What Happened in Vegas...

Wow, what a great time I had in Las Vegas!

From the moment I saw Leah Ann and Ramona at the airport it was wonderful! Just like old old old times.

- We laughed (watching Zumanity and talking about Lutheran Bible Camp 26 years ago).
- We cried (or at least I did - a few times and none of it was even alcohol induced).
- We fought (over sunscreen and an Oprah magazine).
- We played (slots, Black Jack, Roulette <-- I was too chicken to try that).
- We won (Ramona, 150 quarters is only $37.50, not $150).
- We lost (I never know when to walk away).
- We ate (Buffets every night for dinner).
- We drank (Leah Ann needs to drink more water and free drinks while gambling is cool).
- We slept (in bed the first night by 9pm but the next night we were up until 4am).
- We walked (my dogs are still barking).
- We splurged (do Oxygen Bars really do anything?!).
- We scrimped (scrouging around for quarters for Wheel-of-Fortune).
- We saved (dresses on sale!).

I had the time of my life. We decided we will go on vacation again together for our 50th birthdays. I can't wait!

Happy Birthday to my sweet 7 year old boy.

It was 7 years and 1 hour ago when they told me I needed a c-section. All those hours pushing to no avail. My "sunny side up" baby was stuck! I was so concerned because the midwife informed me that my baby's heart rate was not recovering after contractions so she had called in a doctor. Just get my baby out of me safely! I was wheeled to the OR. At 1:06pm (7 years and 25 minutes ago) I heard "It's a boy!" as Jax entered the world and my life has never been the same. Thank you, Jax. I love you.

Signed Sealed Delivered

We just finished e-filing our taxes. Even though we use Turbo Tax and It's Deductible it is still a PITA.

I coloured my hair tonight and made the highlihgts too chunky. I also used a new colour (L'Oreal Couleur Experte 6.0 Almond Rocha) but I am not sure I like it. We'll see how it looks tomorrow. I may be spending tomorrow evening fixing the stripes on my head.

I finally went to Walgreens and bought cologne for an online friend to send as payment for a sweater she knit for Jax. It has only taken me 4 months. Now I have to mail it. Nevermind driving phobia, I have post office phobia these days! Everytime I go now there are huge line-ups. I never ever go to the Bellevue or Redmond post offices because not only are the line-ups huge but the parking lots are tiny and it is very stressful waiting around for a spot to park, let alone getting in the line up and shuffling along until it is your turn. The Iss office has a huge parking lot but I think everyone does what I do and avoids the other cities and drives to Iss. Our city is due to have its own post office in 2007, I think. A friend of mine swears that it is worth the drive to F. City to go to their little town's post office because there is never a wait. But then I would have to drive to F. City...

Anyway, my very patient friend will have to wait a little longer. I promise I will visit the post office to mail it...soon.

My therapist told me today that she thought I had a driving phobia because I told her of the anxiety I have when I even ~think~ about driving into Seattle. Um, no. I have a fear of dying on a bridge that spans water (floats on it really) and had been cited as a terrorist target. Not sure why that bridge scares me so. The other bridge (I-90) isn't so terrifying but it is much less practical to take unless I am going to the train station or some other south Seattle locale. The zoo, the car dealership, the Seattle Center and Pike Place Market all require me to take the 520 floating bridge and I hate it.

It started today with me fretting that I had no plans for Spring Break. I thought briefly about taking the kids to the zoo but then I got all nervous and upset. They love the zoo but I hate taking that damned bridge. It doesn't help that the bridge is one of the oldest floating bridges in the world. Or that during really bad storms they close it down because it has been known to lose its moorings.

Anyway, after thinking about taking the kids to the zoo my mood became really foul. I cannot believe what a huge issue this is for me. After talking to my therapist I have a few tools under my belt to help me cope with it and I am going to ~try~ to take the kids to the zoo without freaking out. I can do it!

Another weekend gone.

I am not really sure what happens with time time but weekends flash by in the wink of an eye while the weekdays seem to drag on and on. This week will take an eternity because 1) It is spring break and I have planned nothing save for dentist appointments tomorrow at 9 A.M. and 2) I am going to Las Vegas on Friday morning.

Oh and Jax's birthday is on Thursday and I have nothing planned. We are going to have a small family celebration then celebrate with his friends on the 24th once everyone is back from Spring break.

My new CF card has become corrupted. I think now it must be the card reader that is doing it although it has not done it to Jax's cf card for his little camera. Anyway, I hope that there is at least a 30 day warranty on my new card!

I am still coughing a lot but most of the cold is gone. Now I just need my strength back. Cars still has a fever but Jax is back to school today. I feel like I could sleep a week.

Sickness update:
Dex - all better but a lingering cough
Pez - still stuffed up, body aches gone
Jax - fever, headache, body aches, lethargy
Granny - body aches, sore throat, stuffed up
Cars - fever, lethargy
Stephen - NOT SICK AT ALL (touch wood)

And the bathroom is done (well almost)! Pictures can be found here. Handyman will be back on Friday to fix the caulking around the tub and to install the thresholds to the bathroom and closet (he ruined the finish on them and had to redo them).

Mom leaves tomorrow. What a pathetic visit this was since we were all sick (and now it is her turn!).

Still sick. Sicker even. I don't think I have had a cold this bad for about 8 years! I had a worse one then but I was pregnant with Jax and could not take anything. Right now Advil Cold & Sinus is my constant companion.

Stephen and I spend hours at the Department of Homeland Security to get the stamp in our passport which states that we are legal permanent residents of the United States of America. The agent told me that my actual card will arrive (get this) in 8 months but if I do not have it in 12 months, I need to go back to the Department of Homeland Security Office and get another stamp in my passport to cover me until the card comes in. The agent was even a little embarrassed to tell me that it would take 8 months. He said "I hate telling everyone this part". Incredible that is takes that long.

My mom is now sick too and I feel so badly for her because she has to take a train back to Vancouver on Thursday then fly home on Friday. She is supposed to attend Fiona's 1st birthday party (her birthday was yesterday) this weekend but if she gets as sick as me there is no way. Wally will no doubt have a fit and I'll get the blame because Granny cannot make it to Fiona's party which they scheduled a week later than her actual birthday because Granny was visiting my kids. :
Jax is sick too and stayed home from school today and he missed baseball practice last night. Dex is supposed to go to practice in a few minutes but he is sleeping and I feel like shit so I think I won't take him.

So not only is Dex asleep but Jax has just now fallen asleep, Cars is asleep and my mom is napping too. The only ones awake are me and Handyman (touch wood but the bathroom will be done ...TODAY!).

Time for more Advil Cold & Sinus medication...

Still sick. Woe is me. I hab a code now though and the pain and achiness is gone from my joints.

I had to get my picture taken today for my green card and the photo is quite hideous. Not that my hair is very stylish to begin with but I had to tuck it behind my ears and off my forehead for the photo. Plus I am in *desperate* need of a dye job. And I have puffy cold eyes and a red, chapped nose. Oh, and I need to lose 1000 pounds but I would be happy losing 30.

Ugh - I am sick. It started yesterday. I have a fever, sore throat and it hurts when I cough. Dex is on day 6 of being sick so I guess I caught what he has although his fever finally broke by the 5th day so I was able to send him back to school. But he still gets tired quickly and he has had a nap every day since Monday. The cough I have is bone rattling and my throat is raw. I hope I am feeling better tomorrow and that no one else gets it.

Besides that, today was Opening Day for Little League. I was able to take short videos of Jax and Dex during their first at bats. (Love my new camera!). They are so cute!

Off to bed since we Spring Forward during the night!

Ok, here I am - 40 years old. Do I feel any different? Not really.

Stephen made me my favourite decadent cake (Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake) and we went to dinner last night after Jax's science fair. Stephen bought me a new digital camera and a 1GIG (!) cf card! The camera takes little snippets of video too so that is very exciting. He also had the kids plans some flower seeds in containers for me.

I had an online friend send me a box of birthday goodies too (Thanks Tabitha!), including a 40th Birthday tiara, an "Over the Hill" button and banner, some self-inflating balloons and some pez. :) Oh, there was also a little tea light holder with some wax melts (Monkeyfarts scent!). lol



Jax did well at his science fair. He has to explain to the judges what his project was about and what the results were. He was so proud. Actually all of the kids in the school who participated did well and I was happily surprised at the number of projects that were not mostly done by the parents.



I am one very lucky Pez.

Dare I jinx myself? Handyman is coming tomorrow to finish up the rest of the bathroom. A two week hiatus is just what was needed...or was it three weeks? Anyway, the tile is in for the countertop so we are off and running. With luck it will all be completed by the time I go on my trip.

Here I am, on the cusp of turning 40 years old and I have an acne breakout that makes me look like a teenager. Ugh! I hate this! I *still* get pimples. Pimples is actually a nicer word for the pustules that I get from time-to-time. Mostly they had been in check since I started using Proactiv in October. But the one that popped up yesterday is so big I am sure it will sprout eyes and a mouth and start talking to me any minute.

This is so unfair!

Happy Easter. We were up at the crack of dawn (as we are every morning really) and I trucked the kids off to 7:30am Mass. I forgot to bring a pucky (aka pacifier) fir Cars so I made the very wise decision to move us into the Crying room. He was so loud "DADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! DADAAAAAAAAAAAA!" he would scream over and over again every time he saw a man. (and yes, I do use a pucky as a noise stopper, not just a pacifier).

After Mass we scooted home for an egg hunt which took place in the living room because it is pouring rain. Last Easter was beautiful and I took some great pictures of the kids and a very nice family picture. No pictures this year. My CF card is corrupt and I tried to use the one from Jax's camera but it did not work. No film for my SLR so no Easter pics. I feel like the worst mom in the world!

Speaking of moms, mine is arriving in about 4 or 5 hours. I am both looking forward to her visit and wondering how long until she drives me crazy.

Off to help Stephen with preparations for a yummy turkey dinner.

The 2005 edition of getting to know your friends (copied from Heidi's blog).

1. What time did you get up this morning? Awake at 5:30am, out of bed at 7am
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Collateral (last Fall)
4. What is your favorite TV show? Desperate Housewives
5. What did you have for breakfast? Cuppa tea and cottage cheese with fruit
6. What is your middle name? Marie
7. What is your favorite cuisine? Chinese
8. What foods do you dislike? brussel sprouts
9. What are your favorite Potato chips? Ketchup, Salt & Vinegar, Tortilla chips with salsa
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Still Not Getting Any by Simple Plan
11. What kind of car do your drive? Mazda MPV
12. Favorite sandwich? Grilled vegetable
13. What characteristics do you dislike? One-up-manship
14. Favorite item of clothing? Old Navy Yoga pants
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Greek Islands
16. What color is your bathroom? Kind of a spa-blue
17. Favorite brand of clothing? Not brand loyal
18. Where would you retire to? Canada
19. Favorite time of day? Morning
20. Where were you born? Ontario, Canada
21. Favorite sport to watch? Hockey
24. What fabric detergent do you use? Tide (big-ass box from Costco
25. Coke or Pepsi? Coke and only ever Coke
26. Are you a morning person or night owl? Neither
27. What is your shoe size? 8.5 or 9 depending on the shoe
28. Do you have pets? Only pet peeves
29. Any news you'd like to share with your family and friends? Vegas Baby!
30. What did you want to be when you were little? An actress or a teacher

Stephen is working late tonight so I let the kids stay up and watch "Survivor" with me. I think this season is the best one they have had in ages. The challenges are really interesting. Dex told me that he hoped James would be voted off because "He's so bossy!". I am glad James was voted off after that ignorant comment about Allah and God. What a redneck!

I think we are going to be staying at the Aladdin. I'll know for sure tomorrow. I planning a few little fun things for us. I am so looking forward to this trip!

Vegas, Baby!

I booked a flight to Las Vegas for next month. I am meeting Ramona and (a nice surprise!) Leah Ann there for the weekend. We will have a great time! We haven't booked a hotel yet but we are hoping to find one on the strip. I am a little concerned about Leah Ann because she 1) needs about 12 hours sleep every night and 2) admits she is addicted to gambling. When we were 21 she and I took a cruise vacation and the ~one~ night she stayed up past 9pm she spent all of her money in the casino. And some of my money too. At least she comes by it honestly, Gambling addiction seems to run in our family (Leah Ann is my cousin, BTW).

My mom's family love to gamble. When a casino opened up one hour east of Toronto, my aunt used to get up at 3am and drive there to gamble for a few hours before work. My mom's brother met his wife at a Black Jack table at that same casino. He also gets comped hotel and meals at a casino in Bahamas because he spends so much there. When my mom visited me once in Minnesota we drove to the casino and I could not drag her away from the slots! A guy asked her to watch his machine while he went for more coins ($1 slots) and she just *had* to play it while he was gone. She won $100 on her first coin and he came back and was so angry! He told her to take off her win (play another coin) so she did and she won another $30! Maybe that is why it is so addicting for her. My mom's other sisters have always been card players and I can remember many poker nights at our house or Auntie Ev's house.

And I am not immune to the gambling bug. For my 30th birthday Stephen took me to Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota. We decided we would each play with $40. Within 30 minutes my $40 was gone and Stephen gave me another $20. Another 30 minutes later I was at the ATM. Then I found the nickel slots so I was fine after that. It definitely is a compulsion. I also used to be addicted to scratch lottery tickets but being broke after we moved here cured me of that. Besides, the lottery tickets here stink. I still think that the Ontario Lottery Corp. has the best tickets.

Pez Quiz

How well do you know me? Take a PEZ Quiz
Then check out your score.

The leprechaun's got away but left some double bubble gum that the Easter Bunny was planning to use. Jax was so excited that the leprechaun's came. I wonder if, when the time comes, I will be dealing with a pre-teen who still believes in Santa Clause.

I fell down yesterday (long story that I detailed in Her Time. I hurt like hell today. My whole body aches and I have a massive bruise that wraps around the whole back of my calf. Advil has been my constant companion today. Stephen is working late of course so I cannot even go lie down until the kids go to bed.

Jax wanted to build a lepre chaun trap today. He woke up this morning with the idea and did not let it go! I gently told him that there were no such thing as lepre chauns. He chose not to hear me. After school he started talking about it again and was so wound up that I promised to help him make a trap after dinner.

Stephen asked me why I was encouraging him (he knew that I had spoken to Jax this morning). Then he turned to Jax and told him that l e p re chauns are just make-believe. Jax looked him in the eye and said "I want to believe in them". And that was that. So we made a trap for him and one for Dex and I had to scavenge around the house to find a little present to put inside for them to find in the morning.

Here's is Jax's trap. Just a simple shoe box held up with string with a penny taped to the floor (and green paper and tin foil to attract the lepre chaun). When the penny is picked up the string will let go and trap the lepre chaun.



Dex's is simple. A lid propped up with a tin foil covered popsicle stick with a string and a penny taped on the string. Picking the penny up will pull the stick out and the lid will drop and trap the lepre
chaun.



They were so excited about the traps. I hope they are not disappointed in the morning when there is no lepre chaun to be found.

Yowza!

Neighbour upped her price again and listed her house with a realtor.
The photos in the photo gallery do not do it justice. The home is really lovely. Also, the taxes will definitely go up because it is listed with the county as just under 2000sf (they do not know she dug out and finished the basement years ago but will definitely find out when the house is sold).

Jax's teacher sent me a note this morning telling me that she took Jax's chapter book that he has been writing in class and typed up the first few pages of it. She said she was amazed by it and wanted to share. If you are interested in reading it, click here. All typos are his spelling errors.

Last Sunday at church the communion hymn was "Roll Away The Stone" by Tom Conry. I was completely overwhelmed by that hymn and I tear up just thinking about it. The words are not so profound but sung in our church with the big cavernous echo was amazing.

Roll Away The Stone

They have been saying all our plans are empty.
They have been saying "Where is their God now?"
Roll away the stone see the Glory of God. Roll away the stone.
Roll away the stone see the Glory of God. Roll away the stone.

They have been saying no one will remember.
They have been saying Power rules the world.
Roll away the stone see the Glory of God. Roll away the stone.
Roll away the stone see the Glory of God. Roll away the stone.

They have been saying no one hears the singing.
They have been saying all our strength is gone.
Roll away the stone see the Glory of God. Roll away the stone.
Roll away the stone see the Glory of God. Roll away the stone.

They have been saying "All of us are dying."
They have been saying "All of us are dead."
Roll away the stone see the Glory of God. Roll away the stone.
Roll away the stone see the Glory of God. Roll away the stone.

Actually, there is something new. I have weaned Cars. It happened three nights ago. He fell asleep without nursing and did so again last night. Today he asked to be nursed (if you call slapping my breasts asking) and I said "No more nursing". He did not even try again tonight so it is over. I am a little sad but relieved that I was able to wean him before I turned 40. Funny, I remember before he was born I had a goal to nurse him for six months.

I had never enjoyed nursing Dex because he had latch issues that were never really resolved so I thought I was completely going to hate nursing Cars but he latched on like a pro from the very beginning.

Another milestone passed. Oh, and here I am a little weepy.

Nothing new.

Yesterday I did the most physical activity that I have done in ages. First, Dex, Cars and I walked Jax to school then we had to walk home up that friggin hill (2 mile walk round trip). The jogging stroller has a flat tire so I had to push Cars in his regular stroller which does not move as easily up a very steep incline. Anyway, we survived. Then I took Dex and his friend to soccer. It was the last day and apparently it was also a parent participation day. I don't know if they announce that last week (L. took the kids last week). So there I was, out on the indoor soccer field scrimmaging with other moms and 5 year old kids who are fast and vicious. Only the kids had shin guards on! I am glad I am not the mom who caught a soccer ball with her nose. Ouch!

Later in the afternoon I took Dex to his t-ball practice and Jax and I threw the ball back and forth while Cars napped in the stroller. Ok, I threw the ball to Jax, he missed it every time and ran after it. Then he would throw it in my direction but most of the time it went way right so I had to run for the ball too. Who knew I could even run still?

So last night after dinner, I was completely pooped - too pooped to even go to the store to get some bread and milk. Fortunately, Stephen went so my kids would have something for breakfast this morning. And it is a pleasant surprise this morning that I am not sore. And I even feel almost GOOD for having exercised. Maybe I should keep it up?

Bathroom is on hold for now...we cannot agree on tile for the counter top. Plus Handyman seems to have screwed up the power to the fan and lights. He is bringing an electrician with him on Monday. On his dime...


I had a little retail therapy today - 4 tops for $50 (Ross - Dress for Less!!!). I also bought a cute little pair of Buzz Lightyear sandals for Cars.

Ramona and I are thinking about our 40th birthday trip. Leah Ann has opted out of going. Boo to her! I should have expected it. I remember when we were 15 (was it 15?) we wrote letters to be opened 10 years later. We wrote where we thought we would be and what we would be doing with our lives. Leah Ann was the most organized of the three of us so she held onto the letters. One decade later, when the date came to open the letters, it turns out that Leah Ann had thrown the letters out just a couple of months before. Her reason? She had written that she would be married to Dave and have a couple of kids but at 25 she had just dumped Dave and moved in with Roman and she was too embarrassed to read the letters so she threw out hers, mine and Ramona's! Ok, so now it is 15 years later and she has once again flaked out on us.

Anyway, Ramona and I have been planning and we might do Vegas if she can get a free flight there with her airmiles. I am so excited about taking a trip! Without children!

Neighbour called with a price for her house. It is a fair price but out of our range. Stephen and I are going to crunch some numbers but I do think it is pointless. She is asking 50K more than she had first quoted me. I am a little disappointed but not crushed since this came up suddenly and it is not like we *have* to move. And not moving will give me more time to enjoy my new bathroom wall colour.

On a happoer note, our green card apps were finally approved (it only took 4 years - well, 3 years and 11 months). God Bless America.

Migraine has gone and stayed away (thank you, Imitrex).

My blahg has been so bipolar lately. I am sounding like a forum whack! Things must change.

Dex is now registered for kindergarten.

Swim nazi called today to tell me that there were openings for Dex for swimming on M/W mornings. I need to decide whether or not to enroll him. He has two 1.5 hour t-ball practices/week starting next Tuesday (as does Jax). I think maybe that will be enough activity (I cannot go back to driving all over town again).

Happy Stressday. Today will be a whirlwind of activity. But first I must tell you that Cars's fever broke and he slept through the night again (yeah for him!).

Besides all of the running around I have to do today, I will be registering Dex for kindergarten. Funny, I don't really feel as sad about it as I was about registering Jax. I am very excited for Dex to be going to kindergarten. He is excited about it too. I have decided against the multi-aged class I wanted to put him in (he would be in the same class room for k-2) for several reasons, but the biggest is that the cost to us for full-day k would be $2400. And if we are moving that money could be better spent elsewhere. Plus he would miss out on riding the school bus (only kindergarteners get a bus from our neighbourhood, and only 1 way!).

Right now I am concentrating on beating this migraine. I just popped an Imitrex and I hope the tightness in the chest does not come with it this time. Once I have weaned Cars I will try one of the other two triptan drugs that do not have that side effect.

I need to head to Costco shortly. Then home to feed Dex and Cars and get Dex off to school (I will not forget to pick him up). I also will be volunteering during kindergarten registration from 5-7pm then rush off to the Little League meetings (already in progress).

Oooh, the Imitrex is kicking in and I can feel the heaviness. I think I shall go lie down on the couch for a bit.

(and yes I edited the original post for anyone who may have read it).

Two more people added to the ignore list. One because her sig photo has the reflection of a flash in it and I swear it causes me migraines.

I have delegated some bathroom stuff to Stephen. He tried to pawn it back to me "Are you sure you want me to get it? I think you would be better at choosing the toilet and sinks." Ha! The thing is I am not better at choosing. I cannot choose. I can never choose. "It is not a big deal", he says "just pick a sink!" No way, I told him. You can do it."Ok, no problem" he says. He worked late tonight so he decided to stop by Home Depot and buy the sink and toilet on his way home. So far, he has called twice to ask my opinion about the sinks I cannot see. Seems I am not the only one who cannot decide.

The kids went back to school today. :) I was embarrassed dropping off Dex to his teacher since I had forgotten to pick him up from school the last day before the winter break. Yes, you read that right. I.forgot.my.son.at.school. Ash picked up Jax that day so my schedule was off. I was merrily cooking a meal for a friend whose father had passed away when I realized 20 minutes after I was supposed to pick Dex up that I had forgotten to do so! I was 30 minutes late getting him but the teacher and administrator were gracious about it. Today I arrived 10 minutes early and our car was first in line.

I ordered some tile for the bathroom counter top. And I bought a quart of paint (Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue) to try out on the walls. I like it and we are going for it. Next up: 2 sinks and a toilet. This bathroom might be done by the middle of next week (touch wood). Geez I will be glad when this renovation is over.

test

I finished reading "The Kite Runner" yesterday. I enjoyed reading it. It was hard to read at times (content - brutal crap that happened in Afghanistan) but it was a page-turner. I think our book club will have an interesting conversation next week.

Cars slept through the night last night! In his own bed! I hope it is a trend and now just a once in a lifetime occurrence.

I am back to stressing out about the bathroom. I have a feeling the whole thing will just clash. F*ck it!

No news on the new house front. It is seeming further and further away.

Kindergarten registration is this week. I was going to put Dex in a mixed age class (k-2) but have thought better of it. I think he needs the regular kindergarten experience (read: he is not prepared for kindergarten).

I am so glad that school starts back tomorrow. This week was so trying. This summer is going to be brutal unless I plan the hell out of it.

Stephen went to work yesterday but came home early and was in bed by 7pm. He is at work again today but is thinking of coming home early again.

Handyman has finished tiling the floor and started on the shower wall today. I think the tile I bought looks great. Still stuck on what we will do for a counter top.

We have had such gorgeous weather these past few days. It is supposed to last into next week. I think I even have a little sunburn on my face from being outside yesterday afternoon. Imagine sunburn in February!

Three times is the charm?

Stephen is still sick and still in bed. Now he has a screaming headache. I wonder if he his just dehydrated? I hope that is all it is.

First day of mid-winter break. We made a castle and a dungeon out of empty shoe, cereal and tea boxes. Then we walked over to Ash's and the kids rode their scooters around. One day down, four more to go.

Pressure

Looks like this new house thing might happen sooner rather than later. The lady in the other house called us at 9am yesterday morning to report that a house around the corner was listed for a certain price and that her house is in much better shape. However, her house has LP siding (Lousiana-Pacific siding that is like fake wood and if it fails it may cause moisture damage) which will bring the price down because we would have to replace the siding in the next 5 years or so. I've had two estimates for our house from realtors, one of whom I will probably hire because she lives in the neighbourhood and offered to help us for free with the purchase of the other house (if this all works out). Well, free in that she will not ask for commission from that house but will get it from ours.

Anyway, my head is spinning. I am not really stressed out but I am getting a little anxious about the whole thing.

And Stephen spent another day in bed. And tomorrow is mid-winter break so I have all of the kids. All day long. Everyday. All week long.

Nothing to see here

Nothing is new really.

I am down to nursing Cars once before bed and once during the night and never,ever after 4am. He is sleeping somewhat better. Why didn't I do this a year ago?

Bathroom is coming along. All floor tiles are cut and about 1/2 are down. Handyman had trouble cutting the tile and had to grind many of them so there is now a white film of dust all over my entire house. I don't feel like cleaning it up until I know for sure that he is done. He is taking Monday off and will be back on Tuesday to finish laying the floor tiles then start on the tub surround. I need to pick up my ordered accent tiles on Tuesday too. I hope they are as nice as I remember.

Stephen is sick and has been lying in bed since the moment he came in the door last night from work. To be fair, he did get vertical this morning while I went for a haircut.

Another peanut teasing for Jax at school today. The teacher handled it well, I think. It will be interesting to see how the teaser's parents handle it since the teacher notified them. The funny thing is that Jax did not tell the teacher about it initially. Someone else told on teaser. F*ck I hate this.

Jax is anti-sauce/condiment kid. He hates ketchup, dipping sauce, spaghetti sauce, gravy, mayo, mustard and even sweet and sour sauce for nuggets. Dex will eat ketchup once in a blue moon and he loves sweet and sour sauce. But that's about it. Cars loves dipping everything into anything. Ketchup is a favourite. Warning: Dirty Face Child.

Cars had his 18 month appointment today. He is still scrawny (only 22 pounds) but he grew 2" in the last 15 months. He is on antibiotics for yet another ear infection (well two infections - one in each ear). At least I know why he has a fever and why he has been miserable all weekend.

Stephen bought me a truck/coffee table for Valentine's day. Our very first coffee table EVER! We've been married for 11 years and we haven't had a coffee table since we moved out of our furnished apartment 9 years ago. (BTW, the actual colour of the wood is darker IRL).

I spoke to KILLJOY again today. I should not have answered the telephone.

And now I am off to bed before I eat more.

The house is gorgeous. Turn-key condition too. The seller said she wants to get it evaluated again before she sets a price. So no doubt it will be out of our price-range. LOL Oh well.

Off to bed because I have to substitute for one of Dex's Sunday School teachers tomorrow. Gotta be fresh to deal with a classroom of 4 and 5 year olds!

Look up KILLJOY in the dictionary and you will see my mom's name.

I went to IKEA today. Why don't they let you keep your kids in the ball pit longer than an hour? Surely they could sell more stuff if they let you shop a little longer without them.

I am happy with my purchases. I had a blast with Arrogant Sage and her dd, C. And Ash and Kins were there too. Ash won because she spent the most money. Or maybe Sage did because she spent the least.

When I arrived home, Handyman and his sidekick (who is actually his step-son) were busy working away. "We've had a few setbacks" Handyman told me. Seems the tub is small for the space and he has to build out the wall 1.5 inches from the floor to the ceiling. Sounds like a lot of work. Especially since that wall is 12 feet tall. He said the tub that was in there was not a standard size. So that adds more work and I wonder if that will cost me more money.

I also figured out another setback that he did not (yet) tell me about. I found a shard of broken mirror about 8" long. Hmmm...after he left I went to take a peek at the bathroom mirror to see how bad it looks with this piece missing. Well, the whole mirror is missing. I guess the whole thing shattered. I wonder when/if he will tell me about it. I wonder what the cost is to replace a 6 foot by 4 foot mirror.

Book club tonight was fun. So many people with so many different interpretations of the end of the book. Two people loved the twist at the end. Most others did not like it or hated it. I am really enjoying this book club! Our next book is The Kite Runner.

Ok, tooth is feeling better today. Alternate Dentist is lucky that I didn't have to tell on her.

Book club tomorrow night. I am dreading everyone's wrath because the book had such a lousy ending. I hope Tami picks a better book for next month.

I went to Mass this morning (Ash Wednesday). Then I spent the rest of the day cleaning (I scrubbed the huge kitchen floor on my hands and knees because that wet Swifter just doesn't cut it). In the early afternoon, Ash dropped off Kins while she went to a job interview. When she came back to pick me up, she said "Here, let me get that off your forehead" and she wiped the ashes off. I was too stunned to move then I burst out laughing. She thought it was just dirt from my cleaning. Geez, how dirty did she think my house was?

Jax's teacher emailed me today because apparently he and another boy in his class have been disrupting the class for the past two weeks with their "silliness". I asked Jax what he was doing that was so silly and he said "I like to pretend my lunch is poison and I die after I take a bite". Nice. And "I pretend that I am being flushed down a toilet and I spin around and yell 'AAAAHHHHHH' ". What is it about boys?! Why can't they sit nicely in class and LEARN? The other kid is doing similar things and they egg each other on. Anyway, the teacher asked that we speak to Jax (and the other kid's parents speak to him) and hopefully "their behavior will go back to how they used to act in class". At least that tells me that Jax hasn't been a brat all year! I hope his behavior improves...

Well off to bed. IKEA in the morning. I hope to meet Arrogant Sage there. And when I get back I am sure my bathtub will be installed. I need the bathroom done quickly because I found a house I want to buy!

Ok, so I don't have to be a detective to figure out that my trip to the dentist today was going to be a disaster. The clues were all there, it was just a matter of putting them together.

I had to have a cavity filled. The first clue was that Regular Dentist was not going to be in the office so they made an appointment for me with Alternate Dentist. My only experience with Alternate Dentist (who I guess is really my dentist's business partner and not from the Manpower Dentist Pool) in the past was an appointment last year when she lectured me about flossing on a regular basis (sorry but I have whacked flossing off my list).

Clue #2: The "virtual reality" movie glasses that they put on for me pinched my nose so much that I could not breathe so off they came (boo because I had chosen "Chocolat" so I could see yummy Johnny Depp).

Clue #3: Alternate Dentist numbs my mouth then tests to see if I still have feeling. Yep. So more novacaine or whatever it is that they inject into ones gums with that big freaking gun.

Clue #4: I panicked when they put this thing in my mouth to keep my tongue away from where they were working. I gagged then pushed it out with my tongue. I was so embarrassed.

Clue #5: Alternate Dentist fretting to the assistant that she needed more composite while filling the tooth. Then she commented four or five times that the filling was really, really deep.

Clue #6: The hour I spent in the chair after Alternate Dentist told me it would only take 30 minutes. I was the very last patient to leave the office today and the staff was just sitting around waiting and giving me odd looks because they ~knew~ something was not quite right.

So now, a few hours later, my face is unfrozen and has stopped itching (does that happen to anyone else?). I am in a lot of pain and am wondering just how early I can call Regular Dentist tomorrow morning.

Off to take some Tylenol (has anyone else read those scary stories about Ibuprofen lately??) then to bed. Oh, and I suppose I might floss my teeth if it saves me from another dental disaster and a meeting with Alternate Dentist.

Handyman could not install the bathtub yesterday because it is damaged. It goes back to Home Depot it goes tonight. He'll be back tomorrow to install the replacement.

I am feeling so run down. I have a cold and I am so tired. One day Cars will sleep through the night, right?

Laurie took Dex to soccer then to her house for a playdate with Cameron. I feel like I need to rush around and clean the house and run errands since I only have one child for the next 3.5 hours but all I really want to do it nap. I might just do that.

Snap-snap-snap! I am making decisions like there is no tomorrow. ;) I picked up the tile and grout today. Tonight Stephen and I had a "date" at Home Depot and we purchased a tub and shower faucet.

After our date at Home Depot we went out for dinner at the local ale house. Then to Safeway for some groceries. We are such losers. lol

Jax was very upset after swimming today. He would not tell us what was wrong until dinner time when he whispered in Stephen's ear that he stared at a women's breasts at the pool and was feeling guilty about it. OMG - he is too young to be looking and then feeling guilty on top of that! My poor baby!

Jax overheard me telling our neighbour that Kins has chicken pox even though she had been vaccinated. Jax became wide-eyed and a look of great concern came across his face. He interrupted "She's been killed?! What happened to her!?" He thought I said that Kins had been assassinated (He learned that word last month when they studied Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.).

I have made more decisions about the bathroom. Just need to go to Tiles for Less (for wall tile) and Home Depot for the tub and shower faucet. Baby steps...

But while I am trying to whack things off my list I somehow managed to get volunteered to cut out 100 paper hearts for Jax's class Valentine's party. At least the party is still a week and a half away so I hope to have them done by tomorrow. Off to start them right now.

Damn Cookies

I erased all of my cookies and now I cannot remember passwords and login id's for a number of sites. It took me 7 tries before I remembered this login id. I hate when this happens.

Cars had a little tantrum today and started yelling NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO at me. It was cute - I didn't even know he knew how to say that word!

Nanny is due to come tomorrow. Jax has only 1/2 day of school so my time is limited. At least I do not have to do any work for Dex's Sunday School (I did it all last week). I do get to pick up my new glasses at Costco. And hopefully buy a couple of things for the bathroom (tub, faucets, tile). And no second guessing myself about my decisions.

Ok, I am feeling a little saner today. ~whew~ I have whacked vacuuming and bill paying from my "to do" list for today. However, I have three whiny children. Cars had a bad cold. Dex says his throat hurts and Jax complained that he did not feel well but could not be specific so off to school he went. I think he was just tired. Still too early to decide if Dex will stay home this afternoon or not. I'll have to cancel tea today with Ash and Gloria. I missed last week because Kins was sick and I didn't want to expose Cars to her ickiness. Damn and he caught something anyway.

I finished reading my book (see sidebar). I hated the ending. It was stupid! Anyway, I know Ash and Paula also did not like the ending. I am not sure if anyone else from book club has finished it or not. Our next meeting is at my house on the 10th.

Fighting to Stay Sane

I feel like I have taken a little step backwards in the sanity department. I am just starting to feel overwhelmed with making decisions about the bathroom and other things. The little doubts and wonderings if I made the right decisions are nagging at me. I hate this!

Because of this perceived stress, I have reacted in the way I do best - emotional eating. Damn Chips Ahoy! being on sale this week has not helped matters. I have not exercised in days either.

Wow - I am throwing myself a pity party it seems! Cocktail anyone?

Nanny did not show up today. She thought I had told her I did not need her. I had told her I did not need her at 8am but to come at 9 instead. *sigh* So I had to run errands with all three kids. Plus I did not get to go to Costco to look for new glasses. Cars threw a ceramic St. Joseph figure at me at Christmas and scratched the left lens. The glasses place could not buff it out - I need new lenses. So I decided that I would just wait until my new glasses benefits kicked in this month and I am going to get a pair of glasses with clip-on sunglasses. I never got the hang of contact lenses (how unnatural it is to stick things IN your eyes!) so I have been without sunglasses for a year.

Dh came home late for dinner (stopped for a drink with people from work!). So I was ticked off at that. Then he tells me that if we had joined the health club back in November(which is free for employees of his company but they can only sign up during benefit enrollment time each November), we would be able to take the kids swimming there for free and cancel their Y swim membership. Aaargh! That is exactly what I told him in November but apparently because I don't actually WORK at MS then how could I have possibly known that. Geez, I cannot believe how pissed off I am at him about this.

I bought Jax two pairs of shoes today. His running shoes were a size 1.5 and his feet are size 3. Oops! He also told me that his clothes were not cool.(!) He is six. Ok, nearly 7...but still! I took him to Fred Meyer and asked him to show me some cool clothes. He pointed out a pair of cammo pants and a pair of jeans that looks like a mechanic had worn them for a year and never washed them. Those jeans also had the lovely chain hanging down from them for one's wallet. He also wants black t-shirts. What happened to my young, sweet, little boy!

Cars wearing Dex's hat. It is too small for Dex.

Dex thinks it is so funny to mug for the camera. Really it is just bloody annoying. As you can see the hat is too small for him but he loves it anyway.

Dex had a playdate today with the "real" Evan (as opposed to the
other Evan). Evan's mom called before she brought him over to ask if we kept guns in the house. She is the first person to ever ask me that. I told her I was glad that she asked and that we did not keep guns in the house. I think every parent should be asking that question when they drop their child off at a house for a playdate. I always talk to parents about peanut butter but now that the kids are older, I will certainly start asking about guns too.

Food Allergies

Another senseless death.

Restaurant warnings urged after teen's death

From the article:

- The prevalence of peanut allergy in children doubled in five years
- about 1.6 million Americans have peanut allergies
- about one in every 125 children has peanut allergy

"Among food allergies, peanut allergy is the most dangerous, said Dr. Richard Roberts at Carolina Asthma and Allergy Center in Charlotte.

Injections of epinephrine should be administered quickly, he said; otherwise, "most people die within minutes."

The good news:

It's benign. I need to go back in May or June for another pap to keep an eye on things.

Thanks again for everyone's good wishes, prayers and positive thoughts. They are greatly appreciated.

The bad news:

I lost the auction. There was about an hour left so I made a donation to Unicef and emailed the receipt to Hanan. Of course I was sniped with less than 30 seconds to go. But that's ok. The real winners will be the children who were victims of the tsunami.

It was a gloriously warm day today! It got up to 63 degrees at the local middle school (the temperature is listed on the local NBC station's website). And it was sunny! Incredible weather for January.

Contractor #4 arrived this morning. He is a friend of S & N. He will price everything out and email me tomorrow with a quote. The way things are going I am still looking at the other handy man guy. I want to get started on this project. My mom is coming for a visit in March so it would be nice if we had our bathroom back by then.

I am working on a letter of recommendation for my friends who want to adopt a child. There is so much to write and consider. I hope I can do them justice in this letter.

Jewel Quest

I love Jewel Quest. It is more addicting than Zuma.

This is why Washington State needs a re-vote for the Governor's race:

Man learns his votes were illegal for years.

There were illegal ballots cast for both parties. The voting process has to have integrity or no one will support or trust the system!

$40 Millions Dollars

I received this from a friend today and I thought it was worthy of mentioning. And for the record, I do not hate America so please no spewings of such in the comments section of my blog.

Excerpt from The Progress Report:

$40 million: Cost of Bush inaugural ball festivities, not counting security costs.

$2,000: Amount FDR spent on the inaugural in 1945…about $20,000 in today's dollars.

$20,000: Cost of yellow roses purchased for inaugural festivities by D.C.'s Ritz Carlton.

200: Number of Humvees outfitted with top-of-the-line armor for troops in Iraq that could have been purchased with the amount of money blown on the inauguration.

$10,000: Price of an inaugural package at the Fairmont Hotel, which includes a Beluga caviar and Dom Perignon reception, a chauffeured Rolls Royce and two actors posing as "faux" Secret Service agents, complete with black sunglasses and cufflink walkie-talkies.

26,000: Number of Kevlar vests for U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan that could be purchased for $40 million.

$17 million: Amount of money the White House is forcing the cash-strapped city of Washington, D.C., to pony up for inauguration security.

9: Percentage of D.C. residents who voted for Bush in 2004.

66: Percentage of Americans who think this over-the-top inauguration should have been scaled back.

Now is the time to worry...

Before the colposcopy the doctor told me he would not be taking a biopsy but would just be looking at the cervix. During the procedure he saw some white cells and changed his mind. Much discomfort ensued and now I must wait until Tuesday for results.

It was 67F today! Felt like spring. Not good news for the ski slopes up at the pass and I guess no tubing for us this year. And all of the rivers have flooded. Good think we live on a plateau. ;)

Two bathroom people came today. The first will email me an estimate tomorrow. The second was a handy-man service and his estimate was half of what the first one was! Well, a little less than 1/2 because I have to get some of the items myself but the estimate includes tile and a bigger tub! Whoo-hoo! And he can start February 5th. So we'll see how things go with the estimate tomorrow.

Tomorrow is the colposcopy. I hope the doctor can give me some answers while I am there.

Day 3

Third day of the fitness challenge. I am not doing very well on "dieting" but I have not had an eating binge. I wore my pedometer today while at Dex's soccer today and I clocked almost 2000 steps chasing Cars around the arena. I was impressed. I wore it for 1/2 the day and I think I had about 3000 steps. Far from the goal of 10,000 steps recommended. I forced myself to move about a little more than usual though. Normally I am such a slug.

Tomorrow I have two contractors coming to give me a quote on the bathroom. The first will be over-priced. The second is the one who did (S & N's bathroom). I am not sure how long that link will work. A third guy is due to come on Monday morning. He is a friend of S & N who has started his own "handyman" business. He told me today on the telephone after I told him what the first place had quoted us that with his current project he had moved a wall, re-plumbed, installed shower, bath, sink, tile, etc for less than that! So it looks like we can get this all done within our budget.

I knit a hat for Dex but it is small and fits Cars really well. Dex insists that he wears it. I need to take a picture of it. I used Noro Kureyon which knits up striped and it is gorgeous! I am working on a second hat for Jax but I think I have overcompensated and it will be too big. I remind myself of Lucille Ball with this knitting (I hope someone out there has seen that episode of her show).

Fiona wearing the Christmas hat I made for her.

Cars has a rash on his body. I wonder if it is from the antibiotics he is on (Cefzil). It is the first time he has been on it. The doc is not sure his ears cleared up while he was on Amoxicillin (or whether these are new ear infections). I wonder if the office is open today (MLK Day). I'll call a little later.

Cars did not sleep well last night (so I did not either). I had weird dreams too (think Star Wars v Cyborgs with Orlando Bloom thrown in for good measure).

It has warmed up and is PISSING rain today. Doesn't make for a nice day off school for the kids. I'll just send them out to the garage later to play ESPN Gamestation.

I am high bidder on Tsu Bear on ebay. The proceeds will go to Tsunami Disaster relief. There is still over a week left but I don't know if I will be outbid. I had planned to donate at least that much to a charity (Stephen and I had just not decided which one yet but we are boycotting the American Red Cross).

I'd better get my butt in gear. I have friends coming over in about 45 minutes and I haven't had a shower yet!

Yesterday on the way to the mall, I decided I needed a new bra because the elastic had gone out of my nursing bras and the wires had poked out of my regular bras. Plus of course my breasts had changed shape once again after nursing my third child. I headed straight to Nordstroms to be fit for a new bra. If I were going to spend money on one, it was going to actually fit me. (I bought two).

A few years ago I went there for a proper bra-fitting and found out that I was wearing both the wrong band size and the wrong cup size I bought a bra that actually fit me. The underwire did not dig into me. The front of the bra lay flat against my chest they way they are supposed to. What a revelation! A bra that fits right looks good and feels good. WOW! I swore I would only ever buy bras at Nordstroms for the rest of my life! I highly recommend a bra-fitting. Not by the young chicks who work at Victoria Secret but by a professional bra-fitter. Go to the nearest department store during a bra fit clinic and get sized and buy a good, well-fitting bra. You will be amazed at the difference a well-fit bra makes.

Discovery Health National Body Challenge

I signed up today at the mall for the Discovery Health National Body Challenge. I made my appointment for late in the day knowing that most people would want to go early in the day. There was no waiting line at all! I signed in, had my weight taken, my body fat calculated and my BMI. Then I had a full body shot taken. Next stop was the Discovery Store for my free bag of goodies. I received a food journal/exercise journal, a pedometer, a free sample of Secret deodorant, a bottle of some water with nutrients in it from Gatorade, an exercise DVD and my free 2-month pass at Bally's (I don't think I will be using that because it is way on the other side of the lake).

I am so keyed up to get FIT and lose weight. I hope this enthusiasm lasts through tomorrow morning!

Another sick kid. Another sleepless night. Another long day. Another boring blahg.

The people for the second bathroom quote moved their appointment to next week because snow was in the forecast and NO ONE drives anywhere here when it snows. I also have a couple of more names of contractors who have done bathrooms at more reasonable rates so we'll see what comes of it. Stephen is now hot to move for some reason. He wants the tub replaced then off we move to a new home. Like we can afford it. Gotta keep buying those lottery tickets, I suppose... heh

An acquaintance invited me over to see her bathroom that was remodeled last year. It is gorgeous: marble tile on the floors and around the tub, deep bathtub, shower with a bench, granite countertops, etc. It should be in a magazine! However, it is way more than I would want (I just want a tub that doesn't leak at this point) or would ever spend. She told me they spent (get this...) $39,000 on the bathroom. The tiling alone was $15,000. I felt like I was in the twilight zone. How the hell could someone spend that kind of money on their bathroom in the same area that I live in? Seriously. And the funny thing is that she said she was not going to put her son in full-day kindergarten next year because she thought it was too expensive (~$250/month!!). LOL

Our second book club meeting was last night. We discussed The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. There were three new members (and a couple who could not make it) so we are up to 11 people. Another friend who is in another book club said that 10-12 people was a good size for a book club. Next month we are discussing
The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve.

Our playgroup has decided to meet one last time before Sarah moves. Leslie is going to try to make it. Everyone is coming here on Monday. I gave Sarah and Leslie a little going away present consisting of a pack of note cards, strip of stamps and a sheet of labels with my address, Tracey's address and Jen's address pre-printed on them.

Here's a picture from our night out:

From L to R: Leslie, Sarah, Tracey, Me, Jen

Ok, off to bed for a little nap before Cars wakes up. *sigh*

I'll say it again - HOLY SHIT! Yes, we are looking at $12000 to replace the bathroom with the exact bathroom I already have (acrylic tub/surround and vinyl floor, new sinks and faucets, same toilet, cabinet and mirror). I cannot believe it. Honestly I thought I was going to faint when she said that price. Anyway, they were just the first quote so let's hope they are just really high! Stephen said that for that price he will do the bathroom himself! LOL Right. We could though just hire out someone to replace the tub...I'll think about it because I cannot imagine spending all that money. It is over out budget.

My appt with the GYN has been moved to next Thursday. :

Just arrived home from my night out with the girls. It was a lot of fun just shooting the shit with them all. I do feel horrible for Leslie. Their house closes (the one they just sold) on Saturday and they still do not have a place to move to yet. I am a little freaked out for her right now. I swear I do not know how she is holding together. I'd have gone crazy (crazier) by now!

One funny thing tonight is that a group of younger women left while we were eating and as they walked by Jen was like "How funny is that! Did you see their purses? It was a parade of designer handbags! A Chanel, a Coach, a Burberry and a Kate Spade!" (We were in fancy-smancy Kirkland). I hadn't noticed the purses and Tracey said "I wouldn't know a designer purse if someone hit me with it." I thought it telling because Jen is the only one of us with "money" so of course she would notice.

Tomorrow the first bathroom contractor is coming. They called today to confirm and told me the average bathroom remodel in these parts runs $12000-$19000! HOLY SHIT! Are people getting gold-plated fixtures?! Anyway, I am assuming that that price also includes a lot of plumbing moved (which we do not need), lots of ceramic or glass tile installed (I'll stick to vinyl flooring and an acrylic tub and surround) and a heated floor! Can I say it again? HOLY SHIT! We'll see what they say tomorrow...

Ok, I am off to bed. It is cold and I cannot get warm. My feet are like ice!

Missed the Boy Scout Pick-up

We forgot to put the tree to the curb for the Boy Scouts to pick up. Looks like I saved $10. So Stephen had to saw off all of the limbs from the tree and cut it in half to fit it in our yard waste bin for recycling.

It snowed yesterday (three days later than the storm they were warning us about). Jax really wanted to make a snowman so out he went. It did not snow that much so the snowman really became a mudman (have I mentioned that our backyard is a BOG from October through May?). But they had a ball.



Ramona and I had an IM conversation yesterday with us both hooked up to our webcams. It was fun "talking" to her and seeing her at the same time. I wish my camera had sound.

Tonight is Mom's night out with playgroup mom's. Our last one. Sarah is moving back to the east coast and Leslie is moving to Everett. And of course Carolyn moved to Philadelphia last year. So then there were three - Jen, Tracey and I. I don't imagine we will meet anymore because we are all just too busy. I loved meeting weekly with these women, even with the stress of morning drives around the lake to get to playgroup (we used to be the only one who lived in the boonies). I feel a real sense of loss. :(

It snowed for about 30 minutes yesterday, turned to rain then cleared up. I guess parts north of us were hit with snow. Today it is windy but it isn't really even that cold. I wouldn't mind if it snowed tonight so the kids could play in it tomorrow morning before it melted.

For Better or For Worse has been one of my favourite comics since it debuted in the Toronto Star when I was a kid. I wrote to Lynn Johnston a couple of years ago to tell her how much I loved her strip and had read it continually for all of these years. Anyway, this was last weekend's strip and it really struck me. I've been thinking of it non-stop so I thought it would share it:



If it is too small you can see it HERE

Brrr! Still cold. And they say there is snow is in the forecast.

I went grocery shopping this evening. The shelves were all bare. I asked at the check-out why it was so bare. Apparently the store did three times the normal sales today because we are expecting a snow storm in a couple of days. LOL It is funny that everyone raided the store. Well, not too funny because I didn't get everything I needed.

I've arranged for two contractors to come out to the house to discuss the bathroom renovation. Not sure if I mentioned but we had another leak on Christmas Day so we cannot use that shower/bath at all now. The tub really needs replacing so we are just gutting the whole bathroom. I hope it doesn't take ages to do or cost a fortune. I also wish that Stephen WANTED to do some of the work to save us some $$.

It is so cold! Well for here. It is about 20F/-6C right now and it made it up to 35F/2C today. I know that is nothing compared to Alaska (Hi Heidi!) but freaking cold for here. My feet have been like blocks of ice all day long!

My sister kind of received some results today from her last procedure. I say kind of because the dork doctor was to have called her but didn't and now he is on vacation so his receptionist read what she could of the lab results. Anyway, it seems that they might have been able to get all of the cancer out so she might not need a hysterectomy afterall. What great news! Of course she will not know for sure until she speaks to the doctor. What a relief for her! My mom is still planning a trip out west to see her so I am sure she will make a detour down to see us too. Oh and JP and Marilyn will be coming soon too because he just ordered something HUGE off Amamzon to be delivered here. I'll need to make room in the garage...

Today was the first day back to school for the boys. Stephen had the day off (since Jan 1 was on a Saturday) so he took Dex to school and picked up both boys from school. I did laundry most of they day. Whoopee-do-dah.

Tomorrow, Dex starts back at soccer. Jax starts the science program I signed him up for on Thursday. I also have MOPS on Thursday morning and Sunday School preschool planning Thursday night. I have gotten used to not running around here and there and I am little stressed already just thinking about it! What a wuss I have become!

I have barely spoken to Ramona in weeks. She went on that trip at the beginning of December (Miami and cruise to Caribbean) then she was busy working to pay off that trip, then Christmas. I do too think she is avoiding me because she does not want to talk about her infertility with anyone. I know she has not spoken to Leah Ann either and this is the first year in 25+ years that she has not seen Leah Ann at Christmas (except for the years Ramona was in Saudi). I wish I could make things better for her. :(

Jax and I played two games of chess tonight. It has been fun teaching him to play. Dex wanted to play too but then started getting upset at all of the RULES. He started ranting about how when he grows up he is going to make up his own rules about chess. *sigh* This his rules thing he has is getting OLD. Then Cars came over and started licking all of the pieces. Then Jax freaked out about germs. AARGH!

Ok, off to bed. Cars woke up last night at 11 and was up until 1:30 (ergo...) so I am in dire need of sleep.

The tree is down and outside, awaiting pick up by the Boy Scouts next weekend. I am irked that our county stopped the free tree chipping at the local park so our only tree removal is to have the Boy Scouts take it away for a $10-$15 donation! We only paid $20 ($19.97 actually at Home Depot) so it seems like robbery to pay them that much. Last year I am sure they were asking only for $8.

The ornaments and Christmas decorations are all boxed up and waiting for Stephen to put them back in the rafters in the garage. He bought a new 8' ladder today so he could easily put them back, rather than risk life and limb by standing on the "THIS IS NOT A STEP" step of the rickity 6' ladder.

Cars cries everytime he goes into the living room and doesn't see the tree. Poor thing!

Stephen bought me a webcam but I cannot seem to get it to work with anyone using MSN Messenger. I also don't have a microphone so it is pretty lame anyway. I wanted my mom to be able to see the kids.

Jax got a cheap digital video camera for Christmas. He wants to be a "movie maker like George Lucas" he says. Anyway, we looked at toy video cameras and they were more than this one and they weren't even digital. So he has been having a good time making his own movies. The camera is jerky and really the camera is not super great quality but it is fun to watch him record everything!

Time to go make a puzzle with him.

Happy New Year!

My Resolutions

Besides not complaining as much, I resolve to:

- take better care of myself, physically, mentally and spiritually
- not feel guilty about not keeping in touch with people. Email/snail mail/telephones work both ways
- not bite off more than I can chew. No more dozen swap partners!
- knit a BIG item like a sweater for ME
- curb emotional eating
- turn off the tv more often (clicking it off right NOW)
- go on a date with my husband once each month

This columnist writes it so better than I could (and kind of what I was trying to say...)

Tsunami relief isn't about us

My deal not to talk about my children's health has not made a difference. Jax had an ear infection in both ears last week and this week Cars has a horrible cold, conjunctivitis in both eyes and ear infections in both ears.

I am working on my resolutions for the New Year. Trying not to complain is #1.

Tsunami death toll soars to 114,000.

Edited out the rest...

Christmas was great. The kids had fun, we had fun. I loved the day. My present from Stephen is going back. He bought me a flat-screen monitor. I really do not need anything else to help encourage me to more sedentary than I already am. lol We are going to put the money towards a bathroom remodel since we had more drips so I think more than just the overflow drain is cracked up there. *sigh*

GYN's office just called and I do not have HPV so I think that looks more promising to me that the abnormal cells were just some abnormal cells. I am still not concerned and I am very proud of myself for remaining so calm. :)

Ok, I am off now to the post office to pick up a parcel that the mail carrier (a substitute driver) was too lazy to walk up to my house to deliver and now I have to drive 8 miles each way to pick it up at the mail center. I have complained to the supervisor already and told that the regular mail carrier would never have been so lazy. Three times in two weeks this substitute did this.

The presents are wrapped and the stockings are stuffed. Stephen is in the garage putting together the ESPN Gamestation. Last time I checked on him he was on step 46 of 83. I hope he finishes soon. If I were a good wife I would be out there keeping him company but it is so cold in there and I am tired and want to go to bed.

I am finally over my hissy fit today. Just in time for some Christmas spirit.

We went to 5pm Mass and I thought I was being so clever and leaving 30 minutes early to get there (it is about a 5-7 minute drive, depending on lights). The parking lot was already full and so we had to park at the high school across the road and walk back about 1/4 mile. The church was full so we ended up in the Social Hall to watch on a large projection screen. The hall was full too but we were able to get 2 seats at the end of an aisle so the bigger two sat on the floor until the church realized they were a couple of hundred or so seats short and brought in another 50. Next year, I told Stephen we were going at 4pm! He said no way. lol

*yawn* Ok, I must get my beauty sleep.

Merry Christmas!

The most wonderful time of the year?!

Stephen received a call from his doctor today reminding him to follow up about some scar tissue on his lungs. Hello? What is this all about? Seems he conveniently forgot to mention that to me when he went a few months ago to find out about some chest pains he was having (which started in MAY and he did not go until August or September!). And he conveniently forgot to follow up with her. So after I harrass him for 10 minutes he finally tells me about it. Then he says he will call next week to make an appointment. I told him to call right away and make the appointment for next week. He proceeds to call then makes the appointment for today to "ease your mind", he says.

Ok, it is Christmas Eve. We still have shopping to do (food shopping). We still have to reorganize the house to make room for two tables for dinner for tomorrow. We still have shopping to do. How can having him drive 15 miles to the doctor on the busiest day of the year "ease" my mind?

Then, as I was sitting there dumbfounded because he was so asinine as to make the appointment for one hour from that moment, I notice that we have water leaking from the upstairs bathroom again into the family room. F*CK! I glared at Stephen because I told him that what I wanted for Christmas (besides World Peace and a cure for cancer) was for the leak in the bathtub to be fixed and he brushed me off saying that it wasn't a real present.

So now that other shoe has dropped I am upset and angry and worried.

Bah humbug!

A big lump of coal for me. I just yelled at my 6 year old that he better pray that Santa still has him on his NICE list.

He is bored today. Boo-hoo-hoo. I asked him to help me wrap some presents. No, because he is too bored. Then he said I was so mean because I will not call to have one of his friends come over to play. God forbid he should do some homework or read a friggin book! He apparently has no good toys to play with either. It irks me so much. He spent ~25~ minutes whining and crying(!) because he is so bored but doesn't want to do his ~20~ minutes of daily reading. Aaargh!

I did not handle it well and I am angry with myself too. Sh*t! He has been sick (ok, I know I wasn't going to mention my kids' illnesses again) and today is the first day that he has been mostly vertical since Saturday but he completely pushed all of the wrong buttons.

Ok, now Cars is awake from his nap.

Bah Humbug!

We Three Things

We Three Things - for Heidi and Snapper

Three names you go by:
Denine
Mommy
Pez

Three screennames you have:
Denine17
Go_Pez_Goddess
DeninePez

Three things you like about yourself:
I like my eyes
I like that I am loyal
I like my sense of humour

Three things you hate/dislike about yourself:
I hate my belly
I hate that I cannot speak in public without getting tongue-tied
My teeth

Three parts of your heritage:
French-Canadian
Irish
English

Three things that scare you:
Spiders
Guns
GWB

Three of your everyday essentials:
Cuppa tea
kisses from my kids
Proactiv Solution

Three things you are wearing right now:
black jeans
Christmas socks
glasses

Three of your favorite bands/artists at the moment:
Simple Plan
Bowling for Soup
Barenaked Ladies

Three of your favorite songs at present:
Welcome to My Life - Simple Plan
1985 - Bowling for Soup
Accidentally in Love - Counting Crows

Three things you want to try in the next 12 months:
Pilates
Take a ferry to Bainbridge Island (or Vancouver Island)
Piano lessons

Three things you want in a relationship (love is a given):
Compassion
Honesty
Sense of Humour

Two truths and a lie:
I skipped Grade 4
I studied French for 10 years
I had a 4.0 GPA in University

Three physical things about the opposite (or same) sex that appeals to you:
Eyes
Smile
Ears

Three things you just can't do:
Sing
Insert contact lenses
Cook

Three of your favorite hobbies:
Knitting
Painting
Reading

Three things you want to do really badly right now:
Organize my house
Play scrabble
Have a bigger house

Three careers you're considering:
Interior Design
Graphic Artist
Nothing else...

Three places you want to go on vacation:
Scottish Highlands
Lake Louise, Alberta
P.E.I.

Three kids names:
Caitlin
Fiona
Charlie

Three things you want to do before you die:
Move back to Canada (retirement)
Be a grandma
See World Peace

Three people who have to take this quiz now or die a slow orgasmic death:
Arrogant Sage
Shellybean
And Mar (if she had a blog!)

I have such great online friends. Thanks to everyone for their support.

Funny enough, I am not really that worried. I had a pap last year after Cars was born (if not then, I certainly had one when I became pregnant with him) so if it is cancer or pre-cancerous cells, I know it can be taken care of without the radical treatment that my sister needs.

I finished knitting a scarf for my SIL for Christmas. I found this really cool yarn that I thought she might like. I started it last week but Cars found it and ripped it out when I laid it down next to the computer. So I started again on Friday and finished it last night when I babysat for Ash.

I went Christams shopping today - alone! It was nice to have the time just for me. I went to The Bon-Macy's, Eddie Bauer, Gymboree and Target. I also went to a cook packaging store that sells all sorts of boxes and bags and ribbons and wrap. I could spend all day in that little store.

DH made some Tempura shrimp for dinner and it was very yummy. Of course I had no idea until tonight what Tempura shrimp was. We just used this batter with some pre-cooked frozen shrimp. Yummy. I am having shrimp again on Friday because it has become our tradition to buy a shrimp ring on Christmas eve.

My brother is in Minneapolis (high today 8F) to take a look at a hotel that he has been asked to manage. Far cry from the 78F degree weather he left in Florida! Of course I had to call him and laugh about it. I don't think he really wants to move back to cold weather and snow!

My sister is in surgery right now while they determine how far her cervical cancer has spread.

And staying with that thought, my GYN's office called 30 minutes ago to tell me that I had abnormal cells in my pap last week. I am scheduled for a colposcopy in 3 weeks.

I sold my very first painting today! My friend Tami wanted a painting for her living room and I had painted one earlier this year that I thought would work for her. She came over today and said she loved it and wanted it. We agreed upon the price (basically the cost of the canvas only - I was just thrilled to be selling something!). Now I have the itch to paint again (it has been a few months). I did pick myself up a large canvas two weeks ago so after the holidays I am going to break out the paints.

Here is the painting (it looks nicer IRL - it is hard to see the shadows on the floor)



I cannot believe that Christmas is in a little over a week. I feel as though I still have a million things to do. Actually, I should be wrapping presents for teachers and for Nanny right. I think I'll do that now then go to bed.

I finally scanned in the boys' Christmas photo.


I finally had the car fixed. What a PITA going downtown Seattle in morning rush hour. I hope I don't have to do it again for a looooong time.

Cars has been so funny and such a little pip lately. I love love love this age. Jax loves Cars so much too and has a great time playing with him and teaching him things. He gets so excited when Cars talks too. It is great. Dex, meanwhile, loves to wrestle Cars to the ground the instant Cars grabs a piece of lego or any toy that is not his. *sigh*

Tonight, Dex and I made bookmarks for his teachers for Christmas gifts. Jax will have to make the one for his teacher tomorrow night. He spent his time making one for Gav. I'll also add a small gift card for the bookstore. I hope the teachers can tell they are book marks!

Yesterday's trip to the post office was not as bad as I had anticipated. I arrived at 8:40am and while the line-up was long, it was not through the metal detectors and out the door (like it was when we left at 9:10). The postal worker was really patient (read SLOW) and while I appreciate that he HAND CANCELED my Christmas cards to Canada to save a day (they could go directly to the airport since they were canceled), I could feel dozens of pairs of eyes burning the back of my neck and I heard many heavy sighs. LOL Anyway, so $37 dollars in shipping costs for the parcels to Canada and they should all arrive in time for Christmas. Yeah!

I ran out of Christmas cards last night. I only have about 5 more that I should write and maybe 10 more that would be nice to do. I am debating just saying screw it and not writing any more of them... Can I do it?!

Dex just left to go to soccer with his friend and his friend's mom. We are going to switch taking them every other week.

Now Cars is upset that he didn't get to go and he is holding his shoes out to me to put on. lol

Per Kimmer's request:

See the purple ball on the right? Well as you go around the tree that way there are 5 more all in a row side by side. LOL And in the photo on the bottom left you can see a bare patch.

Our tree is now decorated. Jax and Dex had a blast doing it while Cars just pulled the balls off one at a time. I love the tree with all of the ornaments clumped together, with five purple balls side by side and virtually bare in some spots. It looks homey and Christmas-like, especially with all of the tinsel (or icicles to Americans).

I have all of my parcels bundled up and ready for the looooooong lines at the post office tomorrow morning. I had better pack some snacks and drinks for Dex and Cars. We should arrive about 8:40 and I hope to be out of there shortly after 9. Too ambitious? I hope not. Then I will have to come home and keep working on my Christmas cards. I still have another 20 or so to do. But most of the ones to Canada are done so they should arrive by Christmas.

I bought Stephen an xbox today. He has to get his own games though. It does come with two games but not the kind that he really wants to play.

I saw an article in the paper today about this site. I think I just might buy one to help them buy their house! lol

I have it figured out. The more I post about my kids being sick the sicker they become. So no more! That's it. We are only talking about how HEALTHY they are!

Hale and hearty Jax keeps tattling on himself. "Mom, I jumped on the couch." and "Mom, last week I said a bad word at school." He is worried that Santa is going to find out and bring him only a lump of coal.

Strapping Dex has ramped up on the speaking again. I swear that boy does not shut up. Ever. And he TALKS LIKE THIS! YES, HE TALKS IN CAPS! AND says "EXCUUUUUUUUUUUSE ME CAN I TALK?" if someone dares utter a word during his monologue. Again, it is hard to believe that he ever had a speech delay.

We bought a Christmas tree today. It is great! Seven feet tall and very straight. I had to buy more lights to put on it. I think it looks great. I might post a picture after it is decorated (only the lights are on it right now). Oh, forgot to mention that the best part of my tree is that it was $19.97 at Home Depot.

Stephen wants an xbox for Christmas. I cannot find one anywhere without a bunch of other stuff (games and dvd remote). You'd think he could get a discount from work but they do not discount the hardware because they make no money on it - only on the games.

I am going to be one of the million other last-minute shippers at the post office on Monday. Ugh - I wonder how long the lines are going to be. I finally finished my shopping for gifts that need to be mailed.

Last night was Stephen's work Christmas party. It was at his manager's house. I hadn't seen her in a long time but my nanny is her nanny Mon-Thur. She and Stephen used to work together at the research lab at the U of MN but now that she is his manager then we do not socialize with her. It is a little awkward because we used to do things like pumpkin carving parties and trips to the park together but no longer. The very first 4th of July fireworks celebration I went to was with her when we lived in Minneapolis (in 1994!). It is kind of sad but to keep things professional, Stephen has taken a big step back from her.

The good thing about last night was FREE babysitting. Ash watched the kids. I will watch hers next week when they go to her dh's Christmas party. :)

Tonight was the first night of book club. I had a blast. It was so fun to sit around with some great women (sans children) and chat and eat and drink and eat and chat and eat and drink and eat and chat. I just got home! It was fun discussing the book but mostly we talked about other things...like a real book club should. Laurie set up a dummy in her front hall that looked like a woman lying on the floor with empty boxes of bon bons and a bottle of wine at her feet! lol Next month the book selection is The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. Ash will be hosting.

Jax spent the day at home lying on the couch. He ate one bite of toast and one bite of carrot. By dinner time he was hungry and he gobbled down a bowl of chicken noodle soup which he promptly spewed across the kitchen table. He went to bed just as I was going out (at 8pm) so I am not sure how he is feeling at the moment. Better I hope. I guess I cannot send him to school tomorrow.

Stephen is in a better mood than this morning so perhaps he does not need FPT afterall.

I spoke to MIL today who was aghast that I had not yet sent out pictures and thank you's for Cars' baptism (yes, I know I am waaaaaaaaaay behind). But guess what? HER son has not sent them either. >:P Why it is always the mom's job to do that shit? I mean Stephen could be writing the cards and getting the pictures printed. And who is doing all of the Christmas cards? Certainly not him! Sheesh! I think this is the last year I am going to send them to his side of the family.

Well time for bed. I have my annual GYN appt tomorrow afternoon. Nanny is coming for the first time in a couple of weeks. It will be nice to have a couple of hours to myself (so I can go to the post office, and do some Christmas shopping).

Jax vomitted last night (in his bed - nothing better than doing laundry in the middle of the night) and this morning so no school for him. Dex seems to be doing better. WTF is wrong with us?! So sick all of the time!

DH needs some FPT. Funny enough he wants a big cast iron frying pan for Christmas. Little does he know he is going to get it - across his noggin.

Oh I loved "Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons"! I cannot wait until our book club meets for the first time tomorrow night to discuss it. I cannot even count the number of times I laughed out loud and cried while I read it. It was so well written and I loved the characters. So much in fact that I dreamed about them last night. lol

I need to dye my hair desperately. I hope to get it done tonight after the kids are asleep. My roots are a mile long! I also really need a haircut but there is just no time to do it these days.

I spent part of this evening wrapping CHristmas presents. It just dawned on me that Christmas is only just over 2 weeks away and I have so many gifts to get in the mail! Yikes! I hope to have everything mailed out by Saturday and pray that they all arrive in time.

Dex has the runs this evening. My stomach is churning and Jax just said his hurts too. I wonder if it were the cookies I baked today... :( Off to get everyone some Pepto Bismol!

I took Dex to the doctor yesterday. He kept saying his mouth felt funny and he was lethargic, lying around on the couch again. He felt warm but no real fever. A strep test came back negative (yeah!) so hopefully we are strep-free. Doc says she figures he just has a virus and should be better by today. He says he is not feeling better though and that the doctor was wrong! lol

I too went to the doctor yesterday. Got the whole deal about how I should lose weight and exercise because of my family history of diabetes and high cholesterol. A tetanus booster shot and some blood drawn for thyroid and anemia checks and I was on my way out the door with an armload of migraine meds to try. Only Imitrex has been ok'd to take while nursing so I will save the rest for after we are done.

Speaking of nursing, Cars is getting desperate. Everytime I sit down in this chair he comes over, climbs up and tries to lift my shirt because he wants to nurse. Sorry bub. I nurse him before bed and during the night. If he had his way we'd be nursing all day long.

At Dex's soccer today I told Laurie about the Evan incident. She had a good laugh then told me she had almost invited Evan's mom to join our bookclub but at the last second decided not to do so. Thank God!

And now I must go because Cars pointing to his butt which means he has pooped. Is this a good time to start training him then???

Ok, I think I am almost over my embarrassment from yesterday. I jsut hope I never see Evan's mom again. lol

Dex spent the day lying on the couch. Well, except when I dragged him to church and he spent the hour in Sunday school sitting in the corner. Anyway, I hope he is feeling better tomorrow because Ash is supposed to watch him for me while I go to the doctor. If he is sick then I will have to take him with me. I will still drop Cars off with Ash though.

Well off to bed to read my book. I have to have it read by Thursday for my book club (our first meeting!).