mmmmm....cake!

We did a lot of slothing today (well I did anyhow) and that meant a lot of TV (not really that much, just an hour or so). It was pretty dreamy actually to just lie in bed and watch some mindless TV. I love watching cooking shows...like this and this and this. The problem with watching them, is it makes me REALLY hungry for food I cannot access and food I do not make.

I also look at a lot of cooking and baking blogs/websites. Ones like this and this and this. And that is only a handful of the blogs I visit on a regular basis. I could easily be 400 lbs.

The girls and the boy joined me in my slothing and TV watching and we watched TLC's Fabulous Cakes. But then guess what happened? We were all craving cake! Gabrielle asked if we could bake a cake and how could I say no to that??? So we made...

Wacky Bake Chocolate Cake

1 1/2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
3 tbsp. cocoa
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.Grease a 9x9 or 8x8 cake pan.
Mix all ingredients together. Make 3 holes in mixture. Mix together 1 tsp. vanilla,
1tbsp. vinegar and 5 tbps. melted butter. Pour into holes. Add 1 c. lukewarm water and mix until smooth. Bake for 30 minutes.

I make this icing I found here...

And then you get this...




Yummmy!

And then when your kids go to bed and your husband is out you get this...

Embrace the Camera

Their silly faces meant grabbing their noses!


Love these kids....

Whatever on Wednesday

I missed doing "Ten on Tuesday" (see this if you are wondering what the?") so I thought I'd make my own. I couldn't think of a number that went w/ Wednesday though...but do you see how clever I am?

1. My DH and I had a date night tonight. It was delightful. The kids are at the inlaws so we took full advantage and went for dinner. Earls. Hadn't been in forever so it was a nice treat.

2. We did talk about other things, but of course we talked about the kids a fair amount. I laugh at how just one day without them makes you appreciate them that much more.

3. It was warm like a spring day around here today. Deeeeee-lightful indeed!

4. My toe nails need to be painted desperately. Like I can't stand to look at them.

5. I had my first meeting w/ my client today for the new design job he wants me to do. Its going to be a ton of work!

6. Tomorrow I am going for a one hour Indian head massage! Oh my goodness, I cannot wait!!!

7. I'm enjoying this years bible study (the book of Isaiah) immensely.

8. Maxy-Max got a much needed hair cut yesterday. Cuter than before if that is at all possible.


9. Gabrielle had another hip-hip class last night. I am amazed at how much she LOVES it. Maybe we've found her "thing"?

10. This girl is just getting prettier and prettier as the days go by. She's getting less cute and more pretty.


11. It is rare for me to get pictures of Miss G. these days seeing as she's at school all day...

Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Yup. We better start saving for braces now. Those are some nasty chompers!

12. Did I mention how gross my toe nails are right now????

Anything new?

My Mom asks me this everytime I talk to her. She's off galavanting (hee hee) in Washington State with my Dad. Working they tell me. It sucks on my end, but yes, I understand.

Anyhoooo...she asks me everytime we talk on the phone if anything is new. No, I tell her, we just spoke 2 days ago and nothing is new since then.

I'm thinking she doesn't remember the mundaneness of life when you have young kids. It is pretty routine and some days, BORING, when you have little ones because you do the same stuff over and over.

Today was somewhat out of the ordinary however. Gabrielle woke us up at 5 am to tell us she had a belly ache. Before she couldn't even form the words with her mouth, however, she started to vomit. Luckily (thank you Lord!) she made it to the bathroom sink and then over to the toilet, before the puke came out full force. She puked violently for about 5 minutes. Super fun! Fortunately, that's all there was to it. One puke. And she was pretty much fine all day.

The noise woke Max up and he begged to come into bed w/ me. I held my ground be/c experience has shown me that the kid will NOT fall asleep in my bed...he'll chit-chat and fart around until you give up all hope of sleeping again and just get him out of bed. So I cuddled him and rocked him and again - THANK YOU LORD - he went back to sleep until 6:30 am.

We got up then and I did Level 3 of my workout DVD. Killer. Like sweat dripping into my eyes kind of killer. I should be Shredded in no time. If only I could get my eating under control. Problem is...I like food sugary-bad-for-your-abs-and-butt food.

I got breakfast for everyone, got showered, got Lily and Max dressed, hair done, teeth brusehd. All that morning kind of stuff. Then we took Lily to pre-school and I put a movie in the car DVD player so the kids could come down to the far South w/ me to get samples of melamine for a client.

Came home, did some design work on the computer and went to get Lily and her 2 friends (5 year old twins, Paige and Liam) and brought them here for a play-date. Chaos begins! Quickly finished up the work I had to get sent off while they all jumped on the trampoline and then made lunch (Kraft Dinner...again).

Then I got a surprise call from a past client who has some work for me (first some renovations on his office that got damaged by the city doing sewer work near his building...then he wants me to design/build a house for his grand-daughter! Eek! I'm super excited about this...).

After that, I sat in front of the computer for way too long while the kids played and then finally got off my butt to clean the lunch mess in the kitchen. Then I made some Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. And ate way too many of them be/c they were super yummy.

Paige and Liam got picked up by 3 pm, then I sat in front of the computer again (wasting time in blog land) and then played w/ my kids. I chased them around the living room coffee table and then we played Polar Bear...where one of us is the polar bear in the water and the others are safe on the iceberg (or couch if you will). The kids LOVE this...and I feel far better for playing with them and making them shriek with excitement, than I do for sitting in front of a computer screen for far too long.

Then we had breakfast for dinner (Greg was out at bible study and didn't come home beforehand). So I made them pancakes and scrambled eggs. Blue pancakes actually. Cleaned THAT mess up while they played then it was time for jammies. But first they jumped on the trampoline be/c it was so warm it nearly felt like a summer night! Gabrielle was the hired babysitter for the evening so she read books and then they all went to bed. Insert excited laugh here.

After doing my phone calls for BSF, I am now on my way to fold 2 huge heaping baskets of laundry before I fall into bed to start it all over again tomorrow. My eyes are burning I'm so tired. But I'm looking forward to coffee with my girlfriends tomorrow. And then on Wednesday, the twins' Mom is taking my kids for the day and my MIL is picking them up so its like I get TWO WHOLE DAYS off! Well to work anyhow, but still a treat to not have the Mum stuff to do on top of it.

There certainly isn't anything NEW. And to be honest, I'm glad about that. I don't think I can fit anything new in right now!

Eeek!!!

Okay...I'm like a giddy school girl right now! I was playing around on my blog 'cuz I was thinking that I'd like to make it look a little different and much more exciting...prettier and cuter, basically.

And I discovered...that...I...have...COMMENTS!!!

Like someone OTHER than my Mum (love you Mum!) has read my blog. And someone other than my friend, who also blogs, has read my blog!

Like SHE left a comment. And that is super exciting be/c I love HER blog and read it daily. So how excited am I that she checked out my blog and left a comment!

And a few other girls left comments, like girls that I don't know!

Eeek!

Seriously, that is really exciting to me.

Thanks! Thank you for leaving comments! It made my day!

Okay, now that I've calmed myself down...I'm going to try to make my blog cuter!

Embrace the Camera

Me and my honey bunches.Photo courtesy of Lily. So rare to get a decent photo of us.

Have to share this one too. Lily and Max were playing so nicely a few days ago and she showed me what they were up to...(**WARNING**nudity!!!)





Poor kid! There is just way too many photos to use against him when he's older. Such a good sport too (mostly anyhow!).

52 things...in 2011 or in my lifetime anyhow

I found this idea here...and wanted to make my own. Hard to write a list that wasn't entirely self-centered. I'm betting it will be modified as time goes on and I'm not necessarily thinking all can or will be accomplished THIS year. But these are some things I think about....

1. Grow my hair. Long. Like as long as hers...


2. Volunteer at the Mustard Seed.
3. Organize bathroom cupboard. Add more shelves too.
4. Buy curtains for Maxwell.
5. Purge/organize back storage room.
6. Learn how to use my camera on manual mode.
7. Take kids on holiday.
8. Do something for someone else. Like something sacrificial.
9. Go on more date nights.
10. 6 AM devotion time.
11. 6:30 AM exercise time.
12. Renovate or accept that it won't happen.
13. Organize a fundraiser for a charity.
14. Dress nicer.
15. Be nicer.
16. Get a shelf for the girls room.
17. Pray more.
18. Stop eating so fast.
19. Cut up fruit and veggies so they're at the ready.
20. Build a playhouse.
21. Try eyelash extensions.
22. Take up running again.
23. Play with kids more often.
24. Organize office.
25. Donate old stamps/craft supplies.
26. Get involved at church.
27. Go on a mission trip (build houses in Mexico or the like).
28. Decorate a room to completion.
29. Wall paper a room.
30. Paint bathroom.
31. Wear more color, less black.
32. Take more naps.
33. Scrapbook randomly.
34. Find a worthy cause to join.
35. Stop swearing.
36. Be less anxious.
37. Be more compassionate.
38. Buy a really nice coat.

39. Purge old shoes.
40. Spend less time playing on the computer.
41. Ski with the kids and as a family.
42. Stretch (my body and myself)
43. Go for family walks and hikes.
44. Go on family picnics.
45. Eat food that fuels my body.
46. Decorate the playroom.
47. Have people over for dinner more often.
48. Get a PVR.
49. Get more sleep.
50. Stop focusing on the things I want to be different.
51. Commit to daily prayer for hubby/kids.
52. Have coffee dates with friends more regularly.

Discontent

I spent a large portion of my day feeling discontent. Discontent about my house, my husband, my life. About the half finished baseboards, about the tub that leaks when we shower, about the fact that we had no more butter in the fridge. Discontent about my kids who were behaving less than perfect, about my awful-couldn't-even-stand-straight-belly-ache (that one I don't feel bad about) and about someone eating the last of the cheese.

I hate discontent days. They suck. I try so hard to change my attitude, change my outlook, change my prayers. But today it seemed determined to stick. It sucks because even though I KNOW I have absolutely no reason to be discontent - especially when I compare my life and surroundings to so many other people - I just can't seem to snap out of it.

But...tomorrow is another day altogether. Tomorrow I will not allow myself to focus on all the things I wish were different and be happy about all the things that are right. Like my less than perfect kids who tell me they love me twenty times a day. Like my husband who came home early from work because I had such an awful stomach ache and let me rest. Like the fact that I have a home when so many people don't.

God's mercies are new each morning. I rely on this! I need to focus on stuff like this...
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Hope tomorrow is full of being CONTENT!

EDIT: I just read THIS and I'm suddenly feeling extremely content about my life and my less than perfectly behaved kids...stupid me.

Day One

Totally shredded it today. This video is good! Can you believe how good it worked after one day of eating right? Me either!



Okay I seriously hope to post a picture of my real abs one day. Maybe the bad and the good.

Go here....

for a fun givaaway...The Ribbon Retreat. How exactly would you choose?

I got a good look at myself naked yesterday. And then I threw up in my mouth a little.

It seems my waist and I have broken up. Or maybe we are on a break. I can't say I blame it...I've been seeing other people for a while now. Gingersnaps, Shortbread, spiced nuts and candied pecans. Chocolate fudge, pecan brittle, white chocolate pistachio bark. You get the picture. After spending some times with these guys, it appears my waist and I are no longer an item. There is absolutely no definition between my chest and my hips....no indent to signify a narrow, feminine figure. It is all goo and mush and squishy rolls of fat. Blah!

The plan? WW Points eating plan...THIS Jillian Michaels DVD 5 days a week...with this one added to the list as well. Treats need to become treats again, not staples as they have been. My plan is to limit sweets entirely to weekends rather than weekdays.

I am aiming for life long fitness here but I also want to try and get defined abs at some point in my life. Maybe by 40? 2 years should be a reasonable goal.

I'd post a picture of myself so you can see all the mushy, gooyness of my middle. But I'm scared it would make YOU throw up in your mouth a little.

Brekkie...

Does this look dreamy or what? That was my breakfast this morning. Full of fat and carbs, check...full of goodness, check...full of guilt? Sadly, nope. Not that I can justify doing that every day but it was a lovely treat this morning.

I have come to the realization that blogging every single day may not be a reality for me. Too busy, too tired...too forgetful. It was a busy day of work and chores yesterday then I was out last night at Leader's Fellowship...by the time I got home I had no energy or wit to blog. And Lord know's I am witty! Ha! Actually I am funny...really funny. In my own head at least. But I think I type or blog very unlike my real self. Or maybe I'm not funny anymore. Can that happen? Cuz I think it has happened to me. Since getting married and having kids I think I've lost my sense of ha-ha. I am too focused on all the to-do's of life, raising kids and keeping house that I don't have near as much fun anymore. Sad. So perhaps I'll start to write as though I'm talking to a friend of Oprah or my mum or something. Surely if Oprah met me she'd say "Now that girl is funny!"

Add that to my 2011 Goals List...be more funny. On the blog and in real life.

Embrace the Camera...Week 7

Me and the boy. We can often be found like this...by which I mean, him in my arms. I hear "uppie...uppie!" all day long. Gets a bit tiring but I TRY to remind myself that this will not last forever and one day I'll be longing for the days that my kids wanted to be held. Love this kid.

Jan.11.11

Ooops-a-daisy! Totally forgot to blog yesterday so I guess I didn't hit my goal of blogging every day for a year. Oh well! I was laying in bed last night when I realized I didn't blog but was far too tired and lazy to get up and do it. But I'm okay with that...

I think if I blogged about every day and what I did, it would be boring. And I must admit that I'm having a heck of a time thinking of stuff to document on here EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.

Seriously..who wants to remember that their kid pooped in his pants AGAIN this morning? Or that we were rushing out the door for the bus AGAIN and my blood pressure sky-rocketed? Not me.

Lets focus on the stuff worth remembering... Lily shouting at me..."Mommy? I love you!" about 5 times in the span of a 1/2 hour. Gabrielle showing me her new Hip-Hop moves from her first ever dance clance last night. Max snuggling in bed with me this morning and stroking my ears. I want to remember these things forever.

Tonight, we're having THIS for dinner. My friend will salivate if she even reads this. She loves it. I'm giving it another try be/c my first wasn't the best (fatty pork and forgot the garlic). So tonight I added the garlic and a bit of ginger too. Hope its as yummy as it sounds!

playing around...

with PSE 9.0. Added a texture and a frame. I love this stuff. If only time would permit!

10 on the 10th

1. I'm making chicken noodle soup for dinner tonight...from scratch. Never done that before! It smells SO good!

2. In this weather, all I want to do is hibernate. High of -17 today.

3. I have four loads of laundry to fold. I hate the folding part.

4. I can't wait for THIS show to start tomorrow.

5. And THIS one too...Thursday nights.

6. I think this is the year for me to put an interior design website together. Or rather, have someone put one together for me. First up...photographing the homes I've designed. This feels very serious and "grown-up" to me. And kind of scary.

7. I need to hire myself a designer to price out a renovation for us. I haven't the time and now find myself and my services rather valuable! It is a tonne of work and so worth it to hire someone. However, that will never happen so I will hopefully be able to get some quotes done in the next few weeks.

8. Day 7 of the Love Dare. We missed one thing we are supposed to do (someone...not mentioning any names here...wasn't prepared and then fell asleep putting the kids to bed last night) so now we won't have the chance until Wednesday night. However, we've kept up with the rest and here is our challenge for today.

9. There is a 20 year reunion being organized via Facebook for my graduating high school class. Technically we are at 20.5 years...but better late than never. I am torn as to whether I'll go. I likely will but only if my girlfriends go. Not going alone. Not sure if the hubby will join.

10. My MIL is doing better - FINALLY! They think they've determined it is her gull bladder. Hope they can pin point it and fix her! I sure feel extra grateful for the one night each week that she takes my kids for a sleep over and then keeps them all day. However it isn't just for selfish reasons that I want her back to normal! My kids miss her terribly too.

I Resolve...

to not make any resolutions. But I do have goals. A girl has got to have goals you know.

Here's a quick list...

1. Financial Fitness - create a budget and stick with it. I thrive on a budget. Love them.
2. Get this house organized - a place for everything and everything in its place.
3. Stop spending so much at the grocery store. I will use what we have in the house.
4. More water, less sugar. I fill the void w/ food and treats when I'm not really hungry. If I do want something, pick fruit and veggies first over the cookie.
5. Keep going w/ this work-out video - up it to 5 days a week and take weekends off.
6. PLAY with my kids...don't always expect them to entertain themselves.

That certainly is a lot of goals. Will I read this in a year and think "Oh right...ooopsadaisy!" Or "Check - totally fit and on track w/ the budget. Check. Lovin' my organized house. Uh-huh, did that, barely go to the store these days. Still lovin' the water. Totally Shredded. Tired from all that playing I do!"???

Time will tell!

Annual Christmas Feast

I had a lovely afternoon/early evening with these lovely ladies at our "Annual Christmas Feast"! It hasn't been so annual these past few years so it was a real treat to see them AND spend the afternoon grazing on the most delicious munchies! My belly is full from eating and sore from laughing!

I've know these girls since I was ELEVEN years old if you can believe it...so cool that we are still all friends and can find the time to see each other and catch up.

Maxy Max

I realized today that my little dude will turn 3 in just four months! Sheesh! Where does the time go? I see a few people out there lamenting about the passing of time and how quickly their kids are growing up. I'm right there with you!

I often think of little facts in my head that I want to document about this boy before I forget...things he does and says that are so very Max. He is currently 2 years and 8 months old. He melts my heart on a daily basis.

Max loves to "shave". He got a shaving kit from my BFAM and SIL...(that's Brother From Another Mother) for Christmas and I think it was THE gift for him. Everytime he spies it he says "Max shave?"

He still loves keys. He steals anyone's keys as soon as they walk in the door. We have had to ban him from our good car keys as we've had them go missing several times.

He used to say "Nah." for yes. But that has recently changed to "Ness." Seriously cute.

We are on week 2 of potty training. He's had a few accidents and not too many poops in the potty but we are well on our way. He asks for gum after EVERY pee. Even at 7 am. I think its quite funny that our third kid gets gum at the age of 2. I'm sure my oldest didn't know what gum what 'till at least FIVE.

He is all boy. From day one it was evident this one was a different beast all together. He was born super laid back where as the girls were more fussy. He plays like a boy, acts like a boy and even snuggles like a boy. Much more aggressive in his play and actions. Hence the bruised nose I am sporting from a plastic hamburger. Goes with the territory.

He still naps a few times a week. However, if he does nap he is up until 9:30 pm chatting away in his crib and calling me asking me "Doing?" "Bed Mommy?" "Seeping Mommy?" "Night Mommy!" At that time of night I don't want to hear his voice. It is the cutest, sweetest voice but at that point, I'm done! He is sleeping right now so I'm goign to have to prepare myself for that little voice tonight.

He is snuggly. He loves to snuggle me in bed or on his rocking chair and always asks for "one minute". Meaning, one more minute. Or "One second". After he's in his crib I hear "Nuggle?" I often can't resist and pick him up for one more snuggle.

He's a total Momma's Boy. I have to do EVERYTHING. He wants me to put him to bed every night and if I don't, he FREAKS out. In a major way. To the point that it is just not worth it so I go upstairs and "rescue" him from his Dad. I even have to be the one to get him water, change him, do anything he requests. It gets tiring! Aren't boys supposed to want their Dads?

He used to call Lily "Eee" but now its the sweetest to hear him say "Lil-eee". Gabrielle is mostly "Belle"...a name we've also started calling her. But quite often we can hear him saying "Gab-ee-elle".

He LOVES puppies. He often request we put a leash on him and walk him around. He got a puppy in a cage with vet tools from Santa and it has been quite a hit.

He has a sweet little stuffy called "Ellie" - elephant. Can't go to sleep without him.

Seriously...does it get any cuter?



I'm sure to think of more as I finish this post...hopefully I will update this frequently. Soon I'll do the girls too. Life is passing by so quickly!

So tired...

but forcing myself to blog to keep up w/ my goal! Doing this challenge and trying to get out from BEHIND the camera. Sad how few pictures I'm in.



The bruise on the top of my nose? Courtesy of Max bashing me in the face with a plastic hamburger. Nice.

Today...coffee and a visit with my mom and a friend. Costco for a cheap lunch. Keeping up w/ Day 3 of the Love Dare (buy your spouse a little something to let them know you were thinking of them...new white undershirts and a black polo shirt from the trip to Costco!). Home to respond to work emails, whipped up some banana chocolate chip muffins for a snack, met the girl at bus stop and then to the hospital to visit my MIL.

Giveaway!!!

Go HERE to enter to win PSE actions from Pamela Topping! They are super cool ways to edit your photos...

Be back later...

Day 1...

of the "Love Dare".... We are starting it again and determined to finish the whole FORTY days.

Have you seen this MOVIE? Well I found it hysterical. If you haven't seen it, rent it. Especially if you've been married for a while with kids. I watched it again the other night and realized a lot of what they are going through is true to my married life right now. I loved her describing her perfect fantasty! Totally mine too.

We are just really excellent room-mates. So, we had a good chat about it, my husband and I, and decided to start the Love Dare again. It gets you thinking about your spouse in other ways than just that guy that you live with who takes out the trash. We are in a rut and need to get out of it. We have to consciously take time for each other instead of him watching football and me sitting in front of my computer. I hope we can do the whole thing...is there anyone out there that can keep me accountable? If there is, encourage me to keep going!

Now...laundry, work, kids, bills, etc.

A photo to keep it interesting. A before and after. I've been playing with Photoshop Elements Actions and LOVING IT. Totally changes a picture. Want more! Can you believe the difference? I love it.

BEFORE

AFTER

January 3rd, 2011

I wanted to document what we did over our Christmas break before I forgot...starting with Dec. 22rd be/c that was when Gabrielle finished school. She actually played hookey that day so she could come to Grammy's and bake cookies all day (in fact she didn't help at all so she basically just played hookey!)

So, here we go...

Wednesday, Dec. 22nd

All day baking party at Grammy's house with Great-Grandma (Nanny as the kids call her). I had to go to my client's house for a few hours to deal with some stuff, but here is what we made in the span of a day:

Shortbread
Ginger Snaps
White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Bark
Butter Pecan Brittle Bark
Spiced Nuts
Candied Pecans
Caramel Walnuts
Cheese Crisps

I think that is it...no wonder I feel like a tub of goo right now. I cannot stop eating the sweets! Later that afternoon we met some lovely ladies (Donna, Melissa, Paula, Mary-Ellen, etc.) at Milestone's in Market Mall for a Christmas drink and visit. Then ate dinner at Mom and Dad's.

Thursday, Dec. 23rd, 2010
I have no idea what we did this day...I think I had the kids at Grammy's for a bit so I could finish up some shopping. I hate shopping this close to Christmas. I vow every year to be done early.

Oh and we did our annual "Sleep under the Christmas Tree" this night too. I, of course, come up w/ some excuse as to why I can't sleep on the floor w/ them, but it was kind of legit this time. I had a bad shoulder and I don't think sleeing on the ground would have helped much. They loved it though. I think we did get a 2 am wake-up with Gabrielle tapping me on the shoulder saying "You said you'd sleep under the tree with us!" I think I'll have to do it next year! Crappy picture but at least I got one.


Friday, Dec. 24, 2010
I took the kids over to my Mom's early (after a trip to Northland Mall to see Santa...only to discover they weren't taking photos there this year. I asked a guy in the line up ahead of me w/ a nice camera to take a photo for me and send it to me! Thankfully he did...here is our Santa picture for 2010...)


Not the greatest year ever, but better than the camera on my phone!

After Santa, I dropped the kids at my Mom's so I could go home and get a few things organized and make the yummiest Meringue Chocolate Berry Trifle for dessert. The reason for dropping the kids at my Mom's was so Greg, my Dad and F-I-L could set up the Christmas present we all got the kids. This baby...


It was definitely a hit and the kids were super excited and spent hours on it. I thought up a little treasure hunt around the house for them to solve (riddles on each clue leading them to different rooms) in order to finally open the kitchen blinds and see the trampoline in the back yard.

Okay, back to the 24th. We went to a 1 pm service at Centre Street Church w/ the Jenkinsons, Kunz's, Nanny and our gang then back to my Mom's by 3 pm for appies and our annual tradition of Pescatore Pasta (Seafood Pasta). Yum! Then we did something different this year - we typically spend the rest of the evening playing the gag gift exchange game...where you steal crappy presents from each other until nothing more can be stolen. Well, it was getting so lame and the presents were so crappy that no one wanted to steal anything from anyone...so I suggested we play Bunco. A dice game that is too complicated to explain! I figured out how it works and we gave it a shot...it was super fun! I think it will be a yearly game on Christmas Eve.

Saturday, Dec.25th, 2010
The obvious things went down on this day: up at 6:15 am to open stockings (that is after a 2:30 am wake-up...Gabrielle stood beside my bed w/ her eyes as wide as saucers...I very sternly told her to get back to sleep!), called Mum and Dad & Nanny and they came over to open presents and have breakfast. They hung out for a bit then went home to relax. The Diamond girls came over and the 4 of them spent the afternoon on the trampoline.

After a bit of relaxing, snoozing and eating we went over to my in-laws for Christmas Dinner and were home (less 2 kids) by 8-ish.

Sunday, Dec.26th, 2010
Nothing! We did nothing! Kids played on the trampoline for hours (it was beautiful out) and Greg and I did a whole lot of nothingness. Dreamy.

Monday, Dec. 27th, 2010
We started potty-training Max this day. We figured we should start while Greg was home so one of us could always be home with him if the other needed/wanted to go out. I ventured out to Chinook Centre w/ my Grandma and my Mum. It was a nightmare. So busy it was insane. Poor Nanny can't walk that fast or that long, so we took lots of breaks and went slow but it pooped her out. She is nearly 89 after all! I got a few items returned and bought some boots I had my eye on and got a G.C. for from G.C. Hee hee! Max had absolutely no pee's in the potty but several in his pants and on the floor. We went to our neighbour's for Indian food for dinner and a visit. It was really nice...we live 2 doors down and hardly spend time together. Crazy.

Tuesday, Dec. 28th, 2010
I think more nothing-ness happened during the day...Gabrielle's friend Jhoanny came for a play date. She is one of my favorite friends...so polite. Then we went to the Zoo-Lights this night. I think...not exactly sure if it was this night or the next night. It was chilly and snowing, but it was fun. Day 3 of potty training. Still not one success but lots of accidents. Kids sleep over at Grammy's and Papa's.



Wednesday, Dec. 29th, 2010
Hmmm...don't really know what we did this day either. Organizing? Relaxing? No idea. Hopefuly it will come back to me. Kids stay at Grammy's until noon-ish. I sleep until 8:30 am which is insanely late for me but dreamy of course. On day 3 of potty training and not one success. Contemplate giving up.

Thursday, Dec. 30th, 2010
Day 4 of potty training (and more relaxing). Talk to my friend and she says it took her son 2 weeks. Seriously? 2 weeks of spot cleaning the carpet and washing underwear 4 x a day? Sigh. I phone my Mom and say he might not be ready. However, the kid does not want to wear diapers...he insists on underwear. That is a good sign. At about 4:30 pm he says "Mommy! Pee!" We run to the bathroom and he pee's in the potty! We hoot and holler and get super excited! He goes again in about a half hour. We phone the Grandma's and Daddy who is out w/ friends. Very exciting! So nice to see him getting it just once to know he has the concept. Gabrielle has a sleep over at Jacqueline's....another one of my favorite friends.

Friday, Dec. 31st, 2010
New Year's Eve day. Hang out at home, get some appies ready for the evening. Take the kids bowling at 4 pm w/ Mum and Dad. After bowling they come back here for appetizers and dessert and games on the Wii and a board game w/ Gabrielle after the 2littles are asleep. In bed by 10:30 pm! Watch the rest of Julie/Julia (3rd time be/c I keep falling asleep!). Here's a little snapshot of the troup. Who me? Oh no, I'm not there. Why would anyone include ME in the photos? I'm only the mother. Seriously, I should force it on my husband so my kids can see pictures of me with them one day.



Saturday, January 01, 2011New Year's Day. Relax at home. Gabrielle has a belly ache and cramping all day and then starts vomitting. Poor kid.

Lily celebrates in her own way...one might call it "Happy Nude Year!" She spent the entire day without clothes.



I go out later to a movie w/ Mum and Jane...Black Swan. What a disturbing movie! I wouldn't recommend it. In fact, I'd recommend NOT seeing it. It was psychotic and gave me bad dreams. Arrive home at 10:30pm and take Gabrielle to the Children's Hospital as she is not getting better and is inconsolable. Get there and discover there is a 4 hour wait. She isn't that sick is she? She puked in the car on the way there (we had a bucket thankfully!) but seems to be fine now. She asks for a popsicle because she sees other kids with one. I bribe her and say we can get one at 7-11 but we need to go home and she can lie in my bed and I'll tickle her head so she can fall asleep. It works thankfully. We finally go to bed at 11:30 pm but I have the worst sleep ever. Like that of a mother w/ a newborn baby. It was that awful and disrupted.

Sunday, January 02, 2011
I believe I covered this one...skiing. It was great. Then dinner at Grammy's and to bed early. I had a fantastic sleep this time.

Monday, January 03, 2011
There...up to speed. Memories of Christmas 2010 recorded. Probably long and boring should anyone besides me read it. But this blog is for me. To remember little bits of our daily life this year. Today was full of playing play-doh, laundry, tidying up, making snacks and lunches...regular mom stuff. They are bugging to make cookies now. More cookies! I hope I don't blog a year from now 30 pounds heavier from all the cookies! Must...stop...eating...cookies.

January 2nd, 2011

Here is what I did today...I haven't done it in EIGHTEEN YEARS!



It is a ton of work to get going, but super fun once you are there. Kind of like riding a bike too...I knew what to do even after 18 years. I must say I was awfully nervous about it - didn't know if I could still get on and off a chair-lift or that my 37 year old body would be able to handle a spill should one happen.

The girls loved it, I loved it. I hope it is something we can all do as a family and that my kids will have great memories of skiing just like I did. It is, however, extremely costly. I may have to get another job at 7-11 just to pay for the sport!

I am going to be sore tomorrow...muscles were used that are not used on a daily basis. After a crappy sleep last night (that reminded me of having a newborn that feeds every 2 hours) I am going to bed and will hopefully not have all the interuptions that I had last night. Gabrielle slept in our bed and was up quite often and very fidgety (but thankfully not pukey), Lily was coughing a lot, Max had me up 3 times...it was a horrible night and I was a bit of a bear at the start of the day. However, it was a great day regardless. Thank God!

Happy New Year!

I have a goal in mind (one of many) to blog every day for the whole year. Is that even possible? I don't know...but I'm going to try. My posts won't be long or even that exciting...but I'm going to try to write down one thing from my day, every day for one year.

This will be a super short post for my first day of 2011. I spent the day organizing my girls' room, taking down Xmas decorations, dealing w/ a sick girlie (Gabrielle's been in bed all day and puking off and on) and now I am going out to see a movie w/ my Mom and Jane...Black Swan.

Something to remember: Lily (5) has spent the entire day naked. She has not worn a stitch of clothing all day. Oh to be five!

Max is on day 6 of potty training...we've turned a corner and he's been more successful that not. Pooping is another story all together but we're doing pretty good w/ the peeing on the potty. Could it be that we'll be starting 2011 without spending another dime on diapers? I sure hope so. That would be dreamy!