need to speak to. Niles was the first name every teacher learned. The principal stopped to reassure me that he was a normal little boy; I hadn't mentioned that Xavier is his brother or I may have been labeled as "that mother", not really but Xavier is known to the administration and he is only going into grade 2. Now there will be two of them. I pray for no phone calls this year. At least Patience is enough younger that she won't have the same teachers so she can start on a clean slate, and Josiah and Linaya have different last names so maybe the connection won't be made.

Along with the new school year we are starting daycare again. It is with some trepidation that I send them but not because I am worried about the daycare; daycare is a great place and there are many friends; the trepidation is because I will still be home and should/could be continuing to interact with them. This is all preplanning for my return to work. I just can't arrange everyone else's lives to get my children cared for what with everyone having babies or going back to work at the same time. It will be good though. The boys will be happy.

I saw an advertisement for conversational French classes and I remembered that was one of my plans for my break; learn French better. Xavier will quickly pass my expertise and I would like to understand what he is doing and besides continuing learning keeps your mind young. It was a goal of mine to learn three languages so I had better get on that or that will be another goal that I throw by the wayside. This one is achievable. I had better speak to Rob about it.

No pictures this time. Picasa is still missing and I haven't had time to fix/look at/get someone who knows something to look at it yet. I will keep going though.

Good thing of the day; the boys helped me change their sheets without complaining and Rob made coffee, good coffee. Why do I buy the cheap stuff when I don't like it?

I lost Picasa today.

2008-08-18T23:46:00.006-06:00

I lost Picasa! For real. I even got a computer message that it is lost. How can it get lost? HELP!
I will use Kodak but I don't like it as much.

Ah Niles. So big,. . .so little. I will try not to yell. I will keep my patience. Boy does he drive me crazy. He will go and play nicely by himself, he can get his own snacks even pour drinks but he cries...all the time...loudly. It hurts. It is annoying and it makes it difficult to want to have him around. Don't get me wrong. I love the monster but honestly, can you live with that? He will be in kindergarten this year so hopefully he will grow out of that annoying habit.

So why do I feel guilty about sending him back to daycare? It must be social mommy guilt. You know, I should raise my children. After all the time I spend talking about Village living and raising your children in a village. Daycare can be my village. I can share my children. This is a good plan.

Xavier...
He has certainly grown this year. He is a good big brother. He is a big brother; for any of you that have older siblings you should know what I mean. He is mean and he thinks he should be the one in charge, his ideas should be the most important and Niles is annoying to him. . . when he won't do what he wants. Summer is getting to be too long but grade two is rapidly approaching. I am excited. Right now I am excited that the kids won't be home all day but I am also excited that they will be learning and meeting new people that I would not have been able to provide them access to without the blessing of school.

Different thought string now.

We played dress-up when Avee came over awhile ago. Check out these cute kids.

Got to love wigs and things.

Taste of Saskatchewan

2008-07-18T21:17:00.002-06:00

Yes the best time of the year has arrived. Taste of Saskatchewan. So I say over lunch on Tues, "Taste of Saskatchewan is here", to which the boys reply "Taste of Saskatchewan! Robin is back!?". That is right. Robin and Taste of Saskatchewan are interlinked at my home. It is very good. Robin is coming home. The boys are counting down. Excitement is on the rise. Yay!

Today I am feeling like the world is stupid;which it is, but having acknowledged that I wish in my childish way that it would stop and go back to making sense. This world is not my home. I'm just a passing through...The angel beacons me from heaven's open door, and I can't feel at home in this world anymore. Stupid world. Stupid people. Be with me Lord. I cannot live without Thee. Arrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

A Life Crisis

2008-06-27T16:10:00.000-06:00

Not quite 30 and already it is happening; my friends are beginning to have crises. Can't call them midlife crises because we pray that our lives will all be longer than late 50s but life crises never the less. It hurts my soul to hear what is happening in Jasmine's life. We have been friends since we were both seven and in grade 2. We got married within a year of each other and have small children around the same ages. So it came as a total shock to me (and to her) when her husband said he was not happy and moved out. WHAT! HAS THE WORLD ENDED? HUH? Questions run through your head. I just want to shake him but it won't help anything. I can just watch from the sidelines as this terrible drama plays out in the lives of people I care about. And if it hurts me imagine how much worse it is for those involved. So I pray and feel like I am not doing enough but there is nothing really I can do. So everyone pray. Pray for Jasmine and Sabastian, Jaspar and Ivy.

Totally unrelated; here are pictures of work weekend and Roy and Dave's excellent adventure (girl free zones mostly).

Not so cute anymore

2008-06-25T17:18:00.004-06:00

It has happened. We all knew that we would get to this point but you kind of forget that it will happen so soon. . . Patience has lost the cute newborn cry. Now when she cries she sounds like she is telling you off, loudly, . . .really loudly, . . . with a growl in the back, . . .and getting louder. She is getting more opinionated all the time. She kicks her legs to get you to pick her up, and she kicks faster if you don't notice (A is for aisle, B is for bdellium (?sp) funny music in the background) so you better pick her up. Now I didn't say Patience isn't cute, she is, just her cry isn't anymore.

We got the new Barenaked Ladies CD. You should here the Alphabet song and I especially like Popcorn. I like mostly the whole thing. Really Niles got it for his birthday but we all enjoy listening to it.

He is big and 5. It is hard being older. He doesn't like the babies some of the time. They follow him around they get in his way. It is nice being older though. He is very talented at getting what he wants. He doesn't waste time asking for things he just takes. He has learned how to climb up on cupboards to be able to do this. How wonderful.

It's Xavier's last day of Grade 1. . . there it goes. I will never have a Xavier in Grade 1 again. He is getting so big but wants to be be little at the same time and be taken care of. He is a great helper but worries when he can't get Patience to stop crying. He thinks that there is something wrong with him instead of an opinionated baby having a moment.

It isn't really hard to see how I got opinionated children. Opinions breed true. That's right they must be dominant. It is good. At least you know what they want even if you don't always know what they are thinking. Opinions are sometimes sneaky, other opinions are afraid that being different is not good. Ah, good times.

The business is going well. Rob is managing to keep busy enough to have an employee. Right now Joseph is working for us but he thinks he wants to go back to school in the fall and you hate to discourage someone from from learning the Bible but it would give me more confidence if he was passing right now. I may be wrong but usually you show that you are learning by passing the classes you are taking. It is so much less hassle for those who are teaching and learning along with you. I guess we will see how things proceed. Besides having an employee, there is a van; with decals that look very nice on it. ( I think I am throwing in extra punctuation today, back to the book). We have also managed to get paid in the very first month. All very good. Keep praying for our family in this time of change.

Nice picture of Shelley. Xavier was busy with the camera.

I don't have any pictures.

2008-06-11T22:43:00.005-06:00

It's true. I am at so many other people's houses and they all have cameras that I keep leaving mine at home. So I don't have new pictures to show you. Other people do. Maybe they will e-mail me some or post them in a web album or something (except Melissa and then I have to go to her house to blog from there to get the correctly formatted pictures, not that that is a problem because I am there often), and then I will continue to update you with pictures. I guess I need a camera that is small enough to go in my bag because the one I have at home is not and my hands are full enough so it just doesn't get brought. Enough excuses.

Happy Birthday Niles! Here is a picture of scary Niles. He is two in this picture.

And here he is almost five. Still cute. He says the strangest things. Today he said, "Mom can I have some of your beverage? Is this called a beverage?" and then he proceeds to finish my drink.

Since this blog is all about Niles I will share more about him. He has been finding the adjustment to not being the baby in the house rather difficult. He is struggling with wanting to be big and independent and needing to be little and helped. It makes for a frustrating day. He is a GREAT BIG whiner and we are working on it. On the other hand he knows his address, phone number, how to spell his and Xavier's names, can cut with scissors, can choose appropriate punishments and put things in the dishwasher. He is also going to be five. Five is a great age. He starts kindergarten in the fall and already recognizes his teacher. Great things.

(Roy! Rob chooses Vanessa for a girl name and Evander for a boy. In fact that was the winning boy name if Patience came out with accessories if you know what I mean).

Mommy this is the way!

2008-06-02T14:03:00.005-06:00

I keep threatening to blog about this and I am sitting at Melissa's house watching kiddos (they are behind me playing happily) so there is a computer just waiting for me (and Melissa actually has more recent pictures than I have).
So I was getting ready one morning last week and Patience started crying. I couldn't get her to stop (she was in a mood). Xavier really doesn't like to hear her cry. He comes running into the room, "Mom! You aren't doing it right! Let me", and he takes Patience and starts bouncing her and she stops crying. "See Mom," he said, "you have to bounce her medium". Oh boy. I have a 7 yr old baby expert on my hands. Its good though. Patience really likes her brothers. She saves her biggest smiles for them.
If you haven't been keeping up we have been spending a lot of our time at Melissa and Robert's house helping them put their roof back on. We are all praying for the day the roof is on and we don't have to spend all our time so far up in the air. Not that it hasn't been fun, but I think Melissa is incredibly easy going. She just keeps feeding the hoards that show up. We are blessing their house with our presence and soon we will bless it by our absence. (For at least a day or so).
Niles and Xavier are learning Ps 23 for a memory verse right now. We are up to verse 4. ask Niles to tell you if you see him. It is quite sweet to listen to. Xavier doesn't get as much practice because he is at school but he is also very good.
Niles is becoming very proficient at baby speak. He spends a lot of time with the littles. I think he would like a few more friends his own age. Xavier is teaching himself to read but if you ask him he doesn't know how to because he can't read all the words yet. He was looking at the screen on Sun and said "Mom what comes after the Day of Prayer and ?.... (Purpose)" He got all but one word. And he isn't learning how to read in English at school.
Here are the random pictures. (Okay I can't figure how to get off this computer. I will get Melissa to help me in a minute).

All about Xavier.

2008-05-11T22:41:00.002-06:00

The trials of having children. Xavier is having trouble listening in school. He is having trouble doing his work in school. He is having trouble not bothering the other kids at school. Does anyone see a theme here. Let's talk about Xavier. (Do you remember those books where you learn about proper behaviour ... Let's Talk About Lying, ... Disobeying, ... Good books. "If you say something to someone that you know is not true it is not a fantasy, it is not a mistake. You are lying!) Ah Xavier. I didn't expect to have this trouble at school so soon. He is bored. My theory is that because he is in french immersion he doesn't read in English, he does not have enough vocabulary to understand ahead, and he can't entertain himself by going ahead by himself. So we have problems. The latest problem lead him to spending the day in the principal's office. (Don't tell him you know). We will work on it. I guess I will take some time to talk to his teacher. Ah boys. Got to love them.

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T21:33:00.002-06:00

Today is the day! Mother's day that is. Happy Mother's Day everyone. That means you. Everyone knows about mothers and we are richer for that. Reach out and hug a mother if you are close to one.

Patience is losing her patience

2008-05-01T11:13:00.002-06:00

Eight weeks old already. So exciting. Patience is getting very much more aware of the world around her. She has noticed her brothers, who are among her favourite people, and smiles when they talk to her. She also laughs now. Check out the web album to watch the video. Pictures are included. Another thing about being 8 weeks old is that you can't sleep. You might miss something. So today it took over an hour to get Patience to sleep 10 min and then it was time to eat and she was so hungry she took another 10 min to tell me off for making her work to eat. Why was the milk not just flowing into her mouth? Why did she have to suck? That was work and it made her angry.

April 2008

Xavier is having trouble listening at school. He has been a distraction to the other children. I asked him why he is doing this and he says "Mom, I start goofing and then I can't stop. I just can't. It is too hard." Spring has arrived and my oldest child is having trouble concentrating. Apparently it is hard being 7 and in school.He is learning how to spell. Every week they have a spelling test. We are learning together how best to study. Right now I am writing the words out and Xavier copies them three times. Then we do that again later. It involves no fighting.

Niles asks, "Mom, you know why we call Joyce Robin? It is because we love Robin so very much. We love Joyce too,but we already call her Robin". He is keeping busy at home. So far his favourite part is watching movies.

Rob officially put in his notice at work and is starting his own company. He called it Faithful Plumbing. Keep Rob in your thoughts and prayers.
Patience woke up so I am doing this with one hand. It seems a good time to stop.

I drank my oatmeal today

2008-04-18T13:26:00.003-06:00

(twn) I think that the title says it all. That's right. My well cooked, mushy, old fashioned oatmeal required too much chewing so I added enough milk to drink it... one spoonful at a time. Ah, the joys of having your wisdom teeth removed. For anyone who has also had this joy filled experience you likely know what I am talking about. There will be no pictures of this experience so you will just have to use your imagination. Right now I look like a chipmunk that was in a fight and lost. The bruises are impressive. I haven't brushed my teeth for 2 days because I just can't imagine putting a toothbrush in my mouth and I don't think I could open it wide enough anyway. Really overall getting the teeth out was the easy part. I remember the Dr putting a clear medication into my IV and the room moving in funny ways. Then I watched him add a yellow, milky fluid, or at least I watched 2ml of the 5ml go in and then all I remember is some fuzzy colours, then the nurse was getting me up to go to another room. Ha! I don't remember anything. Something must have happened because I have stitches in my mouth and I look like someone beat me.

Enough about me. Spring has arrived. I know this because the allergy monster has reared its ugly head. Xavier has been a beast. He is very moody. Happy then sad. Angry, crying and all the other emotions in 5 mins or less. Oh well it is supposed to snow this weekend. That is right. Environment Canada is calling for snowfall of 30-50cm. I will keep you posted if that happens. Niles is testing his boundaries. When Grandma met him at the door the other day he said "Hi Nancy." "What do you say?" I asked. "Hi Nancy," he said again. He got a little talking to about how to address you grandparents. He has been getting a lot of use out of the bandaids lately. Bandaids fix everything real or imagined. Patience is still the easiest going baby in the world.
Sorry no pictures. They won't upload today.

Nintendo night

2008-03-25T18:08:00.003-06:00

This was as good as I could get for pictures of Nintendo. As you can tell I have none. I will try to get new ones when Robin comes back. Robin this is for you. Remember when....hee hee, yah Joyce went... and then...heee..yep...snort....heee hee heee. Ha ha ha ha hee! All the while Rob looks on in bewilderment. Good times should always involve sugar.

My mommy dresses me like a dork

2008-03-24T22:05:00.005-06:00

Wah, ha, ha. I am the evil mother. Hee. Hee. Okay you picture fiends. Here are some more.

Mommy dresses me funny

Apparently Patience is Also a Person

2008-03-10T10:40:00.010-06:00

Right now she is sleeping on the floor beside me. Ha! We are getting better at this baby thing. I would have blogged earlier (we were good at the end of last week) but we (Xavier) got grounded from the computer and that means everyone was grounded.
These pictures show that I am a great mom. Take note of the date. Theses were taken Feb 20 around 8:30 in the morning. It was wacky day at daycare and the boys wanted crazy hair. Xavier specially requested a green mow-hawk with black spikes on the sides. It looked really good and wacky. Niles wanted black hair. I think he does goth well.

Niles wanted black hair. I think he does goth well.

Pictures for all of you who have been waiting.

Patience with her dad. ( I am busy at the moment).

This is Melissa with Patience. She missed the big event this time. She went to a bank meeting 20 min before things happened. Thanks for getting the boys.

I did, on the other hand, get Nancy to call into work and say that she would be late because around 4:30 she said that she had accepted a 6:00 shift at the library before I called her in the morning. That is why Melissa missed it. I just can't please everyone.

That is four pictures. I am going to get more on my web album. Keep checking. I may have time tonight but I am pushing things. (This already took me all day to write. Babies and children take some time some days).

Patience's first week

Look what I figured out .

Other news. The boys are in love with Patience and she doesn't mind them. Rob is keeping busy at home and in his spare time he has found time to put in a new toilet, kitchen sink and tap and start the fix on the stairwell as well as fix the sliders on a dresser. Now he did this the week that the boys were still in daycare so nothing much has happened since Niles is home all the time.

Niles has made home his pretend daycare. We even have rooms. Upstairs is puzzle, downstairs is block and outside is muscle. We have a routine. He entertains himself mostly. He and Rob built a very sturdy cardboard doghouse the first day he was home and he plays in that for a large part of the day. He goes downstairs and turns on Go Fish (thanks Melissa, only a little sarcasm) and plays all by himself. Then he comes up and gets a game out of the cupboard and plays that. So far it is working out.

Xavier loves taking his lunch to school. At least the novelty has not worn out yet. The bus is also a treat still so the lack of daycare is not a huge deal at this time. It is only March though.

We have been busy. Look at other blogs that I link to to see the pictures of our small group and swimming day with Niles and the baby bunch. It was a good time. Five babies and a four year old. Thank you Jackie for being an extra set of hands.

And for everyone who is interested. . . I picked Patience for a name. (I didn't really give Rob a choice. Really I said I already had a girl name and I wasn't going to negotiate). Patience to remind me that God gives you what you pray for but asking for something doesn't mean that getting it will be easy. Patience so I can remember that every time I ask for patience I have something placed in my life so I will develop greater patience. I am not the most patience of people (as you know) and I have prayed for patience several times. God is good. He gave me many opportunities to develop more patience. You know them Rob, Xavier, Niles and now Patience. I am more patient than I was. Hey, it only took me three and a half years to forget that I have as much opportunity to develop patience as I need. Four times is enough. Hence Patience.

Patience is a virtue

2008-02-19T12:17:00.003-06:00

Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored. This is soooooooooooooo boring. Waiting is boring. Being at home is boring. Did I mention that I am bored. Hmm. I think that when you are just waiting for an event to occur and nothing is happening the world is a boring place. That and I just don't feel like doing much of anything lately. So we play the waiting game. But thanks to the general knowhow of Roy, Richard and Rob I have the ability to go on my computer. I can't find my pictures but that might be asking too much. Look internet. Ohhhhh pretty.
Robin; Xavier is expecting you to come home and take care of him when the baby comes so get going. You have a lot to plan and not a lot of time apparently. He will get over it if you are later because you already missed his birthday (he is being magnanimous and letting you send his present later. He also accepts cash, visa, MC, cheques). On the interesting side Xavier is teaching himself to read. He recognizes many words now. I just can't figure out which ones. He is a fairly good faker.
Niles is still trucking. He is practicing sensitive this month which means he cries a lot and blames everything on his brother. It might even be working for him. At least he is honest. We were out for lunch with G&G Mary/Orr and I was telling Grandma that Niles is practicing how to be an annoying little brother. He copies what Xavier says and it just kills Xavier. He gets so angry so Xavier yells at his brother and then he gets in trouble for yelling and hitting. I tell Xavier to ignore Niles because he is doing it to bother him but he says "but Mom he keeps copying me and it makes me angry!" and I keep telling him that that is why Niles copies him. Grandma Mary says "Oh Niles wouldn't do that " and Niles who was sitting very quietly to that point pipes up "Oh yes Grandma. I copy Xavier everyday and it makes him very angry". The younger sibling strikes.
In case you didn't get it from the beginning of this post NO BABY YET! You will all know when it happens.

I have a brain in my bonehead

2007-11-06T18:37:00.000-06:00

Ha! Niles is funny. You have bone in your head it is called a skull.
I already wrote this and the my computer turned off and it hadn't saved yet so I have the first sentence. Oh well.

Happy Birthday Robin! We were all sick on you actual birthday and then I couldn't connect to the server (stupid technology) so you are getting this six days after your actual birthday. I told you I had a belated birthday card for you and I guess you also get belated birthday wishes too.

Don't forget to watch the Riders' home playoff game this Sunday (Canada) at 4pm (central standard time) on TSN.com. Watch us win.

Nice pictures. They are from Joyce and Tony's wedding. Look Niles is even touching Tony's car. Pretty good.

I have returned

2007-10-12T16:10:00.000-06:00

This is a picture from two Christmases (is that a word) ago. See how well Joyce tumbles down the hill. I think that we should do that again this Christmas. All in favour?.... (please send in your votes).
This is a quick blog update seeing as it is now Oct. and I haven't done anything since April. I am rather derelict in my duties. I will strive to be more conscientious.
All right we moved into our new house and are enjoying the additional space although it seems that we are having fewer people over. That could be because I have a job. Yes it is harder to have people over all the time when you are working. I am a licensed and registered nurse. It is true. My education came in handy for something. Look at me go.
Xavier is in grade 1 and is still enjoying learning. He informs me that he is the only one in his class that can't read and although his class is mostly made up of overachieving little girls I doubt that it is true. He is learning. Last night he asked Rob if he was fatigue. Ha. Extraneous french usage in the home. Something must be working.
Niles has started swimming lessons. You know the kind where they jump in the water and just get comfortable. He is the class star. I am the only mother who does not have to cajole my child to get into the pool nor do I have to follow him around. He also listens and does as he is told. (I don't know what has happened to my child but if you find him send him back my way).
Rob is keeping busy with everything that comes with working and moving into a new house and everyone else moving into a new house. We have a new furnace. It is sitting the the bathroom in the basement. Yes we do have a furnace...Anyway there isn't any snow yet and the world is good.
We are getting ready for our new addition to our family. The boys want a girl. Xavier says that it would be bad if it was a boy. Huh.?! What to do, what to do. We tell him that the baby has already decided and we can't change it now. Back to getting ready. Really that means we have a room. Actually we are using that space right now as a guest room but... we can move things around.
That's it for the blog today.

Xavier is gettting very big.

2007-04-17T19:30:00.000-06:00

This is the exciting thing that has happened at our house. Xavier is getting very big.

Look at him going. Shelley and Rob taped it for me on Sunday because I was asleep. Apparently I only work weekends and always Sunday.
This is for all my blog stalkers who have been waiting for me to update. Niles went to the dentist today and behaved very well. He opened his mouth and everything. There was 0 screaming and very little mouth covering. Monica handled it very well. I thought that it would be a disaster because when I picked Niles up at daycare he said"I DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE DENTIST!!!" and then covered his mouth. Then after I got him calmed down by explaining that we were going to see Monica the dentist I gave him his medicine. Chlorohexadrate tastes nasty and he spit half out on me and started crying again. I was also using Xavier as my premedication guideline so he wasn't very dopy when we got there. But he did well and half the work is finished. Hopefully this will be better everytime we get to go.
House update; We bought a house! Everything worked perfectly. As you can look back and notice we were looking at building in Stonebridge but the financing was not working out. It was really strange. In the beginning everything was going smoothly and then suddenly the momentum stopped dead but was coming back. We also told out agent to stop looking because we were frustrated and were going to go with the build. Then she called us up and said that she found a bungalow in our area, in our price range and they weren't taking bids. Out of curiousity we said we would look. This is where everything started to fall into place. Blessings falling on our heads, as you can say. I didn't have to work during the day so we got a 3:00 viewing, Rob worked really hard that day and was finished early so he was able to see the house while I was still there (we both thought it was great. Has a finished basement and lots of room to have people over), our agent had some time to come over and draw up the papers right after we saw the house and as we were walking in the door our mortage guy phoned. Talk about Godincidence. We had the papers signed and confirmed by 6:00 before I had to leave for work. So we move in on July 31. Robin will be here during that time so she will get to say farewell to this house and hello to the new one. If anyone is looking for something to do on the long weekend in Aug (kidding, we are thinking middle of Aug move in date) you can come help.

Homes?

2007-03-27T23:42:00.000-06:00

Some of you might know that we are looking for houses. Last week it seemed that we may have found one and everything was going fine. Excitment was building in the household but it seems things have come to a standstill. We are waiting for our finances (we were all finished all that but our person went on vacation and so we are working through new people and things are moving so slowly). Anyway it looks like that if we can't get anything going this house thing won't happen and we will stay where we are. Keep us in your hearts and prayers.

If women ruled the world.

2007-03-12T19:32:00.000-06:00

This came from Shelley. So funny. It's a woman's tool set. Rob would like it.
I had a bad computer month so far so this is the first time I have opened it since the last time I posted. If you don't already know I have a job. My first real job as a nurse. I am getting paid and everything. Orientation is good. I get paid to learn everything I have always wanted to know to make my life easier at work. Ha I will look smarted than I would have before orientation. (maybe not there is only so much an orientation can do.) Hey Joyce ask Richard about the camp meeting. For all of you who love camp there are brochures for you to fill out to come. Rob is running teen camp again. This is very hard to type where I am so this is all.

We're off to see the Wizard

2007-02-23T14:00:00.000-06:00

Here are some pictures of our trip to Calgary and Drumheller this summer. Xavier took the second picture. He is quite the photographer.

Today I am going to my very first nursing job interview. It is exciting. It is scary. Now I have to be a grown up and...you know work. Ha! Crazy isn't it. Anyway I have on my interview clothes and I am ready to go. I think I will go shopping after. The boys need a new bed.

It is snowing again. I guess the groundhog was wrong. Winter is here and it is staying forever. At least it looks like that.

We are starting to look for a bigger house but the market is very slim right now (when I say slim that means there are no houses in Saskatoon in our price range. There are only 167 houses in total for sale. Even Jackie cannot find a condo). It just seems so silly that just the time we are able to think about getting a bigger house we can't.

My new do.

2007-02-16T14:48:00.000-06:00

I am a posting fiend. This is for the people who don't see me all the time. (Robin this means you). I don't take pictures of myself so I had to go looking for one. (Thank-you Shelley. Check out her blog. It is on my links). This is a new and different look for me. I told Rob I was going to get my hair cut. I left as a blond and returned a brunette. His response, "Don't ask me right now". Niles cried, and Xavier was angry but they like it now. A change for the end of my student career. That reminds me to call McMasters. Until later.

Finished, done, fini, finito, no more.

2007-02-16T14:30:00.000-06:00

Have you seen cuter children?Xavier did his own face painting, with markers. So I don't have any recent pictures of myself so I am putting out a call for people to e-mail me pictures of new and interesting pictures. This is for you Monica, Melissa, and Joyce.

So I am now finished school and am busy looking for a job. Okay I am not really looking for a job but I have handed in my resume to the health region. I let the boys go to daycare all week because they were having party week to celebrate the week off of school. That also gave me time to make appropriate phone calls and look busy. I am taking this time to be interested in my house and what I used to do. As well as look for work and visit with babies. Josiah is social smiling this week so he is interactive. Linaya is grouchy. They make a good combination.

I should ask Robert about Media Idol. I read about him in the Star Phoenix today. He sang O Holy Night. He didn't win but the radio station was mentioned by call number so that is exciting. Congratulations to me.

Let it snow revisited

2007-01-14T22:11:00.000-06:00

Was I complaining about the amount of snow that we got before Christmas because you should hit me, (don't take me seriously here, I don't really want to get hit) Forgive me for my little complaints because now I have a big one. BLIZZARD!!! That is right Saskatoon was hit with a real blizzard lasting 15hrs and dropping 17cm of snow, Osler got 27cm. So I bought Rob a snow blower because I heard that it was going to snow more this week and I couldn't stomach all that shoveling just to do it again. It was a really interesting day. I left to go to work and while it was snowing it wasn't as bad as the snow in Oct where it was so thick so I took the boys to daycare and went on my way. But it go worse and worse as the day went on. We were told to go home at 11 but I was closer to my house than daycare and did not really want to go up Clarence by myself (I got stuck in the daycare parking lot the last big snow day and besides the wind was really blowing) so I started phoning people to go with me. Robert and Melissa were being crazy still (something about a baby) and were going right past the place and they had Stan's 4x4 therefore they got the boys. Rob got home 2.5hrs after he started for home. Not bad I heard that it took some people 6hrs. There are good stories and stupid stories. My favourite stupid story is about the couple from Quebec who were travelling to Edmonton on Weds. They didn't want to stop for the storm so they ignored the highway closed barrier and drove on. They only got about 5km out of Dalmany and got stuck...for 7hrs. They had to be rescued by the fire department! Ha ha! There are stupid people everywhere.

Christmas

2007-01-09T23:05:00.000-06:00

Here I thought everyone would like to see how serious our family gettogethers are. Boys really are dumb when you get them together. I have another great picture of Niles singing on the toilet. He didn't even know we were there but we missed the good part. He sang through a whole song including chorus while he was using the bathroom. So cute. Xavier is almost six now. He informs me that it is only one day but I said two. It is all a matter of definition (it was at bedtime).

Happy New Year!

2006-12-31T18:48:00.000-06:00

It was New Year for Robin at 9:00 this morning and I did try to phone. Honest I did but someone had already phoned and I needed to leave for church so Robin did not ge my 12:00 phone call. Too bad for her. It is the end of the Christmas season and things are winding down. We had Christmas at Valerie's house this year. The first Waddell family Christmas together. Everyone had a really good time and no one died. I think we even tried to enjoy our time with each other. After Christmas we went home to enjoy other people's company. Again a good time was had by all. Melissa and I planned on going swimming on Thursday but she went and ruined the plans. We welcome little Jo (Josiah Stanley) as our interruption, I guess. He is a good looking child (he is related after all) and a pain in the butt already. Ask Melissa how much trouble he has already caused and he is only a few days old. I will be back in clinicals this week and hopefully time will fly. I only have until Feb 9th. Hee, hee! We are more than excited.

I included a picture of Xavier, Niles and the cousins at Christmas. I tried to get a whole family picture but I couldn't do it from Chris' computer and I don't have a copy at home.

20 days until Christmas

2006-12-05T10:22:00.000-06:00

I am almost finished my shopping. Just the silly little stuff left. You know chocolate and such. I don't even think that we need chocolate because there is so much food over the holidays. I did take it upon myself to make shortbread this year. It looks good. Nice and white (a couple of pieces got too brown but pretty good I think). Xavier is getting very excited. He decorated a Christmas tree for his own room. It is a branch off of our old tree and whatever decorations that he takes off the one in the livingroom. It makes him happy. One day he may have more space and maybe we can give him a space for his 'special' tree. Niles is learning the song Jesus our Brother. Mom reserved the book for him so we can sing it and look at pictures. This year we are going to spend Christmas eve and Christmas morning at Curtis and Val's in Regina and then go home because everyone works Boxing day. We will have family Christmas eve one day late. Sounds like fun.

Let it snow and snow and snow and snow and snow and ....

2006-12-01T12:24:00.000-06:00

Snow. Isn't it wonderful. I love the stuff. It makes me remember how blessed I am that there is summer and I have heat. There has been over 20cm of that great white fluff this week. How I love to shovel. A workout without having to set everything up.(So sarcastic) But I am alright. The boys love the snow. Xavier says that snow is fun on the slide because it makes the slide woggily. Reason enough to like the snow. Here is a picture of warmer and happier times. Niles really liked camp this year. (You get camp pictures because I don't have winter pictures yet. It seems out of context for this blog but a good picture is hard to waste.)
On a different note CBC has gotten an FM band for Saskatoon. Now I can listen in my room with the lamp on and not get the horrible sounding interference. 94.1FM. This was Robert's original call number but it works so well for CBC. Roy is also very excited about it.
Christmas is coming. We are going to be in Regina for Xmas eve and morning and then we will head back to Saskatoon. This will be the first Xmas that all the Waddells will be together. Pray that we will live through the experience.(Ha ha). Maybe we will go to the IMAX. Some new movie looks like it will be really interesting will be there.
We went to the new James Bond movie. It is rated PG13. I think R or PG45 or something. It hit a new level of disturbing James Bond. The actor will do well though. He has blue eyes and is built nice to look at. Not his face. I liked it though but I follow the series so I am a aBond junkie. You can't skip one. We went with Dave, Reid and some of his friends.

How can things get so confusing?

2006-11-22T21:36:00.000-06:00

I just started my labour and delivery placement. Today was my third of 18 days on the ward. So far so good. No one has died under my watch (very bad karma), but you would think that I would be able to work out my schedule but NOOOOoooooo. Honestly every day I write down what my schedule is and then I put it on my calendar and somehow it is not working out with my perceptors schedule that she wrote down. What I am saying is there is some sort of communication problem leading to pen mishaps. Somehow I will figure this out.
On a different note, Xavier is just like Roy. He creates self fulfilling prophesy. Robert agreed to drop the boys off at daycare because both Rob and I had to be at work before it opened. Xavier says, "Mom, I don't know what stairs I go in," and I just said, "the ones that you always go in in the morning," to which he replied, "I can't remember which ones those are!". You can see where this goes. Xavier takes Robert up the wrong steps this morning. This is from the child who races me up the steps, and is at his locker before I am up with Niles everyday. He couldn't remember.
Pray for strength and patience.

Roy's truck revisited

2006-11-15T11:52:00.000-06:00

Gerry called sometime before Halloween. "Do you want a mattress?", came his rough and abrupt voice. Huh? This is not the way a normal phone conversation begins. "The hotel has a fairly new, free mattress that is just sitting outside waiting for someone to take it. Everyone is taking too long. If you take it tonight it's yours". How could I refuse? Granted my bed is only a double but things can be arranged. And then I remembered that Joyce was saying that Rayhay wanted her queen mattress, something about being too tall for a double (wah, wah). Eureka! My solution had arrived. Rob would get the mattress, we would store it somewhere and then get it to Regina. We were going to get Chris and Shelley to bring it down but it happened that Joyce would not be home on that day so plans changed, Joyce came up. She was coming for Jon and Jenn's memorial. She was here, the mattress was here and Roy left his truck. Everything was coming together. Joyce and Rob packed up the truck and Joyce drove to Regina, unpacked and went to Gravelbourg, just for an evening. This is not the end of the story. Joyce also hates Roy's truck (maybe hates is too harsh a word but it is not like her car) so she wanted her car back SOON. "I have an idea," she says on the phone. "We'll meet in Davidson after church, have onion rings, trade vehicles, and be home in time for the game (like it really mattered, sigh)". Rob was going out with his Dad so I got the job. There was a little angst on my part. So that is the story about the truck. We can't find one of Roy's clips now. I wonder what happeded. Did it want onion rings too?

Roy's truck sucks!

2006-11-12T23:12:00.000-06:00

I did just fine driving Joyce's car to Davidson. No problems. That's right I rocked the standard world, but Roy's truck was a different matter. I stalled it with 5 people behind me at a light. How embarrassing.
On a different note. I am finished my last class, like class class. Only clinical left. As a small celebration some of my class went out to the Samurai the other weekend. We had a lot of fun and it would totally be worth going back. They cook the food in front of you! And they flip their knives. Entertainment and food at the same time.
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Fireworks!

2006-11-08T12:27:00.000-06:00

I got the kids up early today because I had lots of work to do. So it is still dark outside, around 7:00. Xavier and I are in the kitchen making breakfast and Niles went to the back room and was looking out the window. "Look Mom. Like fireworks!", he said. I looked and the light on the snow that was falling was so bright that I could see Niles' fireworks. We went to the front room to see if it would work there but no only in the back. Give it to a child to ignore the ugliness around him (the back room is terrible) to see the beauty of 'fireworks'. It is still snowing but the risen sun has taken away my fireworks. Sometimes only when you are in the dark can you really see the beauty that is all around you. Keep Jon and Jenn in your prayers.
The picture was taken by Dave when he was geocashing with the boys.

One Day to Go!

2006-11-02T20:44:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is my last day of class ever, or at least until I change my mind. Just two more sessions of clinicals and then I really will be finished. On a sadder note, please pray for my friends John and Jen Wallace. My heart aches for them and I am sure that life seems very bleak for them at this time. Check back soon. I will add pictures in the near future.

Go Riders!

2006-09-26T16:39:00.000-06:00

Riders Game
We went to the game on Sunday. There were good moments, like the last 5 mins of the game when it went into overtime and there were bad moments, 5 interceptions. It is amazing we managed to hang on for the win. We have won the last 3 games against BC! Ha, ha. Poor Paul. Had to kick into the wind. Taylor Field (Mosaic Stadium) just isn't good to him. Niles slept through the first half, but he didn't miss a thing. I kind of wish I had slept too. He does have terrible timing, he had to pee in overtime so I missed the touchdown. All we heard was the crowd cheering and I couldn't see a thing. Peeing was good though. The bathroom was nice and empty. I wonder why?

my first post

2006-09-22T13:01:00.000-06:00

This is really for Robin who is too far away to always be in the know. It's my little way of helping her get pictures and keep up