A Decade Come and Gone

Can you believe that ten years have come and gone so quickly?So many changes too! Births,deaths, marriages....its crazy.I remember thinking about how old I would be when we reached the year 2000.Wow was I going to be old LOL!But that bench mark has passed and now its 10 years later, now i'm reeeeeallly old.(ha ha).I remember New years Eve 10 years ago.You know... the dreaded Y2K.The media had everyone in such a panic everyone thought it was going to be the end of the world! What happened?NOTHING,Nadda,zip.

Somewhere in a box out in my shed is a little blue box that I painted. I filled it with Y2K memorabilia and I had everyone write on a piece of paper some goals they had for their life.I'm almost tempted to go find the box and open it, but another part of me says leave it for a while longer.There is a bit of mystery about it.I can't even remember what I wrote.It also contains some precious cargo.On those little pieces of paper there is the personal hand writing of my grandmother and my mom.I think that is partially what stops me from opening it.I don't want to cry.(again)

But that aside I don't really know what I want from this new year.I do know that I have a bizzilion projects floating around in my head.(thanks to all the home decorating blogs that I've been frequenting),there is some sewing that I would like to get done before the girls reach teenagehood,I am trying to improve my photography all the time.

On a personal note I am trying to get into shape.(thanks in part to my Christmas gift-a Wii) Not necessarily to lose weight but just to help myself feel better about myself and to stop looking like I am six months pregnant all the time (yes someone has asked me).I want to look at the positive things my kids are doing instead of complaining about them all the time and I want to travel more.A little farther than my backyard.(D hasn't traveled much other than Brooks,Edmonton and Valemount).I want to change that for him and the girls.Other than that I guess I will take things as they come.

Happy new year one and all

Shortbread

I've been working on my share of the Christmas baking over the last couple of days. (A little late, but better now than later.)Shortbread is what I do.H does mincemeat tarts.S does nanaimo bars and peanut butter squares.Sorry my jam jam loving cousins, but we dropped these little cookies from our Christmas baking because they never got eaten!

Call me weird...I come by it honestly....but shortbread needs to be aged.Kind of like a good wine or cheese.Not just aged any old way though.It needs to be aged in Grandma's big white Tupperware container. The one that has housed many a year of shortbrtead.There is just something about the flavour of shortbread a la plastic that makes it just perfect.(I told you I was weird).

Any who,
MERRY CHRISTMAS FAMILY!

Christmas past

I'm sure that I have mentioned it more than once.If not I will mention it again.I love Christmas, I love the memories that go with it. But I hate, despise and even detest change.I tried to tell myself to move on this year.I can not bring back what once was.The people that made it what it was are all gone now.Despite my best efforts I am afraid I succumbed to a bit of...no a lot of depression in these last couple weeks.Yes, you are right, I should be thankful for what I have right now and the opportunities to begin fresh with my own family.But try as I might I still long for the warm fuzzy feelings,the giddy anticipation that begins as soon as the calender changes from "November" to "December" the "Good Will towards all men"(which seems to be non existent these days). I guess I long to be a kid again.Being an adult isn't always what its cracked up to be.
Before this post starts turning into "Bah humbug" I wanted to share a memory with you.Nothing fancy.Nothing extravagant.Just a childhood memory.One of the things I always look forward to is putting up the tree.Mostly for the ornaments.I love getting them out of the box and looking at them.Each one seems to have something special about it.Some of my favorite ones at Grandma's house were some little toy soldiers.Decked out in slime green,flocked uniforms with big black hats with brightly colored feathers and little angelic faces. I can not tell you how many hours on Sunday afternoons I spent carefully moving them around the tree,with my imagination going full throttle.I loved them.I was enchanted by them.Needless to say, these little men made their way into my Christmas stash. Unfortunately they were beginning to look their age.Well I couldn't stand to get rid of them, so they got a make over.A little paint,some new feathers,a few shiny things and WHA-LA! they are just as good as new.Hopefully they will be around for many more years to come.They make me smile.They make me remember.

"Peace on Earth"

After a chaotic week last week.Who could resist a picture like this?.......Need I say more?

The "Joys" of parenting

Its been quite the week in our little household and expensive I might add.First of all "pumpkin" decided it would be entertaining to find out how far the arms on mommy's glasses would go before they broke.She found out...

Unfortunately the frames I had purchased were discontinued so I couldn't just replace the frames so I had to replace everything.I can't even claim them this time with Blue Cross because these ones are only a year and a half old and I can only make a claim every two years.(She could have waited another 6 months).

I think I am going to have to send both girls to hair dressing school since they enjoy doing it so often.At least that way when they decide to give each other hair cuts it might look half descent.Pumpkin cut her hair twice that I know of,possibly a third time but I'm not really sure whether it was her or big sister.It looked so bad we just shaved it all off.One day she might have some hair that is longer than 1/2 inch.Then Monkey got a hold of the scissors (how? I don't know) and went on a cutting rampage.At first I thought they were just having some nice sister time.The girls were in their room laughing and jumping on the bed (not out of the ordinary).What alerted me to the fact that they may be doing something that they shouldn't be was the sound of beads pouring all over the floor.The discovery?Where do I begin?

The first thing I noticed was a big pile of hair on the floor."Monkey" had cut her hair into a charming "mullet" style reminiscent of the 1980's.Well hey,leg warmers and stirrup pants are back in fashion, why not this charming hair do? Blood pressure rapidly rising.Next I discovered what it was that caused me to go in the room in the first place. "Monkey" decided to find out what was inside a "beanie baby" yep...lots and lots of tiny little plastic pellets,which I STILL keep finding everywhere.Blood pressure still climbing.By the end o this whole incident she had cut her hair,a beanie baby,Pumpkin's blanket,her blanket,her stuffed lion's mane and her sister's pajamas.Blood vessels ready to EXPLODE!

All this was on the heals of last Saturday's little incident of getting acrylic paint all over my living room furniture.Which did not come out(DH was babysitting while I was out and didn't discover it until an hour later)!

It is simply amazing that more kids don't end up in the orphanage LOL!

And the winner is...

I now have my Christmas card photo.Not that I was trying to hold a contest for my pictures,however this one seemed to generate the most responses when I posted it on Facebook.I must admit its one of my favorites too.So all you lucky people, to whom I send Christmas cards, you will receive one of these adorable little pictures and a wish for a very Merry Christmas!(They were only in it for the candy!) What??? Me? Bribe my children with chocolate? Never.

Was Dat??

So my little "pumpkin" up until lately hasn't had too much to say.The usual mama,dadda and that was about it.Was I worried.No,not really."Monkey" was a late talker too.She babbled and responded to simple commands and was quite aware of what I was saying.So whatever.

Well now the flood gates are opened.....WIDE! Her first real word (or at least the one I care to record)was apple.(I didn't think poo poo was something that deserved to be recorded for history!) Now she has been saying things like spoon,car,book,papa and cheese.

Just to take a slight detour (as it is relevant to the story) I have been very grateful that "Monkey" has not hit the "WHY?" stage.At least not yet.She just doesn't seem to care.She does ask questions but not so many that you want to exit stage left and bang your head on the wall a hundred times.With that being said we will return to "pumpkin".At the moment her favorite phrase is "was' dat?"She puts out her chubby little finger and points at everything (and I mean everything)."was' dat?,was' dat? was' dat?This goes on from sun up to sun down.I had to laugh at my sister (H) who was looking after the girls the other night she said she just about went crazy because "pumpkin" kept asking "was' dat" over and over for two hours straight!Yep that would do it.

Now I don't want to discourage her, but wow it gets to be a little much after awhile.Then you go to bed at night with the words circling in your head for hours on end.Oh well.I guess I must just repeat to myself...."It does not last forever".
Thank heaven for that!LOL

Too early for Christmas??

I know,I know it isn't even Halloween yet,but I can't help it.Something has stirred my "Christmas spirit" early this year.Normally I am rolling my eyes about the fact they are trucking out the Christmas before the Halloween candy has even left the shelf.But for whatever reason,maybe the early snow and cold,I am chomping at the bit to start planning and decorating and to sing to my little hearts content.You may think me a little strange.However these last few years have been a struggle for me .I have gone through the motions but the joy hasn't been there.So needless to say I am quite ready to embrace the spirit (Christmas that is) again. It is with out a doubt my favorite time of year! I have already picked up my first new ornament of the year,have purchased some wonderful cinnamon scented pinecones at 70% off and picked up some apple scented candles to line my fireplace mantle.(I am thinking some nice ribbon will add a nice finishing touch).I can hardly wait to start baking shortbread,mincemeat tarts and all the best yummies that make it Christmas.I am looking forward to making some homemade ornaments with the girls and finding presents.This Year should be even more fun beacause "E" will know a little bit more about what is going on.

Now to be patient for just a little bit longer......

First "taste" of winter

I have to admit there isn't much that I like about winter.This year the snow and cold have come much earlier than expected.I just can't seem to keep warm no matter how many hot chocolates I drink or how many hot baths I have.(Yes thats my inside voice complaining already).

But it is truly amazing to see things through the eyes of a child.The simplicity of it all.The joy they feel when they catch a snowflake on their tongue or making snow angels in the fresh snow.The twinkle in their eyes when they have a nice snowball waiting ever so patiently for the next victim.How cute they look, so bundled up you can barely see their faces except for the rosy glow of their cheeks and noses.Hmmmm.... maybe winter is not so bad after all.

Potty training already?!

So "pumpkin pie" is almost 19 months now and some people feel that this is a great time to teach thier kids to go to the bathroom.No more wipes,diaper cream or nasty red rashes.No more gigantic mounds of dirty diapers smelling up the garbage and attracting endless amounts of insects.Its the moment we all wait for with great anticipation.

After my awful experience with "monkey" who only just this past year decided that using the toilet was a good thing(I tried to teach her when she was 21/2)I decided I am not going to push it.The first kid is the "guinea pig" or the test subject if you will.You try things out on them and then you use your successes and failures on the next one.

Anyway I had no intention of even bothering at this time because "pumpkin" understands simple commands but she still does not talk much or know how to undress herself yet.So whats the point it would just be complete misery for us both.

With that being said, someone forgot to tell "monkey".She has decided that in her role as big sister,she needs to take it upon herself to teach her baby sister to use the potty.The other morning "pumpkin" had wandered into our bedroom completely naked.So I inquired as to why "monkey had removed "pumpkin's" clothes yet again(she does it quite frequently).So "monkey" brought me to the bathroom to show me that she had put out the little pink potty and was trying to get "pumpkin to use it.The next morning I heard the girls had woken up so I decided to see what they were up to.Sure enough "monkey" had "pumpkin" laying on the bathroom floor trying to get her PJs and her diaper off.She had the little potty on the floor and the toilet ring on the big toilet with three stools pushed up to it.She was encouraging baby sister to "go potty".I couldn't help but just stand back and watch it was so funny and kind of cute.And hey.If she wants to teach her who am I to argue?.Thats one less thing I have to worry about! LOL. Now if I could just get her to change baby sisters diaper I would have it made!

Getting better

Ok so they aren't perect but I am working on it.These are some very sweet pictures of my little "pumpkin.I sure have gained some respect for photographers who do this all the time.Its hard and time consuming.But each time I do it I get just a little better at it.The day that they ask me(at the printers) whether I have the right to print them or not will be a real feather in my cap! That is my ultimate goal.

"Pumpkin Pie"

• Sweet
• Thoughtful
• Compliant
• Serious
• Great hugger
• Lap warmer
• Moody
• Doll lover
• Adoring fan of big sister
• Clumsy (could trip over her own shadow!)
• Mommy's girl
• Has a temper and knows how to use it
• Dancer
• Music lover
• Cautious
  

"Monkey Doodle'

• Spirited
• Strong-willed
• Adventurous
• Fearless
• Dramatic
• Smart
• Chocolate lover
• Puzzle master
• Out going
• Stubborn
• Silly
• Not girly-girl
• Not tomboy
• Mathematical
  
• Logical
• Challenging
• A leader
• Limit tester
• Independent
  
• Friendly
  
• Willful
  
• Quick learner
• Bug hater
• Cartoon lover
  

Too busy to notice?

I don't know what it is about today but I just seem to be in a reflective mood.To be honest I am not sure I am happy with the direction things are going but quite often I feel helpless to change paths.May be its just that I am feeling sorry for myself and trying to fit myself into some sort of mold that doesn't really exist and setting myself up for failure.

I find myself reading other peoples blogs and am inspired by the families or the people who write them but then quite often I start wondering what is wrong with me,why can't I be like so and so....?Everybody always seem to be going here and there on fun outings.They always seem to be sewing,baking,doing amazing crafts with the kids.I have only been doing "school" with my little monkey for three weeks and already I don't feel like I'm doing enough or the right things *sigh*.Some times I go on my own little adventures just so I have something to post or prove to myself that we do have fun once and awhile.

I read about their children who are smart and amazing creatures and they could give you a list a mile long about who their children are.Their likes,their dislikes,what they love,what makes them sad,their favorite toys/books ect.Again I feel like a failure.I have been a SAHM for nearly four years watching my kids grow and I don't know that I could give you that intimate of a picture of my sweet little girls.Or may be I haven't REALLY stopped to think about it that long and hard.Have I just been so busy thinking about the housework,the bills that need to be paid,the groceries that need to be bought and the laundry that needs to be done that I have completely forgot to "notice"them?Who are these little people?I thought I knew.

Why am I always beating myself up and trying to be perfect.It doesn't exist!I know this, yet I still strive to achieve some imaginary goal and quite frankly I am often disappointed.I keep thinking I can be more than I really am.I am ME.

There I think I'm done quietly ranting.Thanks for your listening ear(or in this case your eyes).Maybe someday I will be able to write the mile long list too.

I feel the earth move under my feet

Ok so we decided that even though the interest rates are ideal...we can not make a "go" of our renovation plans.Isn't that always the way.Your bringing in good money but the interest rates are high or the interest rates are low but the money isn't happening.What gives?Is there ever a meet in the middle scenario?So we are doing the next best thing or rather the ONLY thing we can do at this point and that is to dig the basement out by hand.Yes folks,the old fashioned way.Shovels, picks and buckets.DH and one of his work buddy's took a sizable chunk of dirt out today (about 112 18L pails) but suprisingly in the grand scheme of things it looked equivilant to taking one tiny corner off a large cake! Oh well if it means in the end that I can have a spot for my washer and dryer and deep freeze (so they aren't in my kitchen).Then I guess its worth it.It also is a good reminder for us to not take anything for granted.When you have to work for what you want I think there is more satisfaction in the end.And pride in a job well done.Although I am totally a weakling and can not lift those pails especially up a flight of stairs I am sure I will be lifting the pick ax and shovel right along side DH.The least I can do is keep the girls out of the way while sipping a nice tall glass of iced tea!

Why am I doing this????

Today was my official/unofficial start to my homeschooling journey.I just thought I would share some reasons that I chose to homeschool.However after today I think it is more for me that it is for you!I need to remind myself regularly what I was thinking when I decided this was a good thing.

1. 1.To instill the values that we want our girls to know (ie. Knowledge and love of God, respect for other people and their belongings, appropriate manners, a healthy respect for work.)
2. To strengthen our family unit
3. To teach them according to their strengths and interests.
4. To limit encounters with harmful influences before they are ready.(bullying,peer pressure,cliques,drugs,sexual pressures)
5. For the joy of learning (mine as well as theirs)

OR

1. I drew the short straw that day
2. I was standing too close to someone smoking questionable substances
3. "They" made me do it!
4. It was a moment of frequently occurring insanity
5. I really enjoy spending twenty-four hours a day inside my little house with two little whirl winds that couldn't sit still for two seconds at a time,if their life depended on it

Those are your choices folks.You can decide for yourself which list is the real one.Only I know the truth!
They're coming to take me away hee hee.........

School Days

Aaaah "back to school", it conjures up so many fond memories.New pens and pencils,new binders,blank sheets of lined paper, new clothes, I even loved the "new" smell of everything.In that last week of summer I could hardly wait to begin school again.(mind you a few days later the excitement wore off and I wished I was back on vacation!)

So I'm sure your wondering what the heck this has to do with anything huh?Well my big girl will be turning 4 this year and is technically able to go to Pre-school.I can barely utter the word with out feeling a twinge of sadness.What happened to my little baby?Wasn't I just holding her in my arms yesterday? But .....here it comes,brace yourself......I have made the decision to Homeschool.Yes you read it correctly.Homeschool.

Keep in mind that this has not been a decision that we as a family have made lightly.In fact I have felt called to do this from the time just before "G" was born.It is not something I would have entertained years ago but l have been slowly getting disenchanted with the school system.It is nothing like when we went to school.Teachers have no contol over thier students.Drugs,sexuality,bullying start so much younger and honestly how does anyone learn anything when they are text messaging and chatting on thier cell phones all day.Please note this does not mean that I think all schools are bad or for that matter that all teachers are bad.I know some very good ones.They just have there hands tied.Nor do I think my decision is better than anyone elses.It is just,I feel that this is the best choice for my family.

I am not totally off my rocker.I actually have a few friends who have graciously sat with me and let me pick thier brains about homeschooling as they too are homeschooling families.My sister in law also intends do the same with her kids.(R is the same age as G and B is the same age as E) .So I already have a built in support team.The seasoned as well as the newbies to share our successes and failures with.I have researched and found the schoolboard I plan on using when she is "officially" school age.In fact its right here in town.And you have no idea how many activities out there are designed for homeschoolers.Its enough to boggle the mind.It amazes me to find so many strangers that do it as well.I had an amazing conversation with a lady that I was talking to in "Smitty's" a while back.My SIL and I also chatted with a lady at one of those pottery places (she too was a homeschooler)about seeing if it was possible for the kids to come and watch them use the kiln sometime.They are everywhere!

I guess I am just throwing this out into the cosmos.Because even though I know this is the right decision and I have researched it until my head hurts, I am still scared to death to begin.So just to "ease" myself in I am going to start with "G" this fall.Just so I can get a feel for how it works.No I don't plan on teaching her reading,'riting and 'rithmatic but I am going to start with some more structured stuff.Again not to worry, there will still be tons of painting,crafts,exploration and just plain silliness to be had but *Gasp* it will be disguised as FUN instead of school!
And G won't know that she is "learning" anything.LOL

Thanks for letting me share.

Is that it?

Is it my imagination or is summer getting shorter?It is now the middle of August and it feels like I should be turning up the heat,dragging out the warm sweaters and starting the transition to hibernate for another winter!Have you seen the leaves on some o the trees??!! They are already starting to turn color.Who ever is going on and on about global warming hasn't visited southern Alberta. The past couple years have been really lousy.

Autumn you are one of my favorite times of the year.But I'm NOT ready yet!Please stay away .......

First harvest

Its that time again.When all the hard work you did in spring begins to pay off.Now its time to enjoy the fruits (or in this case vegetables) of your labour.

Peas,carrots,beans.....Yummy!I could sit and eat fresh peas all day.Unfortunately my stomach probably would have a little something to say about that.
I planted a hybrid corn this year too. It was designed for our short growing season.Too bad our weather has been so lousy.The heat and sunshine are too little too late.So I doubt that I will get anything from them.Oh well there is always next year.

Fortunately the girls for the most part stay out of the garden and leave things to grow.I can't say I have the same luck with my raspberries though.If they are even slightly red they are devoured immediately.I never get a chance to have more than one or two at a time.I am also still having quite the challenge with my strawberries.I only have a few, which is understandable because I just planted them this year.But the ones I do get by the time they turn red, the birds have pecked holes in them.Somebody once told me that it is probably because they are thirsty.So maybe if there was a source of water for them.they might leave them alone.(insert a muffled laugh here)

Now don't get me wrong, I love harvesting the fresh fruit and vegetables,however I don't know about, you but I always have that little voice in the back of my mind ever so gently reminding me of the fact that fall is just around the corner......

Summer Vacation

Hello again all.I've been away for the last last week enjoying a little vacation.Even us stay at home moms need a little down time.We spent the week at Lake Newell in Brooks.I had a fantastic time soaking up the sun,swimming(aka sitting on the edge and letting the water lap up onto my legs),building sand castles,hunting dinosaurs,and topping it off with some Shakespear in the park.Oh yes I musn't forget learning all the new ways that use duct tape!So much versatility in one little roll of tape.Canvas repair,keeping the rain from pouring into the trailer,holding together bed rail that got broken enroute,holding a spatula to a longer stick in order to not get burned by the fire."RedGreen"was certainly on to something when he called it the handyman's secret weapon.LOL!

This was little E's first camping trip and she handled it quite well (better than I was expecting thats for sure)and even G had a good time to.I think her favorite was going to the lake.She continues to get more confidence about being in the water.She still won't put her head in the water and refuses to float on her back,even with her lie jacket on,but we are working on it.Little E was quite content just to sit on the edge of the water playing with the sand and rocks."Dead Dinosaur Park"as G likes to call it was fun.I can't even remember the last time I was there.It was really hot down there though(31 C)Thank goodness for the lovely air conditioned concession and cherry slurpees and ice cream! .I also wish I had never even mentioned snakes.G whined the whole time about them and wanted to be carried everywhere.Trying to carry a three year old around when its that hot just doesn't go over very well.

This vacation was a lot more relaxing than I was expecting but I think that was mostly because Auntie H joined us.That extra pair of hands and eyes just made the work load a lot lighter.Thanks Auntie H!
I also won't soon forget G's version of the Wiseman/Foolish man Sunday school song. "The rains came down and the bugs came up......."Hee Hee.

Now its back to reality. With mountains of laundry to do,plants to water,gardens to tend,lawns to mow.....

Lighten up already!

Boy oh boy do I ever need to lighten up and put a smile on my face, may be even throw in the occasional chuckle once in a while.

I was taking a look at some of my previous posts and one would think my life is nothing but a misery.It is true that I do suffer from clinical depression and anxiety but really there are so many blessings to be thankful for.Two beautiful ,healthy girls,a loving husband,a roof over my head,food on the table,the freedom to choose to stay at home....the list could go on and on.So here is a great big smile from me to you, to say life is GOOD!

Canada Day

For us our day was pretty quiet and uneventful.I have a hard time with any holiday other than Christmas in regards to knowing what to do.Growing up most of theses days were nothing more than a passing moment.July 1st we sometimes got together with my moms side of the family to watch the parade(in Bassano) and have a great picnic but as time marches on families grow and change and that sort of got lost in the business of life.

Also DH grew up in a family that didn't do much celebrating either.I am trying to change that for the girls.I want them to know what an amazing country we live in and how we have so much to be thankful for.They did wear Canada t-shirts and "E" had barrettes with little Maple leafs on them and we made Canada flag cupcakes(.*just a side note*.. don't put wet strawberries on top of the icing, they will not stay on !)We tried to watch the fireworks but the good LORD had different ideas HE decided we needed a thunderstorm instead.So the fireworks were very short because of the rain.Oh well may be next year.

Happy Birthday Canada!! I am proud to be Canadian.Eh?

Decisions Decisions

This year is the year we have to renew our mortgage(just a little side note of useless information....did you know that mortgage means until death?Hmmm strangely appropriate)We are facing a very big decision.Should we borrow against our homes equity to put a proper foundation under the house and add one more bedroom or do we wait.

Our house will not fall into the ground if we don't(it would just be nice to have something other than dirt ) nor will we die if our house only has two bedrooms.People not that long ago raised families of twelve in homes smaller than this so I think a family of four can do it.It is sometimes difficult not to get caught up in the "bigger is better" mentality.Bigger just means more house to clean!

We were fortunate to purchase our house before the house prices spiked.So our house has almost doubled in value since we bought it 5 years ago.Our mortgage broker has come back with an amount that we can get and how much it effects our monthly payments(which is not a lot)People pay way more in rent than we would have to pay.But the decision is still difficult to make.DH is self employed and has taken a considerable hit due to the recession.Business is picking up again now that people have gotten over the initial fear, but my point is will there be enough in our budget to take on the extra.(We have already dipped into the savings to keep a float.)However the prices of materials and labour keep going up dramatically so in five years when we revisit the same decision will we be able to do it then?It is so difficult to choose.

Then there is the other aspect.The actual renovation.I want the end result but I'm just not sure I would survive the actual process.I do have some idea of what renovations entail.Dust,dirt,meals out,permits,time lines not being met,more money being required than originally anticipated,.So I am not on renovation cloud 9 with unrealistic expectations.But I have only dealt with reno's on a small scale not something as big as this.Then add to the mixture two kids under 5 and an open stairwell to a concrete pit and you have a recipe for disaster( or mommy completely ready for the nut house.)

Only time will tell.

Lions and Tigers and Bears.....Oh my!

Well I took the girls to the zoo this week.I went with my sister-in-law and a couple other moms.This was my pumpkins first visit and only my monkey's second.Her first trip was when she was around 18 months or so and we went with my mom.So its been a while.
I must admit after their antics before we left for the zoo, I was really tempted to leave them there.Although I am not so sure that the monkeys would have wanted them either.But by the time they got to the zoo they were very well behaved.So no drastic measures needed to be taken.

We managed to see all of the big animals like the lions,tigers,giraffes and elephants but we whizzed through so fast that we didn't really get to enjoy them.The other moms had seasons passes so it didn't really matter to them if they were only there for a couple hours.Going with friends is fun but I must admit there is something to going alone.To go at your own pace.Oh well,it won't be the last trip to the zoo,I'm sure.The girls and I stayed for about an hour after everyone else had gone.We enjoyed a snack of strawberries and grapes and the girls had a great time at the park climbing through the tunnels and racing down the slides.By about 1 o'clock the zoo was beginning to get over run with school kids on field trips so that was our cue that maybe it was time to go. I think the highlight of the trip was all of the kids were running around asking where "Marty" and "Melmen" were.I think they have all seen just a little bit too much "Madagascar".Too funny!

Vibrating with creativity

So last night I discovered how to download "brushes" and " textures " into my GIMP photo editing.I had to stop myself because I was going nuts down loading EVERYTHING.I was coming to kind of a road block as to what to do with my pictures.There is only so often you can use the plug ins with out getting bored and all the pictures start looking the same.But I figured out how to use the textures (so cool) and now with the brushes I can do a lot of the things I have seen that I absolutely love on other photography sites.I hardly know where to begin.I am just vibrating with ideas(I even took pictures of my own textures to add to the mix) .Hopefully there will be some new and exciting things to come.The pictures may not always be great but it sure is fun trying.(the picture is the son of a freind of mine)

Trip to the Lake

So last weekend DH went on a men's retreat with our church.Its an annual thing (the ladies have theres in September).But I decided I didn't feel like staying home alone.I probably would have gone off the deep end.So I stayed the weekend at my dad's house (he was gone too)and spent time hanging out with my sisters.It was great.On the Friday we went to Peter's for supper.I know I know not exactly the healthiest meal in the world but it was good.Then we rented a couple of movies.Actual movies that were not of the animated kind,movies that had real people and interesting story lines.Whoo hoo!We watched "The secret life of Bees".Interesting but not a totally memorable one that I would just have to watch over and over again.Then on Saturday I felt the need for a road trip so we packed up the girls and headed to Brooks to go visit the Lake.I haven't been there in years.Its funny though,I spent a good portion of my childhood out there.Camping, picnicing and swimming, yet when I went there I felt like a stranger.I guess I have finally been "citified" and Brooks has lost its hold on me.I have no desire be there anymore.I am quite happy to be where I am small town feel close to the city.

Pumpkin loved the sand and the water but Monkey spent the whole time screeching and crying because bugs were touching her!It was still too cold for swimming but monkey insisted on having her "suit" on and her "balloon".I tried to tell her, but being three, the ears weren't exactly tuned in.So I did as she asked and she put her "balloon" on the edge of the water and them promptly complained "its cold!"*SIGH*.That was the end of that.She didn't start enjoying herself until we went and played at the park.We had to have ice cream.It wouldn't be the lake if we didn't have that.So $8.50 later we were enjoying a sweet treat.Then just before we were ready to go we had a rowsing game of "chase the gopher".

So it was back on the road again,singin' to jukebox music from the 50's and 60's and feeling fine.DS didn't think it would be such a good idea to roll down the windows and stick our heads out like they do in the movies .Party pooper! LOL! We finished the day off by watching the other movie we rented "Seven Pounds" (sad,but I really liked it).It was a great weekend.Just too bad it had to end.

New look yet again

Yes I changed my blog again.I kind of got tired of waiting for DH to help me get the comment thing working on my other one so I decided to come back to what I know will work!

Dancing to the beat of a different drummer

Motherhood seems to have challenges coming at you from all different directions and with so much "information" out there I find it so difficult to know which way to turn.You see,( I don't think of it as a problem), but it sure is a challenge....My "monkey" is very different in temperament and interests than you would expect from a little girl her age.She is not really a "girly-girl" but neither is she a "tom-boy".She has never really had interest in toys not even when she was a baby.She has some imagination but it is very limited.And I constantly struggle to find things that interest her.She loves puzzles.In fact I just recently upgraded her to 64 piece puzzles to keep her entertained.She completed her first 24 piece puzzle shortly after she turned two.She likes to paint but not so much coloring or crafts. She can hold a pencil or marker with great skill and print letters and numbers following the dotted lines. I have even started printing mazes off of the INTERNET and she has taken quite a liking to them.These are not the very very easy ones either.She does very well at them.

Please do not misread this as a "my child is better than your child".Its just I find this extremely difficult because she is every thing I am not.She is mathematically inclined,logical and loves to do what ever daddy is doing. I am more artistically inclined and I spent most of my childhood pretending and making up stories.Her interests are not mine and vice-versa.When I have conversations with others and I mention the fact that she is great with numbers but she has some difficulty with letters so I feel that she may be a little slower at learning to read, they just look at me with this strange look and say "she's only three!??"As if I am one of those freakish, overbearing mothers who wants her child to be a prodigy and graduate college at the age of ten.This is not my goal at all.My only goal is to try and take her where her interests lead.But there is so much advice out there and everybody has there own opinions about what is the best method .I often wonder am I trying too hard or am I not challenging her enough???

You never think (or at least I never did) you have expectations about who your child should be. But I am learning very quickly that I DO have them and sometimes I feel disappointed.Am I a terrible mom?I sure feel like it because now I tend to gravitate towards my "pumpkin" because she does enjoy toys and dolls and digging in the dirt with me.Its just so easy to slip into what comes naturally.But it is quickly followed by this overwhelming sense of guilt that I am picking favorites.*sigh* I wish my mom was here.I sure could use some motherly advice and perspective right about now.
But if anyone has any brilliant ideas of what I can do to keep her occupied I would love to hear them! (You will have to e-mail them to me because my comment thing is still not working)

Happy Anniversary

Wow has it been six years already?I can hardly believe it.Sometimes it feels like only yesterday and other times it feels as if we have been together forever (in a good way).Our special day will be quiet except for the fact that its also Mothers day.There won't be expensive gifts, elaborate five course meals or dancing until dawn .But you know what? Thats ok with me because that is just not who we are.We are hoping just to have dinner out in a place we enjoy with out two small children in tow and finish the evening with a movie.A movie at a real theater with actual popcorn and everything. Oh yes and don't forget the licorice.What is a move with out licorice.(Even if DH keeps reminding me that twizzlers are not real licorice) I can't even remember the last movie I saw.Actually if I remember correctly it was sometime last year!

So here is to many more happily ever afters........

Like mother like daughter

Its funny how I have never really taken the time to pay attention to how much my "little monkey" actually looks like me. Ever since she was born everyone has said how much she looks like DH.I can't disagree, because she does,I even said so the moment she was born.Then there is my "little pumpkin" she doesn't look like either one of us.She looks the most like my mom.Which in its self isn't a bad thing. Its just sometimes you hope to see something of yourself in this little person that you "created".

So I must admit , it was kind of cool when I came across a recent picture of my "monkey" and saw a striking resemblance to a picture of me when I was about her age.It gave me a sense of satisfaction to see a little bit of me in her.Like mother like daughter.

Oh, by the wayMrs.twomittens, that is you!

Weekend Project

This weekend was another time for change.Maybe the snow has got to my brain or something but I decided to give my girls room a make over.I am pretty proud of myself since I did most of the work myself.I even made DH proud because I actually took the time to mask off stuff and remove the electrical socket covers and everything.Normally I am too lazy to do it.

I guess not so much lazy as the fact that I really hate it.Its boring and it takes way too long.I want to get to the good stuff.The END result.Most of the time my impatience gets the better of me.On any given project I like the planning and ideas but I hate the middle part, the prep work,the drudgery blah.Just get me to the end so I can see what was floating around in my head come to life!....

Aaaahh but I digress.Back to the room.So the idea started with the fact that my monkey has decided her favorite color is blue.(much to my dismay because blue has never been at the top of my list)If there is anything blue in her drawer to wear she's got it on.Sometimes multiple shades of it all at the same time.So I decided I could live with it as long as it was a pastel shade."Monkey" shares her room with her little sister,as we only have a two bedroom house.She is not old enough to choose a color ,so what to do?I happened to be at Walmart looking through the bedding section and I found these really cool sheets.They were pinstriped in various colors.Blue,pink,yellow,purple(i feel like i should be singing that song from Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat).Perfect.Surely when pumpkin gets old enough to have a favorite color it will be in there.So I built around that theme.Then I happened to find two matching quilts at a different Walmart(you can never seem to find everything at one store!).Then off to Home Depot for some paint.My favorite part is choosing the color.Everything is now assembled now the only thing left is to do it.I chose to wait until the weekend so that DH could help look after the two little busy bodies.What a dismal failure that was,not DH,just trying to keep them under control.DH was trying to organize his tax papers at the same time.This is the time you wish you had a Velcro wall and a couple of little Velcro suits.

I guess to make a long story short.I am finished.I think it looks amazing.I just have to finish accessorizing but at least they can sleep in there beds again.It is entirely impossible to sleep with 4 people in one bed.At least comfortably.I do not wish to do that again for a very long time!Hmmmm now what can I decorate???

new look

Spring is all about new,fresh and green.So why not have a great new look for my blog?Its also just to shout out loud..."Hey look what I did by myself!!!" (ok,ok,almost. with a few tips from dh) But I've come a long way baby.Especially when it was only a short time ago I could turn on my computer and read my e-mail and that was about it.Aaaaah the possibilities.

venting

I apologize for my grumpiness, but I need to vent a bit before I do something crazy.My girls have brought me to the "edge" of insanity today.Mondays aren't just bad for 9-5rs.They work for this household too.I don't know why, may be its having daddy home all weekend and then him going back to work again Monday morning that sets us all on edge.But the screaming,crying, pushing,spitting,more crying has just about done me in . Instead of being outside enjoying the beautiflul weather I am playing referee.My plans were to dig up the old grass(if you can call it that) around the new swing set so we can level the ground.(right now it sort of resembles the rolling prairies).But between all the insanity I only managed to dig up a patch about the size of a grave hole.Strangely appropriate don't you think?At this rate its going to take me until the end of the summer to get the ground level.Oh well.I'm off to give the girls a bath and hopefully it will wash off a little of the attitude along with the dirt!

Biker Babes

Well now that spring has decided to come and the warmer temperatures have lingered, the bikes have made the all important journey from the shed to the front yard.It is rather interesting to note that when "monkey" was around 18 months I purchased a tricycle for her...not so much as a bat of an eyelash.She just wasn't interested.So then I decided to get another little bike that didn't have pedals but used "foot power" instead.She showed only slightly more interest but not enough to use it more than once or twice.My dad also got her a trike that stayed at his house.Now she has a bike with training wheels,which she got for her birthday.Two of her bikes are too small,the one my dad got her she can't ride because of where the pedals are placed,she is too short to reach them.By the time she can reach them the bike will be too small ! Now I am trying to encourage her to use the bigger bike but she just sits on it and complains that she "can't do it!"Then proceeds to tell me she is going inside to watch a show.*sigh*.My "pumpkin" how ever has taken to the "foot powered"bike like a duck to water and she is only 13 months old.I have even caught her trying to climb on the "big" bike a few times

.It never ceases to amaze me that they came from the same two people.They are polar opposites in just about every aspect! And as far as the bike riding issues go.Nothing a little sibling rivalry won't cure.You just have to mention that "pumpkin" is outside playing on the bike and "monkey" is outside like a shot.Despite the fact that she is way too big for them , you will find her most often using the two smaller bikes.At first I tried to direct her toward the bigger bike but she would just give up and go inside.So I decided to set aside my "mom" brain and just let her play on the others.May be by giving her the freedom to choose, she will eventually make it over to the bigger bike!