We have started getting ready for Christmas. Stephen hung the outdoor lights today with help from Jax and Dex. I rearranged some furniture in the living room to make room for the tree that we will probably get next weekend. We should probably have gone today since it is not raining. We usually just get our tree from Home Depot.

Today the PTSA sponsored a "Christmas Shoppe" at the school where kids can go into the gym without their parents and buy gifts for them and have them wrapped. It is run by volunteers and proceeds go to the PTSA. Items ranged in price from 50 cents to $20.00. Jax decided that he did not want to do it but Dex did so we headed over after lunch. He had a budget of $5 for a gift for Stephen. There was nothing left besides some $3.50 candles and a $15 fake diamond necklace. He was crushed that he did not get a gift for his dad. I will have to take him out shopping next week to buy Stephen something.

There were also some teachers and parents in the library selling their tupperware, necklaces, knitted scarves and make-up stuff. Dex's teacher from last year has taken this year off work to help grow her Arbonne skin care business. She convinced me to take home samples and use it on my skin for a couple of days. She would not tell me the prices of the items until after I try them so no doubt they are expen$ive. But I am sure my skin will look great for the next three days.

One of Jax's teachers from last year and Dex's teacher from THIS year were selling scarves that they had knitted. Lots of pretty ones but overpriced IMO. Maybe I think that because I can knit and kept thinking that I could make those scarves for a lot less than they were charging.

Anyway, Jax's old teacher commented to me that she heard that Jax was having a great year at school this year. It seemed to me that she was very surprised by this. She is the one with whom he seemed to have a personality conflict with last year. He only ever got in trouble on the days that she was working and he used to come home a write little notes like "Mrs. XX is the worst teacher in the world!". She was also the one who told me that he did not speak to her in a respectful manner. He told me it was because she was mean and didn't like him. I used to scoff at that idea but later in the year I was not so sure. He definitely was not one of her favourites. At the end of the year he didn't want to give her a teacher's gift and very grudgingly signed his name to the card. I gushed to her that Jax was doing fantastic this year, and thanks for noticing. heh

Ok, time to get back to preparing for Christmas!

December already!

Yesterday, Cars and I went out and purchased a couple of Christmas presents so I can check a couple of things off my list. I stopped at an art supply store and picked up two "how to draw cartoons" books for Jax and Dex. Cars, who is usually so oblivious to what I am buying unless it is Pirate Booty or "Cars Yogurt" (soy yogurt), was very interested in what I was buying and who it was for. I told him it was going to be for his brothers but it was a surprise so don't tell them. The minute Jax got in the car after school, Cars blurts out "Mommy bought you a present of some kind of book and crayons but it is a surprise!". So, no more Christmas shopping with Cars.

And that Lego that Jax wanted for Christmas that is no longer available? Stephen insisted that we buy it off ebay anyway because this is probably the last year he will believe in Santa Claus so Stephen wants to make it special for Jax. I was able to find it for a somewhat more reasonable price (reasonable being subjective) and it arrived yesterday. It will be fun for Jax when he opens it on Christmas morning so that justifies the exorbitant price, right?

I finished my swap ornaments and have placed them in mailing envelopes but I cannot for the life of me find the stash of Christmas cards. I hate that! I was up in the garage rafters yesterday, teetering on the 8' ladder while peeking in all of the Christmas decorations/wrap boxes but still they eluded me. Looks like I will be heading out today to buy more because these are supposed to be mailed by today.

My parents were married 50 years ago today. I wish my dad were still here to celebrate it with my mom.

The End

The winter storm has come to an end. Last night, temperatures rose so we had rain rather than snow. The ice is gone from the roads. School is in (with an hour and a half delay so the kids go in at 10am). Cars' preschool is still canceled because the delayed start knocks off all morning preschool and kindergarten.

Today also marks the end of NaBloPoMo. I managed to post every day through the month but then that wasn't particularly hard for me because I tended to blog about my blah blah life most everyday anyway.

Lastly, today is the end of my sitting on my butt thinking about Christmas. I need to get in gear and buy, wrap, pack up gifts that need to be mailed to Toronto, Edmonton and Minneapolis! I am running out of time!

Snow Day #2

No school again today because the roads are still icy. Stephen did make it down the hill and off to work today. I hope he can make it home!

Comcast was supposed to come to take a look at our cable box/dvr and our cable line but the guy just called and said he cannot get his truck up the hill. Funny, the milk truck was able to make deliveries today. I bet the cable guy just does not want to work outside today (don't blame him - it is COLD!).

I made cookie dough for shortbread and sugar cookies today. I was short an egg but fortunately Neighbour had walked to the store to get some eggs. There was no milk in Safeway. None. She said they were also all out of beef and ham. Crazy!

Snow Day

No school so no school meeting. I guess it will be rescheduled until next Tuesday.

It is very cold for here - 24*F - so the snow is not melting. The roads are all ice so Stephen has decided to stay and work from home. There is no way that he will be able to drive the car up the hill so it will have to stay at the Shell station until tomorrow.

The kids are itching to go outside so I suppose I should bundle them up so they can play in the snow. This could be the last snow that they can play in for this winter season so we might as well make the most of it.

edited for clarification...24*F, not -24F
That better Pley? ;)

Let it snow...some more

Please forgive me for being a typical Pacific Northwesterner and blathering about the weather all of the time. It is just what we do.

We went all day long with no snow but then it came with a vengence right at rush-hour tonight. What a mess! Stephen almost got into an accident so he turned around and went back to work, arriving one hour after he left. He left again at 7pm but is not yet home (less than 10 miles).

Oh! He just came in (8:23). He had to walk the last 7/10 of a mile home because the car could not make it up the steep hill that leads to our street.

We'll find out in the morning if school is canceled for the kids. And if so, that means that our "Guidance Team" meeting scheduled for 8AM is also canceled so they will have to wait another week to formally tell us that Jax's disability (life-threatening allergy) makes him not eligible for a 504 Plan. Of course, everything I have read tells me that he is eligible. >:\

I have not yet heard back on the results from my CT scan. Since it was Thanksgiving last week, I figure I will give it an extra couple of days. I might need to add a day too for this snow day since snow usually shuts the whole area down for a day.

Ash is scheduled for sinus surgery in the morning too but that may be canceled due to the snow. She is having the same surgery that Stephen had 4 (or was it 5?) years ago by the same surgeon.

Ok, time to go work on my swap ornaments because they must be mailed by Friday!

Let it snow...

We awoke to a dusting of snow this morning and what looked like a promising day for more snow. Unfortunately, the snow turned to sleet and it rained most of the day. It has now again turned to snow so with luck, there will be enough snow for the boys to throw one snowball each just before bedtime.

Edited to add - it started snowing before dinner so there was plenty of snow for snowballs:

This morning as I drove down off the plateau to go work out, we had rain mixed with snow. They are predicting snow for tomorrow and of course Jax's feet have grown like 8 sizes (ok, more like 2 FULL sizes) since last year so I took him shopping this afternoon to buy some boots. I found a good deal on a pair at Mervyn's (they are closing all of their stores in WA and OR).

I also caved and bought myself a new cell phone. I could live without the caller id working and the broken screen but it was completely draining the battery in a couple of hours and that wouldn't do. T-Mobile even replaced the battery for me for free (how nice of them) but that made no difference. So out I went and purchased a new phone which also extended my service with them another six months. The service extension is not a big deal, I suppose, but it bugs me to have to do that. Especially with the spotty service we have from my house to the parkway along the lake (I just do not make any calls until I hit the lake).

I was going to buy the new phone off ebay but the phones were selling for anywhere from $60-$80 more than I had to pay (plus shipping!). Anyway, I shall now be much more careful about where I put my phone and about zipping my up my purse.

I took photos of the boys today for our Christmas cards. Unlike last year and the 60+ photos I took, this year I managed to get a decent one after 30 pictures. How wonderful that they were so cooperative.

This is not the best one but it is one of my favourites because it really captured them (not that Cars looks cross and sulky all of the time but he is three after all!)

Stephen braved the Black Friday crowds while I stayed home with the kids. He got a few items but the main ones on our list were sold out by the time he got to those stores.

I raked up a ton of leaves that I should probably have done last time we had a day of no rain. I completely filled the yard waste bin and my neck and shoulders are sore!

Movie night today "Cars" or last night's episode of "Survivor". We haven't decided yet.

Stephen has spent much of the day (after shopping) putting together all of the Harry Potter Lego sets for the boys. The Lego has all been dumped in one big bin so a lot of the time has been spent searching for just the right piece. He is so patient!

Happy Thanksgiving

Feeling better and we are off shortly to E & T's for T-day dinner.

Yesterday, I had a CT scan to take a look at what my OB/GYN thinks is incisional endometriosis (basically, he thinks some of the uterine lining leaked out of the incision in my uterus from my last c-section). Anyway, I had to drink barium for the test but I kept throwing it back up. I thought it was just the fact that the barium is oh-so-gross but later when I had the chills and a fever, I realized that I must have the flu. Then, by 2pm yesterday, Stephen had the same symptoms. We took turns napping yesterday and the kids' 8pm bedtime could not come fast enough.

We are supposed to go to E & T's house for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. I cannot see that happening based on how we are still feeling at the moment. I will have to let them know soon because we are to bring the pumpkin pie.

Ash drove Jax and Dex to school today. I will pick them up when they get out at 11:30am. Poor Cars is basically on his own this morning.

The flu or some other stomach bug has landed. Of course it is Stephen and I who are sick. Jax is worried about who will make him dinner! lol Wish us luck!

I am a very proud parent today. Both Jax and Dex had glowing reviews from their teachers at Parent/Teacher interviews. Jax's especially was so good compared to last year and the attitude he copped with his teachers (I think I was too embarrassed to write about it!). He is doing really well and I think a lot of it has to do with his teacher. I do really like her (although I do still hate that the classroom is not peanut-free but that is not an issue I have with her but with the administration).

Dex is doing well and his reading has really taken off. We need to continue to work on his handwriting (which is horrible!). We asked for a stack of handwriting practice paper (you know, with the two solid lines and middle dashed line).

Jax's teacher also reminded us of the Guidance Team meeting on the 28th and that she would be there. I told her it was about peanuts and 504 plans and mentioned that I was not sure she was needed but that she could follow up with the counselor (I have been spelling that word wrong for ages - Pley - why did you not point that one out to me? ;)

Anyway, I am so proud of my boys. They ROCK!

Well, I did not accomplish much from my to-do list this weekend. I did work out and return two things to the mall. Oh, and I did buy a Christmas present so I guess that is four things. I decided that I hated the swap ornaments that I was making so I have been planning what to do in place of the ones I was making which turned out to be very cheesy-looking.

When I went to the mall to return the boots and pants, I parked in an area that I never park in so when I entered the mall, I passed by a store that I have never been in before - Coldwater Creek, so as I passed it on the way back out, I decided to pop in to look around. Ok, the clothes were nice but kind of, hmmm, how do I describe them - "old". I mean they were not out-of-date (although there were some mom jeans and stirrup pants (STIRRUP PANTS!!) in the store) but just something that perhaps my mother might wear. Oh, I then noticed that I was the youngest person in the store by at least a decade (and we all know I am no spring chicken!). One of the saleswomen, who must have been at least 60 years old, approached me and said "Oh, I love your hair! What a great effect! They did a great job!". WTF?! Did she think that I paid someone to make my hair look like it is growing-in-grey? Seriously. I was speechless and just blinked at her a few times before turning on my heel and taking my too-young-for-Coldwater-Creek self out of that store.

Reminder to self: Park outside of the Nordstrom or Macy's entrance from now on.

edited to appease Pley's spelling issues. ;)

Blah-di-blah-di-blah

I am totally blowing off my to-do list today. I did work out with Terry but that is about it. I may assemble a few packages to mail...maybe.

My gut is killing me. I am still taking antibiotics and I wonder if that it is. I missed a few doses here and there so I still have 2 left. I took one before bed last night, not heeding the warning to take with food. Ugh.

Stephen has taken the boys swimming at the club today. And then he is taking them out for lunch and to the park before the rain returns for the rest of the month. The meteorologists are excited that we stand a chance to break the all-time record for most rainfall in one month. We've already broken the November rainfall record.

I have the name of someone who was able to get a 504 plan from our school district for food allergies for her son. We met online at a food allergy forum but it turns out she is also an acquaintance of my friend, T (the kids go to the same school). So much for the district's policy of not writing 504 plans for food allergies, eh?

I called the mail-order drug company the other day to order more EpiPens® for Jax. I had to talk directly to customer service in order for them to affix the pharmacy labels directly to the EpiPens® and not just to the box. Anyway, after arguing with them that yes, they can do it because they always do it with Cars' EpiPen® Jr, they said they would send them out right away. They arrived via overnight express, in a huge box which contained a cooler with three ice packs and the EpiPens®. I wonder how much Big Software Company had to pay for that! Or is the mail-order company footing the bill? Normally, they come via regular mail.

I have been thinking a lot about going to see Crazy Doctor again. Not sure if I need to but just the fact that it is almost always on my mind makes me wonder. I was stressing so much about childcare, if I need to go, but then I decided that it would be ok to pay for daycare for Cars at the club if Crazy Doctor could not see me while Cars was at school. The club's daycare is licensed and they just charge you an additional $1/hour if you are off-site. I have this info, just in case...

My To Do List for this weekend

• meet T to work out
• return boots to Nordstroms
• return pants to B.R.
• pack up and mail present for O's baby
• pack up and mail C's birthday gift
• finish packing up and mail gift for R
• buy/mail b-day cards for L
• pack CARE package for my niece (she is away at college plus her b-day is coming up)
• finish Ornament Swaps (create, pack, mail)
• knit hat for Cars
• take photos of boys for Christmas cards
• start Christmas shopping
• order keychains for mom and mail to her

Too much to do. So why haven't I been doing any of it?!

The sun is shining and it is about 50 degrees. If you did not see the downed tree limbs and branches down everywhere, you'd never know we had a storm yesterday. Our power was out from 2pm until 6:54pm (not counting the times it went out in the morning). Some of my friend did not get their power back until 7am this morning. I guess overall we are very fortunate that we live in a pretty mild climate so it did not get too cold in the house.

MOPS was this morning. Our craft was no-slip wooden hangers. Next time we are doing Votive candles. I need to get a crack on figuring out exactly what I am going to do and get all of the supplies. I am thinking of something like these Votive Candle boats but with Christmas paper. I need to find some vellum too.

We are going to E and T's house for Thanksgiving dinner this year. I am making pumpkin pies since it is nearly impossible to find some without a peanut warning on them. The Costco ones are HUGE and only $5.99 but they are made on shared equipment with peanuts. I also need to make a dessert for T's kids because they will not eat pumpkin pie. I will probably make a chocolate pudding pie or something like that.

I wore my news pants with my kick-ass boots today. :)

Another Wind Storm

Another wind storm has hit today. The power has gone off twice so far this morning so I am taking this oppoortunity to get my post in for NaBloPoMo!

I am also trying to get laundry done but it is taking FOREVER while the power goes off and on and off and on.

I was up waaaay too late last night reading online documents about "hidden disabilities" and food allergies, the responsibility for schools who receive federal funding and protecting children. I know that we are right and just because the school district has a policy where they do not like to write Section 504 plans for food allergies, they cannot deny because it is State and Federal law. Also, I have found at least one person who has a child in our school district with a Section 504 plan for their life-threatening food allergy. So, we will go in armed with that information.

To make this day even more fabulous, I accidentally ran over my new(ish) cell phone with the car today. Friggin Riggin Briggin!

OMG, where has November gone? Seriously, it feels like the 4th of the month, not the 14th! Next week is Thanksgiving then comes Christmas and I am so ill-prepared! Yikes!!

I hate-hate-hate our school district. You can guess what this is about. As always, I loathe this situation. I don't want to get into it for now. Maybe in two weeks after we have a meeting where they will FORMALLY denying Jax his legal and civil rights.

Sleepless near Seattle

Blogging early today because we are having a windstorm and it is highly likely that the power will go out.

I think I have mentioned before that many (ok most) nights Cars will wake up and end up in bed with Stephen and I. Well, with me mostly since he sleeps on my side of the bed so really it has not been a problem for Stephen. However, one night last week Cars came in and ended up sleeping on Stephen's side of the bed. The next morning, Mr. Grouchy-due-to-lack-of-sleep-and-sharing-his-pillow-with-a-three-year-old said "This is ridiculous! He cannot sleep in our bed anymore!" Easy for him to say.

Cars never comes in our room on the weekends because Friday and Saturday are "Crazy Sleep Night" which means the boys can sleep anywhere in their room or the "other room". Some nights they all climb into the double bed, other nights they put their mattresses on the floor, sometimes they just sleep on the floor with no mattress and we will blow up the queen-sized airbed for them too. They all love "Crazy Sleep Night" and will discuss and plan all week where they will sleep on "Crazy Sleep Night". Anyway, on "Crazy Sleep Night", Cars never comes in our room. I think it is because when he awakens, he is close to either Jax or Dex and doesn't feel the need to come into our room.

Ok, so Stephen has had enough and I really would like to sleep a whole night without having to share my pillow so last night before bed, I told Cars that I wanted him to stay in his own bed all night long. And if he felt that he needed to come into our room, he would have to sleep on the floor. I figured that eventually he would tire of sleeping on the floor and eventually he would stay in his bed. He said "O-tay" and went to sleep.

At 3:23AM, the door to my bedroom opened and there stood Cars with his pillow and blanket. I told him to go back to bed and he announced that he was going to sleep on the floor of my room (notice that Stephen slept through all of this as he does most nights). I got up and arranged the pillow and blanket at the foot of the bed and Cars lay down and went right back to sleep.

Then this morning when we all came down for breakfast, Cars said to Jax and Dex in that teasing sing-song voice that kids use "I had "Crazy Sleep Night" last night! and you didn't. Ha ha ha-ha ha".

"No fair!" the others cried, "We only have "Crazy Sleep Night" on the weekends!"

Some arguing ensued and as much as I tired to convince Jax and Dex that Cars indeed did NOT have "Crazy Sleep Night" last night, they don't believe me. They want to sleep on the floor of my bedroom on a school night too. Help - I've created a monster!

I think tonight I will most likely be back to sharing my pillow with a 3 year old.

Shop-a-holic

I am a little high from the smell of swishing credit cards. I have been buying stuff for me. I don't shop ~that~ often for myself except for basics (ok, stuff from Joann's and Michaels but that really don't count).

Anyway, I do spend a lot of time window shopping online. I found these pants and have been coveting these

for weeks and weeks and weeks now and they are finally on clearance so I ordered them online on Friday night (Stephen's fault since he was out and the kids were in bed and I was bored. ;) Anyway, they should be arriving this coming week. However, last night I went shopping with Ash and the pants were a little cheaper in the store than online and I really needed a smaller size than the one I ordered (happy dance!). So I bought them and I will have to return the bigger size when they come.

Well, these pants are a little long so I figured that I needed (NEEDED!) to buy some kind of shoes or boots with a heel. Boots, definitely boots. So, we went to Nordstrom's Half-Yearly Sale for Women and Children (love that nice long name for their sale and everyone around here actually refers to it as that, never just "Nordstrom's sale"). Boots galore! I found this pair

which I love. They would look great with a skirt (not that I actually wear them) or with pants. They were dressier than I was originally intending to buy but they are so nice and I had to have them. Plus the salesman was so very nice.

Then today I went to Fred Meyer (to buy groceries and our free-with-coupon turkey) but decided to take a detour to the "Outdoor Mall" as my children call it. Basically, it is a mall with all of the stores that you would find in any regular (indoor) mall. Not sure whose bright idea was it to build a outdoor mall when it rains for 6 straight months?! Anyway, I stopped at a shoe store and found these boots

which were more along the lines of what I had been thinking about buying. And they would look better with the cargo pants. Plus they were on sale, then an additional 50% off! Plus, if I bought a second pair of shoes or boots, they would take 20% off my entire purchase! So I bought these

which were on sale but not listed at 50% off but when the salesperson rang it all up, she took 50% off the sale price of them plus 20% off the entire purchase. So, those two pairs ended up being about $10 cheaper than the one pair of boots which I will be returning to Nordie's.

Rock on!

11/11

Today is a day for celebrating!

One year ago, I was in Las Vegas to celebrate my best friend's wedding! Happy 1st Anniversary to Ramona and Greg!

And it is also a day of Remembrance:

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Blah blah blah...

Book Club last night was fun. Our book was Wifey by Judy Blume. It was fun to re-read that book. I had originally read it when I was about 14 years old (OMG if my mother had ever found out I would be in so much trouble - more than I got in after my cousin was caught with the copy of Forever that I had lent to her).

Conversations were very interesting and I learned so much more about some of the women in our club - like I did not know that Ash had been engaged to someone before her dh!.

Today it is Veteran's Day (observed))so no school for the boys. I am planning to take the kids swimming at the club. Torrential rain again (why am I always surprised at how much it rains each November?) so I am certain it will just packed in the pool.

Stephen mentioned this morning that we really need to have someone do something about the drainage (or lack thereof) in our backyard. And the fact that the retaining wall is leaning over more and more each year (a result of drainage from our neighbour's property into our backyard). Come spring, however, when we get estimates for it, he will balk. Just like with the gutters (a higher priority IMO).

Oh my, it just started raining harder - how is that even possible?!

Yesterday when I was in Costco, I ran into K whom I had not seen in a long time. We were never close friends but we were in this "Goddess" group together a few years ago where we got together once a month and celebrated girlfriends and friendships etc. The group started dissolving when one woman left her husband, another moved to California, one more moved off the Plateau and then K and S had a big fight which made it uncomfortable for some of the others who were good friends with both of them.

Anyway, getting aback to K. She is a very kind person. She is warm and friendly and very funny. However, she reminds me a bit of Oprah in that she really hasn't a clue how people who are not in her socio-economic bracket live. K had an allowance of a couple of thousand dollars each month and if it looked like she was falling under it one month, she would rush out to a several stores and buy $100 gift cards to ensure she would hit her amount so that her dh would not cut her allowance. A while later, she had run up her credit cards to $40k and was wondering how to ask her dh to write a check to cover it.

As I mentioned, K is a very kind person and is always looking to help people out. A few years ago she had called me and told me that there was an opening in a playgroup that some woman had formed in her home for 18 month-2 year olds and she just knew that it would be perfect for Dex and me. Dex could play there while Jax was in preschool and I could go have some mommy time to go for a massage or pedicure or even just relax at Starbucks. And it was very "reasonable" - only about $300/month (which was almost double what I was paying for Jax to be in a structured preschool!). Um, I am a SAHM and I do not have a lot of extra cash lying around to that I can put my toddler in a for-profit playgroup so I can run to go for coffee or to the spa. Needless to say that I passed on that opportunity.

Another time, K asked me if I were looking for a Nanny (because apparently I was the only SAHM she knew who did not have one) two days per week because she did not need her Nanny full-time but she did not want to lose her completely. She only charged $18/hour and was a fabulous Nanny and what do I say?! Um, no again.

(Now, I must interject here that eventually I did get Nanny (a different nanny) for one morning each week after Cars was born but that was because I was suffering from post-partum depression and I could barely function. It was financially a strain on us but got easier last year because we had no preschool costs. Oh, and I am no longer crazy but it really did take over 2 years to get back to my new normal. The third year with Nanny was just pure decadence).

So, I had not seen K in a very long while until I ran into her at Costco yesterday. She had two of her three kids with her and two other women who looked to be in their early 20's. K explained that she was out taking her new au pair to Costco for the first time and she also had "Runaway Au Pair" with her and hey, did I need an Au Pair because "Runaway Au Pair"'s family was "Mean Family" so now she was staying with K until they could find a new family for her.

Au pair? Pour Moi!? There I was, wearing my Costco coat, my Fred Meyer clearance shoes, my Mervyn's clearance jeans, an Old Navy Deal of the Week t-shirt, my growing-out-the-grey-because-I-cannot-afford-monthly-trips-to-the-salon-for-colour hair and K asks me if I need an au pair. I had a nice laugh and thanked her very much but told her I was fine since Cars was now in preschool two mornings each week.

I wonder what K will have to offer me next time I run into her?

I received an email today from the Catholic school and school at all three campuses is canceled for the rest of the week because of the flooding at one of the satellite campuses. That makes no sense to me. Why should all parents suffer? I mean, why should the kids at the other two schools miss out?!

So, the rain finally stopped so I went to Costco today to pick up a couple of things and walked out nearly $140 poorer! OMG, I seriously thought it was about $75 worth of stuff. A few things I bought were:

Wheat Thins $4.99 (Jax and Cars love these)
Grands Bisquits $4.99 (total impulse buy here - they had free samples and I fell for it!)
ChickenBreasts $20.00 (I bought this package because it was an even dollar amount and I thought that was cool)
Bananas $1.30 (these used to be 99cents!)
Salad mix $1.99 (no spinach here!)
Turkey Lunch meat $6.00 (for two pounds!)
Mixed Peppers $6.49 (usually I just buy the red for $5.69 but I splurged!)
Kirkland Detergent $11.49 (I usually buy Tide but the box was too big to fit in the cart - or just about! - so I bought the Costco brand)

Another splurge item that increased my shopping cost was a $24.99 cooking thermometer that I thought would make a good Christmas gift for Stephen. Ok, so now I can see how I managed to spend $140.

Oh, time to make dinner. I am making a "French Braid Chicken with Broccoli". I gave the recipe to Ramona this morning while we were on the telephone then I decided that I wanted to have it too! It is so yummy!

Rain and Light

The Pineapple Express storm has brought record rainfall and flooding to our region the past couple of days. As a result, many schools are closed due to flooding, including the Catholic school which runs Cars' preschool at our church (even though our church is not affected). So, Cars is home with me this morning and we'll just hang out here today. I was going to work out but it is next to impossible to get same-day childcare at the club. Then I thought about going to Costco but the thought of pushing my unbagged groceries through the parking lot in the pouring rain is not appealing to me so I'll wait another day.

Last night, Stephen and I finally finished hanging the new light (and plastering/texturizing/priming and painting). Here's a picture:

Now I need a picture of painting to hang on the wall above the tv.

Drugged

I finally decided I needed to see the doctor about my cold/sinuses, so I dragged my butt to her office today in a torrential downpour. The diagnosis was as expected - a sinus infection. So now I am on Mucinex (over-the-counter), Rhinocourt nasal spray (might be Rx but I got a free 2-week supply from their office), a 10-day dose of Augmentin (anti-biotic) and Diflucan (because, Ladies, we all know what happens when you are on anti-biotics for 10 days).

Now I am going to make myself a cuppa tea and sit on the couch with my feet up. I'll knit while Cars watches (what else?!) Star Wars.

To Tell the Truth

Jax wants a Lego set for Christmas that has not been out since 2002. I can find it on ebay for about triple the original price but no way I am paying that price! He told me that he will just ask Santa for it then because Santa can get anything. I think we might need a heart-to-heart conversation about Santa this year. :(

I just signed Jax and Dex up for Little League for next spring. Practices start in February and league play begins the last weekend of March through to the beginning of June. This year, Jax will have to be evaluated and he will be placed on a team according to his skill so the teams are evenly distributed. Jax really, really wants to be on Gav's team again next year. He just might be because Gav is better than him and if they are sorted just right, they may end up on the same team. I cannot really say that to Jax though, can I? So I just told him that we will have to wait and see.

On Dex's registration, I wrote "We respectfully request that Dex not be placed on a team coached by Butt Head". Butt Head was his coach from last year. He actually seemed like he might be a good coach for kids over 12 but for 5, 6 and 7 year olds, he was horrible! He would make the kids run laps if they missed a ball. He MADE them hit both right and left (this is first year instructional coach-pitch league and they are just learning to hit the ball) during games. He would not let Dex catch because "there are no left-handed catchers in the Majors". He would tell the kids to run the bases but if they did not hit the bags with their left foot then they did it "wrong!". He would tell the kids they were "screwing around" if they did not pay attention. Definitely NOT the kind of coaching that Dex, at age 5 needed. His practices were not well run and he would often start batting practice 5 or 10 minutes before the practice was to end. I would either have to stay an extra 1/2 hour (keeping in mind that I have all three kids with me at the school yard where they practiced) or take Dex and leave with him crying because he did not get a chance to bat.

So, I just do not want to deal with BH again this year. I felt a little uncomfortable writing that on the registration form but there is no way either Stephen or I could suffer through another year of BH. Of course, after I submitted the registration, Dex chirps "I hope I am on the same team as last year!". Do I tell him?! *sigh*

Old Grey Mare

It has now been 1 year (well, 360 days) since I last coloured my hair. Ok, I did get some low lights done in May but I am talking all-over colour. It is funny that I don't think the pictures of me show just how grey I am (see upper left for recent photo - click for larger). A lot of the grey is on one side - the right - and more along the temples. It is funny that the hair on top is darkest.

Anyway, I am still miffed that my mother told me that I need to cut my hair if I am going to keep it grey. Really, there are more and more women out there going grey and keeping their long hair. I see pictures of models in the jjill and Chico's catalogues with long grey hair. So clearly there have to be real women out there with grey hair who do not want short hair, right?!

And why am I so bothered by this? I had no qualms about it until my mother made those comments. I have endured one whole year of grey roots, way past grey roots and now, half grey hair. My plan was to grow in the grey then cut shoulder length as soon as the grey was long enough, then grow it again to the length it is now. I have been second guessing this decision now. I mean I don't want to colour my hair again (although I do have brunette envy whenever I see women with hair colour that I used to have) but is it really wrong to want to have long hair when it is grey?

Thinking back, when I worked at IBM and I was young with only the odd grey hair or two, my friend and I used to make fun of Jane, a manager who had waist-length salt and pepper hair. We used to say she looked like a witch. Now my friend and I both have long grey hair (she is still colouring)and I wonder if people think that I look like a witch! Eep!

So, what to do. What to do? Colour or cut. Or nothing. What to do...?

Snuffle

So here I am on like Day Eleventy Hundred of my cold. Ok, it is really day 9 but it feels like many more. Seriously, I don't think I have ever had cold that has lasted this long.

Art Start in Dex's class went fairly well. I was surprised at the number of 6 year old girls who can already sew and they did well. One told me that she does cross stitch too! The muslin I used was very thin which was good for poking the tapestry needles through but it was not thick enough to keep the stitches from pulling too tightly. We spent a lot of time pulling on the too-tight stitches. The other Art Start mom thinks that we should mount these little squares and frame them for the end-of-year gift for the teacher. Hmmm...have to think about this because those kids really, really, really wanted to take home their embroidered squares.

Jax and Dex's school photos came home today. Dex's are of course crumpled because he just jammed them in his bag. The pictures are fine - nothing great. Jax's hair is a disaster in the pictures. Seriously, besides that it is long and shaggy, it looks like he did not brush it that day. He does have a lovely smile though so that makes up for the hair.

So, remember that letter from the school district that we have been waiting for (see just about every September blog post for reference)? I got the name of someone at the school district who apparently is currently working on it. UBI: Her last name is the same as my first name. Anyway, I called her today and she told me that it is on its way to Risk Management (again!). I told her how irritated I was that it has been all these weeks since school started and not one official note has gone out to parents about food allergies. I told her that we needed consistency and to know where the school district stands. She started in on the "false sense of security" line. Save it, Name Stealer. That is not what this is about. Anyway, looks like we will just move ahead with our plans and change them as necessary when/if this alleged letter every materializes.

Ok, off to cook our pizza for Pizza and Movie Night.

I saw this comic in the newspaper on Halloween and I thought it was cute.

The MOPS craft was a lot of fun today and everyone really liked it. It was that one with the roll of toilet paper wrapped in fabric to make a pumpkin.

Now I need to prepare to teach Art Start in Dex's class tomorrow. I decided to go with darning needles, embroidery floss and muslin rather than yarn on cardstock. This is what the lesson plan calls which is easiest on me because it is less prep-work than doing the yarn on cardstock (too much cutting and hole-punching). I am feeling sick again (not sure if the cold is back or if it the effects of the flu shot) so I need to do what is best/easiest for me (and forget what is best for the kids! ;)

Oh, I am feeling flushed again. Oh, I just had a horrifying thought that this could be a hot flash and I am peri-menopausal rather than it being a cold. No, I am sure it is the cold. I am sure.

Blustery Day

Today it was very windy but not as cold as the past two days. It feels very much like fall. After school, I made a huge pile of leaves at the park and the kids had a great time jumping into the crunchy leaves. I wish I had brought my camera with me.

I met Stephen at work today so we could go together and get flu shots at the clinic they set up in his building. Then we had cafeteria food for lunch. What a romantic date.

I am teaching Art Start in Dex's class on Friday. We are supposed to be doing embroidery but the needles are just too sharp for 6 yr olds (IMO) so I am scrambling to figure out what to do in its place. I know that they have plastic needles for kids but I really do not have time to be running all over the place trying to find 20 of them. I might just use yarn with masking tape around the tip like an aglet (love those crossword words!) and then punch holes in a design in paper. Ok, this is what I need to plan and organize tomorrow afternoon after MOPS.

Tonight I will go walking with Neighbour for the first time in about 3 weeks. I hope I can keep up with her!

Boo!

It was a cold night for trick-or-treating. The boys had a blast going door-to-door. Ash and her family (and dog) came with us. She and Gar bickered about the cold until she finally told him to go back to our house with Stephen.

Here are the boys in their oh-so-original costumes:


Cars had a blast but then he decided his candy bag was too heavy and he tried to send me to the doors to get more. Finally, I carried his bag and he just stayed on the sidewalk. By this point it was pretty frosty and he was wearing his coat with his hands tucked in his pockets.

One house was giving out treats to the parents...a Bud Light in aluminum bottles with a Halloween theme (the guy works for Anheuser-Busch). And I don't know if it were the bottle or the fact that it was 33 degrees outside but that beer was FROSTY. My lips stuck to the bottle!

Robin gave me a link to NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month). The challenge is to post everyday in the month of November. Since I normally post inane things daily, I am sure it will not be too difficult for me to do it. Heh

Jax's class party went well today. Laurie made pumpkin seed brittle (think peanut brittle with out the child-killing peanuts in it), pumpkin cream cheese frosting and orange soda/ice cream punch served out of a carved out pumpkin. It was great! I made my best-ever sugar cookies in the shape of pumpkins that the kids spread the frosting on then they used sprinkles. The craft (similar to this but with a fall/leaves motif) was a hit with the moms but notsomuch with the kids. I will have to plan something different next time. This was the first year since we've been at the school that the kids were allowed to wear costumes at school. It was fun to see the kids get so excited to show off their costumes. Jax had his (minus the scythe and the black face paint) on and he had the hood down so low that it was not until the end of the party that Laurie even knew it was him!

Ok, so now I have written a book! Perhaps I should have signed up with NaNoWriMo?!

Brrr!

Ok, I am getting over my cold but I am still cold because the temperature has dropped! It is currently below freezing in our area. I am so not ready for this. It is a month too early too! And I only just ordered Jax's winter coat from LLBean on Friday so it will not be here for at least another week.

Anyway, as I mentioned, I am getting over my cold. Today was the first time in days that I did not feel dizzy and weak. I fell as though I might be getting a sinus infection though. :\

Stephen said that E's birthday party was fun. He introduced himself to one of T's friends who is one of the other 3rd grade teachers at Jax and Dex's school. She said "Oh, you are Jax's dad" but Stephen is not sure if she knew about Jax from T or from the peanut shit at the school. I will have to ask T.

Speaking of Jax, I have a couple of good ideas for him for Christmas. I am going to get him a wallet and put a wallet-size photo of him inside along with a $10 Target gift card and perhaps a couple of dollars. In fact, I will probably give this same gift to all three boys. I am also thinking of getting Jax a cartoon drawing kit. I saw some cool ones in a Dick Blick catalogue but I cannot find it online for some reason.

I have no idea what to get Dex and Cars (other than the wallets). I am sick-sick-sick of Star Wars toys in this house and the constant "I can't find Mace Windu's lightsaber!" or "Mooooooom! Help me find a green lightsaber!" or "Cars broke up my Lego walker! Waaaah!". And then Cars asks every.single.day to watch STARWARSEPISODETWO. It is actually more like "Thawarzzzepithodetoooo!" And it is not like he does watch it everyday. He just asks everyday. Several times.

Today I watched the Michael J. Fox interview from CBS news. It is heartbreaking how devastating that disease has been to him. To watch the interview, click here. It is long but well worth watching. It is interesting and thought-provoking.

Ok, off to bed to ensure this cold does not come back. But before I do, I am going to turn the heat up! Brrr!

Still sick. I spent all afternoon in bed. *sniff*

Today is our regular Friday Night - Pizza and Movie Night. We eat pizza for dinner then the kids watch a movie of their choice. Tonight's selection: Garfield: A Tail of Two Kittens. Ho-hum. I am still feeling rotten so I think I shall retire upstairs and miss this fine gem of a movie.

I took the kids swimming again today. It was surprising dead considering that school was out for the day in our school district. The sun did shine today though so perhaps people took advantage of being outside. Anyway, Cars pitched a fit in the shower after swimming so I had to rush and therefore did not get to rinse all of the conditioner from my hair. So, I have greasy-looking hair, a red, raw nose and puffy eyes. Ooooh, now I'm the gem.

Then a friend called today and we compared thyroid problems. She has Hashimoto's disease but I had thyroid nodules that they thought were cancerous (they weren't) and I got to have a partial-thyroidectomy. She is on medication though and I do not yet need it. Not sure which of us is the gem there.

Now, I shall take my dazzling diamond self to bed with a box of kleenex.

I have been chewing Cold-Eeze gum all day trying to help get rid of this cold. Now I am sitting in bed, with three layers of clothing and slathered in Vaporub. I promised to take the kids swimming tomorrow (they have the day off school) so I have to feel better by then.

We were invited to E's 40th birthday party this weekend (it is the costume party) but I cannot find a babysitter! I thought I could ask Ash if I were desperate (was working on exhausting all leads first) but her SIL and BIL are coming to town this weekend so she is out. So, Stephen will just have to go to the party by himself. I feel badly about it and hate to have to tell Terry tomorrow. Maybe it is just as well since I have this cold.

Misc...

Ugh - I have my first cold of the season. Sore throat and a runny nose. Boo. :(

I took the kids swimming after school today (early release). They had not been there in ages. Cars of course refused to get in the pool with his swim belt on for at least 10 minutes. He said he would sit on the bench and watch. Finally, he decided to come in once he saw a ball that he could play with in the water.

I bought some pumpkins at Whole Foods today too. The kids each got one and I bought a 4th one for Stephen to carve at Cars' preschool party tomorrow morning. They were only $0.11/pound! What a bargain!

I just watched Monday Night's episode of Heroes on the dvr tonight. It is such an exciting and fun show. I cannot wait until next week's show.

Oh and I had a good one hour chat with my BFF today!

Stephen took a day off today because he hurt his back yesterday and he is "tired". (I will resist the urge to eyeroll right now - like I can take a day off and lay in bed because I am tired). So it was a lovely day with him moping around here and my mother driving me crazy. Fortunately, she leaves tomorrow morning and Stephen will go back to work.

Overall, Killjoy's visit was good. I started to tune out her "You should"'s and "Why don't you"'s a couple of days ago which made the visit nicer. The kids really enjoyed her here. Cars started crying tonight because he didn't want her to go (she needs to leave before they get up in the morning). It is nice that they love her and enjoy her company.

Cars had picture day today and he told me that he would NOT be smiling. Or he would smile "like this" and he put his hands over his eyes. It will be interesting to see how they turned out...

Ash's puppy is so cute! She is 7 weeks old and they named her Sophie. She has a little pink collar and leash which looks so out of place on a Rottweiler. All three of my kids pet her so that is a good start.

Tomorrow is Killjoy's last day here (she leaves very early in the morning on Wednesday). For the most part it has been a good visit but man, can she get on my nerves! Besides the whole grey hair thing and lecturing me about laundry, she has been ok. Oh and today she was interfering with my parenting which pissed me off. Anyway, I imagine that her next visits will be shorter because she will spend more time in Vancouver on her west coast trips since she will have a grandchild there too.

Ash cut Cars' hair today. I tried to cut it myself but he was uncooperative and he ended up looking like Lloyd in Dumb and Dumber. Fortunately, he was cooperative for her and she fixed it although it is still a little choppy. And of course tomorrow is Picture Day. *sigh*

And speaking of pictures, here is our ragamuffin family photo for the church directory. And yes, I know that Jax needs a haircut.

Crafty

I have been very crafty these past couple of weeks. These are things I have been working on:


Pumpkin decorations which are just rolls of toilet paper, wrapped in a 22" square of fabric with some plastic grocery bags for stuffing. Add a pipe cleaner and a crumpled paper lunch bag and voila!


More pumpkins. Regular pumpkins covered in glitter! They look better IRL. I got this idea from Martha Stewart.


These are beaded plant stakes/picture holders. I was trying out a craft to maybe use at MOPS. It turned out ok. If I use it we'll use smaller beads.


I love these keychains. I think I might make them for everyone for Christmas. Instructions can be found here. I think this will be a MOPS craft too.


And speaking of MOPS crafts, these decoupaged mirrors was this past week's craft. Use Mod Podge to stick napkins to a mirror (from IKEA). This craft was a real hit!


Pumpkin and "Harvest" holiday pencil party favours. This is for Jax's "Harvest Party". Each pumpkin is filled with Hershey Kissables which are peanut-free. I have made 17 of 24. I ran out of crepe paper because it was so thin, I had to double it to make them strong enough. I also ran out of Kissables but I think it was because I ate them. Need to buy more of each tomorrow.


Working on another booga bag. This one is a little larger than the others I have made and I have doubled the thickness of the bottom to give it more support.


I made five of these undershirts for my mom to give to my SIL's who are expecting babies! I guess I can tell everyone now that Jean-Paul and Marilyn are expecting a baby in May. I think I mentioned already that my brother, Wally (Fiona's dad) and his wife are expecting a baby in January. Whoo-hoo! Anyway, this was another Martha Stewart craft.

It has been fun making these items. I am looking forward to being even craftier in the upcoming weeks!

Fun Stuff

Idea lifted from Snapper's Blog. (Thanks, Chris!)

1) Click on IMDB

2) In the SEARCH field (top left part of the page), type in the name of a favourite movie

3) When you get to the movie's page, click the link in the left navigation bar that says "MEMORABLE QUOTES" (in the Plot & Quotes area)

4) Find your favourite line from the movie and post it in the comments section of this post

Stand By Me:
Vern: If I could only have one food for the rest of my life? That's easy, Pez, cherry-flavored Pez. No question about it.

Cars' first dentist appointment was, um, interesting. He first refused to lie back in the chair for the dental assistant. Then he laid back but then would not open his mouth! He had the biggest pout on his face. I am sure I have never ever seen anyone stick their bottom lip out so far! Finally, I had to pry his lips apart so they could count his teeth. Then they made the mistake by letting him sit up before the dentist came in. No more lying back. No mouth opening. No eye contact. Another huge pout. Thankfully they only billed us for a "Happy Visit".

I took my mom to MOPS today. She was happy to do the craft (mod podge napkins onto a mirror frame). Tomorrow night we are going to go to Joann's Midnight Madness sale.

I have only worked out once in two weeks and I feel like a slug. Ugh. I am going to go Saturday morning. I promise!

Today was a much better day with Killjoy. I took her shopping at Michael's and she loves crafts so that kept her busy (and from making me feel like I am 15) for a couple of hours.

Dex and Cars went to the dentist today. The dentist is a little concerned that Jax does not seem to have an adult lateral incisor on the upper right. Unfortunately, they did not take panoramic Xrays (insurance would not cover it this visit) so they said to come back in two months so they can re-check. Dex did great and was proud to show off the hole where he lost a tooth two days ago.

My dentist appointment is at 7:30am tomorrow and Cars' is at 10am (the office is just one mile from our home). I have been very good about wearing my night guard for the past three nights. Now I gotta floss!

*sigh*

My mom had a good trip down on the train but she said she would not do it again. Anyway, she just went to bed but not before telling me that "if you are going to have grey hair you need to cut it short". Aargh! Why do I put so much weight into what she says? I am already wondering if I should cut my hair or colour it!

Anyway, 9 more days...

Guilt

Killjoy is on her way here from Vancouver. Already I am stressed. She called this morning to check if a parcel that she mailed two weeks ago had arrived (it has not). And now I feel as though it is my fault because it is things that I asked her to bring (Smarties for the kids for Halloween and some Tetley tea). She also put toys in the box and is upset because she is arriving in a couple of hours with no presents for the boys. Ok, it is not my fault that she did that so *I* need to get over it. ~breathe~

Also, Stephen was talking to him mom yesterday and she was saying how she really regrets not taking the train trip with my mom and how she would love to travel across Canada by train. She said that if my mom had just asked her, she would have gone. I felt badly at first, thinking somehow I should have arranged for this to happen. But shit! She knew my mom wanted someone to travel with so why didn't she just ask to go along? And OMG, can you imagine how crazy I would be after a week and half of BOTH Killjoy and MIL?! Just as well...

So, I will spend a few more moments here, sipping my tea before I have to psyche myself up to head to the train station in downtown Seattle (across that friggin bridge in the pissing rain!). Perhaps I need to spike my tea...

A little of this and that

Not much exciting this weekend, besides our date night. Saturday, Jax and Dex went to a birthday party at a kickboxing school. They had a blast and I have never seen them so sweaty!

Today we spent much of the day getting ready for my mom's visit tomorrow. She arrived in Vancouver this morning. She leaves there tomorrow morning and arrives in Seattle at 12:30pm tomorrow.

I have so many craft projects on the go or planned at the moment. I hope to get to a few of them this week while Killjoy is here so I will take some pictures and post them.

Friday

Stephen and I had a date tonight. We first went shopping for a new light (no luck) then out to dinner and then to a bar for a drink. The bar had Labatt's Blue on tap! It was nice to have a Canadian beer in an American bar.

Nanny babysat for us tonight. She was not able to find a job in Canada so she took a new Nanny job here. It is nice to know she will be around to babysit for a while yet. My kids had a great time with her here tonight.

Tomorrow, Jax and Dex have a birthday party at a Kickboxing place. We'll need to go shopping in the morning for a gift (oh and I need to make cupcakes since they will not be able to eat the birthday cake).

On Sunday, the kids start RE classes. Cars will go to Sunday school during Mass and then immediately following Mass, Jax and Dex will go to their classes for one hour.

And we need to prepare for Killjoy's visit. The house needs to be cleaned, the room she will stay in needs to be set up and I need a sedative. Just kidding, I will just use the back pain pills that I have.

We have had such gorgeous weather the last few days. It is quite chilly in the mornings but it warms up to the low-70's during the day. The sky has never been bluer and not a cloud in the sky. We have spent long afternoons at the park afterschool, enjoying the sunshine before the 6 months of rain and gloom arrive.

Today I also had a roofing company come and give me a quote on gutters. Actually, I already had the quote from them but the guy came out to try to please a very unhappy customer. The guy is Cute Roof Guy who sold us our roof back in 2004. I received a letter from him last month stating that they had a deal on gutters (10% off!) and to call their new office. So I called made an appointment for someone to come out. They said New Roof Guy would be out and I said "Fine" but I did wonder why Cute Roof Guy wasn't coming.

Anyway, on Monday, New Roof Guy calls and tells me he is stuck in traffic and will be about 15 minutes late. Hmmm...traffic? Coming here? There is most definitely traffic leaving our plateau, heading to Redmond and Seattle but not really any traffic coming this way. He showed up *1 hour* late. Fortunately, I did not have anywhere to go but I was irked.

New Roof Guy: What are you looking for?

Me: We had our house painted and Painter said we needed new gutters so I called for a quote. Cute Roof Guy had sent me a letter about the sale price.

New Roof Guy: Cute Roof Guy sent you a letter!? So why am *I* here?!

Me: Uh, I don't know. I called the office and they sent you.

New Roof Guy: (exasperated sigh) Cute Roof Guy has all of the measurements for your house then so I am NOT climbing up on the roof to re-measure.

Me: Okaaaaay...

New Roof Guy: I don't know why they sent me *all* this way.

Me: Sorry that it was a waste of your time (not sure why I apologized because it was not my fault and by this time I was getting mad at him for being so rude)

New Roof Guy: I will have Cute Roof Guy call you with a quote.

Me: When can I expect to hear from Cute Roof Guy?

New Roof Guy: (walking away) Later today.

Ok, I was miffed. But I thought I will hear from Cute Roof Guy later today. Besides, we had re-pounded in the spikes in the gutters and they probably would last another year so it wasn't urgent...

So, fast forward to Thursday night, just after 11 o'clock. I was thinking about the gutters and was really irritated that I did not hear ANYTHING from the Roofing company, New Roof Guy or Cute Roof Guy. So I thought I would email the owner of the company only I could not find his name online so I just sent an email to their general email account. I didn't care if I did not hear back from them but I was going to let them know I was peeved. I mentioned that it was not my fault that they sent the wrong person and here it was 4 days later and still not quote. And that I felt I could no longer recommend them to friends looking to replace their roofs.

Friday morning, at 7:45am the telephone rang. It was the roofing company calling to talk about my email. The caller apologized and asked that I give them another chance and is there any way that Cute Roof Guy can come out to my house to give me a quote. I explained again how disappointed I was in their service and agreed to let Cute Roof Guy provide me with a quote. Also, within the hour, I had an email from Cute Roof Guy with the quote.

The next day, I received a hand-written card apologizing again. They said that my experience was not up to the "gold standard" that they normally provide. Enclosed was a $10 Starbucks card.

Today, Cute Roof Guy came out and was trying hard to butter me up. Said he loved the new colour of our house. Apologized again for the mix up. Said it was all his fault. Basically said I could get the 10% off anytime, not just if I booked it this month.

And after all that, we probably will not replace our gutters this year. Stephen thinks we can wait until next year. So, I will let Cute Roof Guy know that we will wait and in the meantime, I will take the kids to Starbucks for hot chocolate.

Ick

It is that time of the year. Spider mating season. I have been fortunate not to have seen any of the HUGE spiders running across the floor yet this year, but enough of the smaller one are around to scare me. But, I have been brave. Very brave. No screaming at all. In fact, I have very matter-of-factly asked Stephen to kill a few spiders. I didn't get all sweaty and shaky just looking at them. I did not insist on showing me the squished spider as he flushed it down the toilet (the only acceptable squished spider disposal system in this house). Look at me! I am a brave, brave woman.

Yesterday, I saw an icky black spider running around one of the closets just off the family room. I did not panic. I did not scream. I just very calmy went for my "humane bug catcher" and went on a spider hunt. Ok, I must admit here that I did have the fly swatter as back up but it was not needed. The spider ran out of the closet and right into the path of the "humane bug catcher". Right into it! So, I very calmly (people, you don't know how proud of myself I am here) and slowly pushed the little door shut on the little bugger. I went slowly because I did not want to deal with any squished spider legs on the thing. I then very carefully picked up the "humane bug catcher", taking extra care to ensure that the door did not slide open and let the spider get away.

I walked slowly across the floor, unlocked the back door, walked across the deck and then FLUNG the door of the "humane bug catcher" open and dropped the spider into the grass. I hope he got eaten by a bird.

Ok, so after umpteen very frustrating hours, it seems that the new light is broken or something. The lines are "hot" and appear to be wired correctly but the light just does not work. We need to box it back up and take it back to the lighting store this week. So we'll live with a big hole in the ceiling for a while yet.

Jax and Dex wore their "Be a P.A.L., protect a life" with the NO PEANUTS symbol shirts to school today. M's son wore his to and I guess a couple of kids in Jax's class noticed that the two of them had the same shirt. Laurie is going to make one for her kids too (her dd is in Jax's class too) and we have all decided that the kids will wear these shirts every Monday to school. I think I will contact another mom with a PA child in 2nd grade and offer one to her for him.

Ok, off to work off the Oreos I had after dinner.

Ugh - while Stephen had the circuit breaker off most of the day, we lost all of the shows we had saved on the DVR. Comcast says that should not have happened and we should take the cable box into their nearest store. I did not lose any "important" shows. But, I had recorded an episode of Rachael Ray's show dealing with food allergies. And a few episodes of AFV for the kids. And lastly, I had DVR'd "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan which is such a great movie. Seriously. I used to know that movie inside out! When I worked at a movie theatre, many of us would stand at the back of the theatre watching and re-watching parts of that movie. One person I know had most of it memorized and would recite the lines along with the movie. And it has Kirstie Alley long before she gained all that weight (I was fatter than her way back then too!). ;)

I will have to try to catch Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan next time it is on tv. I thought about renting it from Netflix but decided that it is just one of those movies you have to watch from TV. Like one of my guilty pleasure movies (which was on LAST weekend) - The Cutting Edge. TOE PICK!

No Light

Hmmm...did blogger eat my post? Anyway, the light is not working and we cannot figure out the problem. More trouble-shooting tomorrow, I guess.

Let there be Light

As always, whenever I plan a small project for around the house that should be very straightforward, it turns into a huge ordeal. Like when we got our new stove and hood. Sears wanted an arm and a leg to install the new hood so Stephen said he would do it himself. When we took off the old one, the duct work fell down out of the exhaust chimney and the hood did not even line up with the exhaust so two trips to the hardware store and half a day later, it was finally installed. Or when our faucet exploded last year a couple of days before Christmas, it should have been a piece of cake to install a new one but the air pipe (I forget the technical name for it) was in the way and Stephen had to buy a 24" long screwdriver to reach the screws. That installation took 4 hours and two trips to the hardware store too.

The same thing has happened again. The lighting in our family room is terrible. There is one pot light and it shines down at such an angle that it burns in my eyes and gives me migraines so we NEVER turn that light on. I have a lamp in the room but it does not give off enough light for the whole room. I am always looking for just the right light. So I saw this track system and I thought it would be perfect because it is halogen lights which give off perfect white light, and the shades are blue so they will go with all of the blue glass accessories in the house. It looked easy enough to install and for $100 - what a bargain.

So today Stephen started poking around the old pot light and besides the fact that the opening is HUGE, there is no nearby junction box to attach the new lighting system too. And there is a heating duct running alongside the opening (in the ceiling) so no way to properly secure a new junction box right there. So, he will have to cut ANOTHER hole in the ceiling to install this new light. Then we will have to repair the old hole, tape, putty and texturize THEN paint the ceiling. OMG, what an ordeal to install a relatively cheap light.

But, once it is in it will look great and I am looking forward to having some real light in that room. Plus it will match nicely with the lamp I bought last year (for half price!).

Anyway, Stephen is at Home Depot now (after going to Ace earlier today) to get the drywall stuff he'll need to patch the ceiling. Already two trips to the hardware store and he hasn't even started yet the installation yet. This one might set a record for number of trips to the store.

It was 20 years ago today

...when Stephen and I had our first date. Ok, I have a confession to make. I cannot remember if it were October 4th or October 6th. I need to find a 1986 calendar to confirm it.

Our first date has a funny story to it. Of course there is the his and her version of it but since Stephen doesn't have a blahg you'll have to settle for mine.

Stephen had asked me out two weeks before. He was busy that upcoming weekend (hockey tournament) so we made plans for the following Saturday. We were in university and were in four of the same classes that term. We both lived at home with our parents whose houses were only about 2.5km apart.

Anyway, Stephen came to pick me up at my parents' house. My brother and my cousin were in the driveway installing a stereo in my mom's car and they did not even acknowledge Stephen as he walked past them (man, that still irks me! lol).

Stephen and I headed out to dinner at The Keg. Now, this is where the versions differ. I recall him telling me that he told his friends that we were going to The Keg and they might join us. He recalls no such thing and still claims that he only told them where we were going for dinner and never said anything about them joining us.

So, we arrive at The Keg (awesome Bloody Caesars BTW!) and were seated at a table for two. I was facing the door. We ordered our drinks and food. As we were waiting for appetizers, I noticed a group of people come into the restaurant and look around. A blonde woman looked over our way and started waving furiously at me. I had no idea who she was. I looked away but glanced back and she started waving again. Who was she?! I leaned over to Stephen and told him that some strange woman was waving at me. He looked over, jumped up and rushed over there. I saw them talking and then the waiter was called over. Then the waiter walked over to our table, picked up my drink and carried it over to a larger table. Then the blonde woman walked by and said "Hi" as she walked over to that larger table. Next was a guy with dark hair who said "Hi Duh-neen" and another guy "Hi", followed by Stephen who said "My friends are going to join us. I hope that's ok".

Well, I was nervous enough about the date but now I was terrified. The blonde was Stephen's next-door neighbour, Sheesh. Her boyfriend and a high school friend of Stephen's, Chech. The third person was Kev, whom Stephen had known since he was 7. Yikes! This was almost as nerve-wrecking as meeting his family!

So, throughout dinner I barely said a word. I could not eat (months later, Sheesh asked me why I ate like a bird that night). Finally dinner ended and we said good bye to Stephen's friends. They said they were headed to a bar in Markham (this was probably a code) because after Stephen and I went to a movie (Club Paradise), we went to a nearby bar and lo and behold, guess who else was there? Sheesh, Chech and Kev. And they were joined by Dan H, another friend Stephen had known since grade 2.

Hmmm, dinner with his friends and later drinks with them on our first date. I am certain he arranged for them to be there but he swears otherwise. In any event, it all turned out well because here we are, twenty years later. :)

Oh, and I just now reminded Stephen that it had been twenty years since our first date. He said "I know. That's why I bought you roses the other day". It was Wednesday. He brought me flowers on Wednesday. So now I just checked and sure enough October 4th was a Saturday in 1986. It was not the 6th - today.

So, it was 20 years and two days ago...when Stephen and I had our first date.

MOPS was today. The craft (painting a daisy design on a hat to wear on the Breast Cancer and MS Walks) went well although it was crazy running around dishing the supplies out and then collecting them again. I missed the cool part of the speakers (The Body Shop - they do direct sales via catalogues and home parties - I had no idea!) so I guess this will be par for the course for the year. :(

Tomorrow I am teaching Art Start in Dex's class. The kids will be studying the Mona Lisa by Da Vinci then working on drawing portraits of each other. I think it will be a blast!

I have also been busy everyday this week after school punching "Walk to/From School" cards for the kids. It is so cute to see all of the kids at school so determined to get their cards punched. We will collect them tomorrow afternoon and the kids with 10 punches will be entered in a draw to win prizes (reflective bracelets, water bottles, etc).

The kids start Sunday School/RE classes next weekend. I signed them up for the 9AM (Cars) and 10:15 classes (Jax and Dex). The church is starting a "Life Teen" Mass at 5:30 on Sundays and the singing group who will lead the songs performed at the 9AM Mass this past Sunday and they were soooo good. Now I wish I had signed the kids up for 4:30pm classes on Sundays so we could go to the 5:30 Mass. Maybe next year...

Killjoy will be here in a week and a half for about 10 days. We are going to make Christmas cake together. God help me. I already know that she will complain because I will not buy the ingredients from the bulk bin (too much chance of peanut cross-contamination). Then she will break something like the Kitchen Aid mixer and say that she has been making Christmas cake for years without a mixer like that so why would I bother to use it (because I have carpal tunnel syndrome and have no strength in my wrists!). Oh, how pathetic am I? I have already imagined a fight with her, complete with my retorts! Serenity now...

O'Really?

FOX News Makes Foley A Democrat during the "O'Reilly Factor" (yeah, like that was a typo)...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9mNmZ9JpG8

Blech

I fell off the roof and I don't like it! Not fair that it came days early. Ugh - it is a sign of aging no doubt. *pout*

Nosey Neighbour came for lunch today. She braved the 1.5 hour drive. Ash stopped by too. It was a very pleasant time and reminiscent of our weekly tea sessions that we used to have.

While Ash was here, I told her that I was a little concerned about the new dog she is getting - a Rottweiler. While I know if they are trained well, they can be good dogs, I am still worried and concerned that the dog might at some point attack my kids (or me). I have decided that we will have to make sure that the dog is accustomed to my kids but if there is any threat at all, no matter how small, we will have to tell Ash that we will not be around while their dog is there. She is upset that I told her that. But my kids are very nervous around dogs anyway and here she gets one that is big, strong and sometimes vicious.

And DMouse, if you are reading this, please give me some pointers here as to what we can do to make sure that we are comfortable around this dog. The dog is a girl and will be 7 weeks old when Ash gets her on the 21st of this month.

I want my TV

TV is huge in our house. Not only do we have a large television set (I think it is 54") but it is on every evening from 8pm until well after 11 (and most nights after midnight). I know I watch too much tv. But, there are soooo many great shows on tv. I have my favourites lined up to DVR in case I might be out and I sometimes will go back and re-watch parts of episodes that were especially interesting. I am running out of time to watch all of these shows though!

It starts on Sunday night with Desperate Housewives. Part of last season was disappointing but it got really good at the end. This season has been ok so far but I can this show falling out of favour if it doesn't pick up soon.

Monday night I watch Heroes which is such a cool show. I missed the first episode but was able to watch it on www.nbc.com. I think they have last night's episode up there now. I think this show is going to be the "new" Lost which I lost interest in after the first season. Not sure why, it was good too!

Tuesday my show is Boston Legal. I love this show! William Shatner is perfect as Denny Crane.

Wednesday nights the MUST SEE show is Project Runway. This season is almost over so I definitely will miss it until the next season starts in a few months. It always ends around Olympus Fashion Week in New York. I read an article in the newspaper last week that Project Runway is a surprise hit with men (no matter what their sexual preference).

Thursdays used to be Survivor night for me but I have lost interest in that show too. Not even Jeff Probst, who was on my "list" can help it reclaim a spot in my heart. Now my show on Thursday nights is Grey's Anatomy which moved from its last season's Sunday night slot. I love love love this show and all of its characters. Even that jerk, Alex! I cry or shout at the TV nearly every episode!

Friday and Sarturday nights I got nothing! Friday night is "movie night" for the kids and then when they go to bed Stephen usually watches some poker tournament that he has DVR'd during the week. Saturday night is much of the same. Or else we catch up on something we have missed during the week (like watching something I miss from working out or book club.

I promised myself I would not volunteer to do too many things this year because things got so crazy last year, especially in May. Plus I had already signed up to do crafts for MOPS (Mom's club) and that is a big job. So what happens? September rolls around and wouldn't you know I have a full plate again.

* MOPS Crafts (crafts for 44 moms every 2 weeks through the end of May).
* Sunday School Support/Supply person for 3 yr olds class (Ugh, why did I do this?!)
* Art Start teacher for Dex's class
* Room Mom for Jax's class

Ok, the Art Start should be fairly straightforward as long as I follow the curriculum and stop trying to come up with neat ideas for the kids to do especially when a good chunk of the parents are unwilling to pay the extra $$ for the special art projects. (And Kimmer, if you are reading this...I am still trying to locate my Art Start curriculum from last year - sorry!).

Room Mom for Jax's class should be ok too. Laurie is co-Room mom with me so together we need to plan three class parties and collect funds from the parents for these parties. By being Room Mom, I can control the food that comes into the classroom thereby alleviating stress from worries about peanut ingredients in the food.

The support/supply person for Cars' Sunday School class should not be a big job but it is just the planning to get into the church on certain days to ensure that the craft supplies are prepped and ready for the teachers each Sunday. I used to do it on Friday mornings when Nanny was here watching Cars and Dex. Now I will have to do it while Cars is with me.

And I am trying to get all of the supplies together for MOPS now so that all I will need to do throughout the year is a bit of prep work (cutting or sorting). If I plan it right, it should be not very stressful at all. The key word being IF. The part of being the Crafts person though that bugs me is that I am on the Steering Committee so I have to attend a meeting once each month. Not a big deal but it is to be held between the Masses on Sunday. The stress comes in by trying to rush from Mass to drop off Dex and Jax at their RE classes then running to pick up Cars from Sunday School and dragging him to the meetings. I know everyone just thinks "Have Stephen do it" but he does not go to church with us. I pray each week for him to return to church and that just pisses him off. :)

Anyway, we'll see how this works out (or doesn't).

Blogger is bugging me. It is not saving my drafts and I had umpteen problems posting last week. Aargh!

I spent a good chuck of yesterday weeding through old emails so that when I install Outlook on my laptop, I will start fresh with no old mail. While going through it all, I found a batch of email from my friend Jackie. Those notes chronicled the last two years of her life. Good news about her MRI results, some wedding planning details, chatty notes about an upcoming vacation. Then an email about an MRI that showed her brain tumour growing again. Jackie's next surgery, her recovery, her first wedding anniversary, her 35th birthday, her setback, and the last email from her email address was actually from her mother stating that Jackie was too ill to reply herself. Those last two notes were hard to read. One, because it was so full of typos and I knew it was so physically hard for Jackie to type it out. And the last one from her mom because the hope was obviously gone.

Jackie always used to assert that she was going to throw the biggest bash on her 80th birthday. In the note after her wedding she wrote "I am so glad you had a great time. But if you think that was fun, wait until my 80th birthday party!".

My friend, what we all would have given to attend that bash.

Here is our house so far. Notice the patch of red that I tried on the door. Just to note, do not put latex paint over oil-based paint. I will be spending part of this weekend stripping that latex paint off the door. I wish I had known that beforehand! Aargh!



Oh, and see how much greener the lawn is after last's week week of rain.

TGIF

Nanny is coming today. Her M-Th job ended yesterday and she is in a panic because she does not yet have another job and she needs the money. She was hoping to have a job in the Vancouver-area already but no job offers have come her way. She really wants to move to Canada since her children have moved there (her ex-dh was Canadian). Not sure exactly what I will do with my time although Macy's has a sale today and they had some lovely wine glasses on sale. Hmmm...

Yesterday was a long day for Cars. After preschool, I brought him home, stuffed a sandwich in him then carted him off to the club while I worked out. He was in the daycare center there for hour and a half. After the club, when we went to pick the older boys up at the park, Cars played in the "woods" for an hour with Jax, Dex, Gav, et al. So it seems like I barely saw him at all yesterday!

Yesterday in the newspaper, I read that Mickey Rooney's son died of a disease called derma to myos itis. Now normally, I would not have taken any notice of that except that is the disease that our friend E, has. I had no idea that you could die from it! E has had a lot of problems with his lungs from this disease, especially lately. Very scary!

Almost there...

Painter was here today and painted the trim and it looks good. The cream colour I chose is still a little too WHITE so I will go and get a creamier colour for the second coat of paint. My lights *finally* came in at (friggin) Lowe's. I bought a new doorbell button today and it looks great too (who could imagine that a door bell button could make a difference?).

We need to repair a couple of our gutters. We probably should replace them but you know how that goe$.

Cars' last swimming lesson went as expected. *sigh*

I woke up this morning with a wicked sinus headache. My throat is sore too. I just feel crummy all around. blah...

Because of Cars' food allergies, I have been sending in an individual snack for him each day rather than let him eat whatever is brought in by the other parents each day (different people sign up to bring in food each day). Anyway, the teachers told me today that Cars was quite upset the other day because he could not eat what the others were eating (it is for his safety so I can live with his disappointment). Oh, and apparently I am not giving him enough food in their opinion. Ok, I give fill up a little snack-sized ziploc bag with Wheat Thins and that is not enough food?! That is plenty for a snack. He is only there for 2.5 hours. It is not lunch! Anyway, I will sending in some grapes or 1/2 a pear along with the crackers next time. I also did give them permission to give him fruit or juice that is brought in. But nothing else. While his milk allergy is mild, I don't want them thinking it is ok then to give him milk or yogurt or cheese. And, we are avoiding peanuts until he is 5, even though he is not allergic according to his skin prick test.

I spoke to my friend, M. today. She has decided not to have the t-shirts say "Please do not kill my friend with your peanut butter sandwich" but something more along the line of "Be A Hero" and stay away from peanut butter at school. She hopes to have them ready by Wednesday at the PTSA meeting.

BTW, still no word from the school district on the "new" procedures and letter to go home. This is ridiculous!

The rain has stopped again so we are hoping that Painter can finish the house this week. We still do not have outside lights because Lowes' has screwed up my order and who knows WHEN we will get them. I will have to go in this week and cancel my order and get my money back then try to find more lights that I like at another store. *sigh*

Both Cars and I are feeling better today, thankfully.

I had a funny story about him. He was at preschool on Thursday and I asked him how he liked it. He said it was fun. I then asked him who he played with and he said "Nobody!". Oh? I asked him why he did not play with anyone and he said "Nobody wants to play Star Wars!" LOL It seems that most of the kids, and especially the boys, are first children so no doubt that at the tender age of three, they have not yet been exposed to Star Wars. The kids are all into Thomas the Tank Engine, someone Cars could not care less about (although he is strangely attached to a Thomas backpack).

Today when we were in Safeway, Jax was wearing his heelies and hanging off the cart. It was bugging me because 1) it made the cart hard to push and 2) it was hard for people to pass us in the aisle. So I told him not to touch the cart. Ten minutes later, I needed to step down a different aisle so I said to him, "Take the cart and follow your dad". He looked at me and said "You said not to touch the cart" and he wheeled away. O.M.G. Did I ever see red! So I took him aside and told him he was being rude and sassy to me and when we got home he could go to his room and think about how he spoke to me.

When we got home, he went upstairs and wrote me a note:

Dear Mom,

I'm sorry I was rude to you.
I'm sorry I was sassy.
I would do it again.

Love Jax

Did I read that right? "I would do it again?!" I burst out laughing and could not be angry anymore. He was upset that he made a mistake in his note and begged me not to show Stephen (I did anyway and he had a good chuckle too).

Cars and I were sick today so we just hung out on the couch and watched Star Wars Episode II (his current favourite). I hope we feel better tomorrow.

A little bit of everything

Tonight was curriculum night. Stephen did stand up and thank the parents for continuing to do everything to help protect Jax against his life-threatening peanut allergy. Then I handed out the letter to as everyone left. I may have missed a couple of parents and there were about 2 or 3 who were not there. The teacher was very gracious considering we just sprang this on her. I gave her a copy of the note in case she felt she needed to show the principal.

We are still awaiting the letter from the school district with the "new procedures".

After curriculum night, I met some friends from my mom's club at the local Mexican restaurant to watch "Grey's Anatomy" at 9pm. It was a lot of fun.

Oh, and this moring, I burnt a breakfast casserole that I was to take to my mom's club meeting. I also burnt that little pad that goes between the meat and the meat tray when I browned my pot roast before I put it in the crockpot. I cannot believe I seared it right to the pan (and to the roast). I scraped it off the roast and hope it does not contain any carcinogens.

Wake Me Up When September/Swimming Ends

Today at swimming lessons, Cars cried non-stop to get out of the pool. Actually, he usually cries at every swim lesson but today it was especially bad. There were a lot of kids away today so I could not hide behind some of the other moms like I usually do so he kept an eye on me the whole time, calling out "Mom! I need to tell you something! I don't want swimmin' lessons!" over and over again. It was so pathetic. Then he continued crying the whole way home. Thankfully, there are just two more lessons for this session then we will break until March (and no doubt start the crying all over again then!).

Jax's first day of eating lunch in the classroom was a success. He was happy not to have to leave and said he noticed no pb/peanuts in class. Yeah.

The school nurse will not send a note home directly address peanuts in the classroom so we are composing our own to be handed out tomorrow night at curriculum night. She did tell me that the nursing supervisor and health supervisor were writing a note that will go home to families of children with life threatening allergies throughout the district. I wonder what it will say. Some legalese to tell us that they cannot guarantee the safety of our children, no doubt. If nothing else, I have helped the district face the issue. Even if the resolution is not to my liking.

Cars did well yesterday in his first full day (well full half day) of preschool. He looked so grown up walking in the class with his backpack on. Where did my baby go?!
~sniff~

Do I look slimmer? Lighter? More compact? I am writing my blahg tonight on my brand-spanking new laptop! It is great, although getting used to the keyboard will be a challenge since I have used a split keyboard for over 6 years and going back is tricky.

Tomorrow will be the first day that Jax gets to eat in his classroom. He is very excited about that. We are working on a letter to pass out to all parents on curriculum night since the school apparently will not do it for us. I will continue to push this issue though. But we cannot let it be put off much longer.

(ok, off to install MS Office and Skype).

Tomorrow, Jax has permission to carry his epi pen with him. I have it packed in a Safety Sack inside of a fanny pack placed in his backpack. We are still waiting for the nurse to update the Health Plan and send out a letter. Hopefully tomorrow will be the last day that Jax has to be taken out of the class at lunch.

I am so looking forward to this being settled. It has really been an emotionally grueling two weeks.

End of the Rainbow

We had crazy weather today and the result was this (click for bigger):


(ignore the dormant lawn - it will green up again once the rainy season starts next month)

So, you can see the Tate Olive house. The trim still needs to be painted off-white so it looks odd still all green. And the door is still deep blue. Oh, and no outdoor lights yet.

I love that the rainbow ends right at my house! :)

Green!

The house colour is done! The trim still needs to be done but rain is in the forecast for the next several days so it will probably be next weekend when the trim gets done. I am so excited about it!

Seems so strange to get so excited about a house colour, eh? Well, I think it is because it is something that finally seems to be going right these past couple of weeks. The whole peanuts at school is a complete joke. I have done nothing the past couple of days about it (calling and pushing for resolution) because, quite frankly, it is just easier to avoid it and continue to take Jax out at lunch. Stephen has been crazy busy with work and not nearly involved enough with it. I need his help at this point and more than just "tell them this" or "be sure to mention that" or, worst yet "Why didn't you tell them blah-dee-blah-dee". For frig sakes!

~Deep Breath~

Ok, so, now you can see partly why I haven't been talking about the peanut problem we are having at school. The other reason is partly due to the fact that we may have to contact either a lawyer or the office of civil rights to get this resolved (and that makes me sick to my stomach, seriously). And because blogger shows up on google searches, I am trying to keep a lot of the details off this blahg.

Anyway...

Cars starts his first day of preschool tomorrow. He just goes for an hour tomorrow then starts his Tues/Thurs mornings next week. I am so excited for him. He is such a big boy. My baby!

Good News

I received the official letter in the mail today in regards to my mammogram and it said "there is no indication of cancer". Much better than "almost certainly benign". :)

Painter finished the main colour on the house. It was threatening to rain today and was misting a little this morning but then the rain held off and he got it done. He probably will not get to the trim work until next week because it is supposed to rain for the next several days (my lawn needs it!). Stephen and I are going to fold all of his drop cloths and save myself 2+ hours of work that he would otherwise charge us. Stephen doesn't know it yet though. :) I think I will also have Stephen paint the door to save us even more money. These two things should save us some of the cost of the extra scraping that was needed to be done.

Now, off to finish making dinner and then watch the kids play their new video game: Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy.