There is some drama surrounding being the daycare lady for J due to his grandmother and we have yet to decide what the solution will be. I am aiming for a part-time back up position. I wouldn't mind MWT when I already still have Michael but would like to keep my T/Th for myself. The grandmother is not K's first choice, somehow she would prefer it be me for family boundary reasons. Which I don't mind. The grandmother is going away in the second week of September so I will definitely have J then. (yay $100!).
I still don't have the letter telling me when to take Gabriel to school, ie what time/day if anything is needed etc. But I called this morning and the letters are on the desk to be mailed today, I offered to come and get it but she said no, I would get it before it's time to go to school. She also said the French Immersion kids are the only ones missing their letters, the other kids got theirs. I hope this is not a direct reflection of the teachers organizational skills, (since I am anal when it comes to this stuff). I am however understanding that she has her own life and children to deal with as well as the adjustment to returning to work after months off.
The suite downstairs is nearly done and I didn't take progressive pictures because it's too much for me, I will take completed photos though. We will be ready for a renter asap so if you know anyone in my area who needs somewhere to live, let me know. 1 bdrm $1000/mo. sep laundry, brand new, on bus route 10mins to TRU, 20 to downtown K town.
Gabriel has 2 adult molars already. He is nervous and excited for school and we have been talking about it lots and how some kids are probably more freaked than he is. I am nervous and excited too.
It's my anniversary on Sunday and am I supposed to get something for him? Or just be nice to him? lol
Someone is having an engagement party, do I get them something? If so what? I googled it and it was very un-helpful on specific etiquette.
I would add pictures for prosperity if I had any worth sharing.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Freedom
I think I just agreed to sell my freedom for a price. The beginning:
Gabriel and Michael are both in morning classes for kindergarten and preschool which technically means I will have 2 mornings a week to myself.
A few weeks ago I met someone else who is new in town and lives on my street. Her name is K and she has children M and J, M a girl is 7 and J a boy is 5. Gabriel hasn't met J yet.
This morning I called to see if they would like to come over to play and get to know us a bit. K jumped at the chance and will be here tomorrow. K is a school teacher at a local school where J and M will attend. Does anyone see where this is going? In our conversation K mentioned that she is looking for a local daycare for J to go to for mornings as he is in an afternoon class due to his late registration. Somehow I mentioned that I am local, know how to look after kids (my own at least) and free mornings since my kids are in school. Does J want to stay with me? I think I sold my freedom for a price to be discussed tomorrow. Will it be worth it? What price will be worth it? Her husband W works shifts so it wouldn't be all the time even. 3 hours of freedom... I am thinking $20... 2/5 days I would have only J and 3/5 I would have Michael too. I would have to take J to school and with me in the car to drop off and pick up my own children. (NEED BIGGER CAR?!). Is $20 too much? Is $15 too little? I am not going to do it for free. Would $100/wk help around here? A resounding yes.
For now nothing is set. We will see how the play date goes tomorrow. I will have to be on my best behaviour, kids too... wish us luck for whichever way this is supposed to work.
Gabriel and Michael are both in morning classes for kindergarten and preschool which technically means I will have 2 mornings a week to myself.
A few weeks ago I met someone else who is new in town and lives on my street. Her name is K and she has children M and J, M a girl is 7 and J a boy is 5. Gabriel hasn't met J yet.
This morning I called to see if they would like to come over to play and get to know us a bit. K jumped at the chance and will be here tomorrow. K is a school teacher at a local school where J and M will attend. Does anyone see where this is going? In our conversation K mentioned that she is looking for a local daycare for J to go to for mornings as he is in an afternoon class due to his late registration. Somehow I mentioned that I am local, know how to look after kids (my own at least) and free mornings since my kids are in school. Does J want to stay with me? I think I sold my freedom for a price to be discussed tomorrow. Will it be worth it? What price will be worth it? Her husband W works shifts so it wouldn't be all the time even. 3 hours of freedom... I am thinking $20... 2/5 days I would have only J and 3/5 I would have Michael too. I would have to take J to school and with me in the car to drop off and pick up my own children. (NEED BIGGER CAR?!). Is $20 too much? Is $15 too little? I am not going to do it for free. Would $100/wk help around here? A resounding yes.
For now nothing is set. We will see how the play date goes tomorrow. I will have to be on my best behaviour, kids too... wish us luck for whichever way this is supposed to work.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Pomtinis
I love pomtinis.
I love that Chris is home.
I do have more to blog about but the distraction of eavesdropping is overwhelming. The neighbors are loud and better than reality TV.
I love that Chris is home.
I do have more to blog about but the distraction of eavesdropping is overwhelming. The neighbors are loud and better than reality TV.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
blah blah blah
So a week ago my mom quit her job and came over. She is still here and I am having a new appreciation for some things. I don't know if I should get into that here because I don't know if I can without sounding like a spoiled brat.
Chris has been out of town for various reasons for most of the month and won't return until tomorrow.
I got a really cute haircut last week and love it.
My office is a disaster area because the kids have been crafting everything and anything I have tried to put in the recycling bin, every time I clean up they mess it again and mom isn't helping with that....feathers, beads, pine cones, foamies, scissors (not my good ones, those are still MIA), paper, boxes, yogurt containers, you name it.
I don't know... that's about it.
Chris has been out of town for various reasons for most of the month and won't return until tomorrow.
I got a really cute haircut last week and love it.
My office is a disaster area because the kids have been crafting everything and anything I have tried to put in the recycling bin, every time I clean up they mess it again and mom isn't helping with that....feathers, beads, pine cones, foamies, scissors (not my good ones, those are still MIA), paper, boxes, yogurt containers, you name it.
I don't know... that's about it.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Highland Valley Coper Mine
There was a BC day open house at a 'local' copper mine and so the kids, my mother in law and I went to it. They mine more than copper but I don't even remember it all. The kids had a great time there were all kinds of activities and a bus tour. The bus tour took us to the top of the main pit where they are mining. This hole can fit the CN tower plus about 13 stories in it. This picture hardly does it justice it is CRAZY BIG.
This is my kids in a big digger.
Also since the mine is a 2010 partner there were all kinds of Olympic things going on and we got to meet the mascots which Gabriel was pretty stoked. He later told Duncan that Quatchi is real not just a guy in a suit. Duncan has a stuffie of Quatchi.
Gabriel and Quatchi
Gabriel and Sumi
Gabriel and Miga.
Michael would only wave at the mascots, so obviously he isn't ready for Disney World.
They also got to play sports day type games and win gold medals which was fun for them, a bit to much line up standing for me in the heat though. Guess I am not ready for Disney World either. lol
The podium.
This is my kids in a big digger.Also since the mine is a 2010 partner there were all kinds of Olympic things going on and we got to meet the mascots which Gabriel was pretty stoked. He later told Duncan that Quatchi is real not just a guy in a suit. Duncan has a stuffie of Quatchi.
Gabriel and Quatchi
Gabriel and Sumi
Gabriel and Miga.Michael would only wave at the mascots, so obviously he isn't ready for Disney World.
They also got to play sports day type games and win gold medals which was fun for them, a bit to much line up standing for me in the heat though. Guess I am not ready for Disney World either. lol
The podium.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
2 Raccoons and a Bear
This week my kids have gotten some mail.
On Monday Michael received a post card of 2 Raccoons in the grass from a dear family friend.
On Wednesday Gabriel received a post card with a Bear on it. The bear seems to be sitting in the same grass as the raccoons, there is a green boarder on both cards and it says "Canada" in the same font. Both purchased at the same time at the same store made by the same supplier no doubt. The logical conclusion for my children though is 'Did my bear eat Michael's Raccoons?'
Have fun explaining that one sender! lol
On Monday Michael received a post card of 2 Raccoons in the grass from a dear family friend.
On Wednesday Gabriel received a post card with a Bear on it. The bear seems to be sitting in the same grass as the raccoons, there is a green boarder on both cards and it says "Canada" in the same font. Both purchased at the same time at the same store made by the same supplier no doubt. The logical conclusion for my children though is 'Did my bear eat Michael's Raccoons?'
Have fun explaining that one sender! lol
Swimming Lessons
For the last 4 weeks Gabriel has been in swimming lessons and when I signed him up I told the lady I would like 2 sets in a row of the sunfish because I don't think he'll pass after the first, he hasn't had lessons in nearly a year. Well way to make me wrong! Gabriel passed his Sunfish (with ease I might add) and went on to Crocodile which he also passed with ease. Now the pool is closed for the rest of the month for annual maintenance, the next closest pool is too far away and doesn't have any availability for Whales anyways.
I am not surprised that my phenomenal child passed. Really though the lists of skills are pretty serious for a 5 year old if you ask me.
He really enjoys swimming and I think this is something I will continue for him in the fall (time permitting).
Michael on the other hand has terrible eczema breakouts after being in the pool so I think we will be putting him in something else like...gymnastics?
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Wall-E
A movie review. I think this may be a first here.
Last week while daddy was away I took the boys to the movies, we saw Wall-E. The boys had hopped to see Kung-Fu Panda but it was already not in theatres by about a week (darn! NOT) I can't express how relieved I was at that since I don't think they need more violence, even if it is Disney or rated G or whatever.
So if I was fancy I would include a cute little picture of the robot and tell you what Wall-E stands for but I barely remember and haven't got the energy (mental capacity) for cutting and pasting from the Internet.
The movie was great! The kids loved it and there were only a few parts where I was thinking it wasn't such a good idea to go. Those parts had more to do with Michael than Gabriel and more to do with kids than the movie itself.
So, Wall-E is a cute little garbage eating robot, and he turns the trash into cubes and builds buildings out of garbage cubes. The earth has no more people on it because it is covered in trash, they have all gotten on a ship and gone off into space until the earth is ready for them to come back. (a decent idea considering where this world is headed. lol) There used to be big Wall-E's and little ones but now there is only 1 left and he just keeps on going and when he gets broken he fixes himself and so on. One day a ship thingy lands and releases some 'pod' type robots, called Eve, to scan the earth to see if it is live able again yet or not. The thing is Eve shoots anything that moves and Wall-E is super curious and she tries to shoot him often until eventually he wins her trust with the help of the roach and W starts to show her around the planet and show her all his little things that he has collected and they become friends (I think W wants to be more than friends but that might just be me reading too much into it). Anyways he finds a plant in a refrigerator one day and gives it to her and she puts it in her tummy and shuts off save for a glowing green plant symbol on her chest.
After a bit her ship comes back to get her and he follows and then they are on the BIG ship with the people and everyone is like 400lbs and rides around on hover chairs and does nothing, their 'nutrition' comes in a cup with a straw whatever flavour you like. The people have limited actual human contact with each other, mostly they talk on these hologram screens like cell phones.
There is a big shake up when Wall-E and Eve get to the ship and all ends well with everyone going back to earth to clean it up and be farmers.
Wall-E and Eve are a love story and the humans are a look at what will happen story.
Last week while daddy was away I took the boys to the movies, we saw Wall-E. The boys had hopped to see Kung-Fu Panda but it was already not in theatres by about a week (darn! NOT) I can't express how relieved I was at that since I don't think they need more violence, even if it is Disney or rated G or whatever.
So if I was fancy I would include a cute little picture of the robot and tell you what Wall-E stands for but I barely remember and haven't got the energy (mental capacity) for cutting and pasting from the Internet.
The movie was great! The kids loved it and there were only a few parts where I was thinking it wasn't such a good idea to go. Those parts had more to do with Michael than Gabriel and more to do with kids than the movie itself.
So, Wall-E is a cute little garbage eating robot, and he turns the trash into cubes and builds buildings out of garbage cubes. The earth has no more people on it because it is covered in trash, they have all gotten on a ship and gone off into space until the earth is ready for them to come back. (a decent idea considering where this world is headed. lol) There used to be big Wall-E's and little ones but now there is only 1 left and he just keeps on going and when he gets broken he fixes himself and so on. One day a ship thingy lands and releases some 'pod' type robots, called Eve, to scan the earth to see if it is live able again yet or not. The thing is Eve shoots anything that moves and Wall-E is super curious and she tries to shoot him often until eventually he wins her trust with the help of the roach and W starts to show her around the planet and show her all his little things that he has collected and they become friends (I think W wants to be more than friends but that might just be me reading too much into it). Anyways he finds a plant in a refrigerator one day and gives it to her and she puts it in her tummy and shuts off save for a glowing green plant symbol on her chest.
After a bit her ship comes back to get her and he follows and then they are on the BIG ship with the people and everyone is like 400lbs and rides around on hover chairs and does nothing, their 'nutrition' comes in a cup with a straw whatever flavour you like. The people have limited actual human contact with each other, mostly they talk on these hologram screens like cell phones.
There is a big shake up when Wall-E and Eve get to the ship and all ends well with everyone going back to earth to clean it up and be farmers.
Wall-E and Eve are a love story and the humans are a look at what will happen story.
Friday, August 08, 2008
list
ok quick list of things to blog about when I get there
- friends visiting
- trip to HVC
- Electricity
- swimming lessons
Photos to be included. lol
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Electricity
This is a story about Michael, keys, and an electrical outlet. Do you get the picture yet?
On Wednesday of this past week we had a very long day that involved vaccinations for Gabriel, swimming lessons for Gabriel and a McLunch as a treat as well as spending the better part of the day with good friends. All that before 1:30. By the time we got home we were wiped out and this is when we would usually watch a movie and/or have a nap. I came in here to have a quick turn on the computer just to check what I had missed on fb since the morning (lol). Kids were picking the movie as far as I knew....
Michael comes in and says 'Come look at my cool key slot mommy,come look!'
Me 'ok ok one sec'
I step in the hall and I see a set of keys, one of which is hanging out of the electrical outlet.
'Oh my god Michael are you ok? Show me your hands!' I try to simply pull them out, I mean there is a key ring I should be able to do this right? nope, it's stuck. I start to panic. I call Susan, freak out that she isn't home and answering, I call Justin who is at work and not answering, I call my father who is home and answers. I turn off the main breaker (as in the whole house is OUT), get the pliers and screw-driver. I come back up and unscrew the plate thingy, try to wiggle key out, unscrew actual box thingy, try to remove key, wiggle wiggle SNAP! There is now a piece of the key in the outlet, this is almost worse for me than having the whole key. After many phone calls back and forth between people who know about these things and me I decide I can turn on the house and just off the breaker for that outlet. Then there are messages on my phone because it is cordless it doesn't work when the power is out. I check messages I call J back he says he'll come over after work and pout a new one in, he knows we have many downstairs because of what is currently going on downstairs (another blog another day).
By the time this is all over I am still shaken I need a nap worse than before.
Did Michael learn never to touch outlets? YES, I think they call it shock therapy because I know he got zapped since the key was burned. Did he learn through watching mommy panic? YES he was shocked at that too and watched me wide eyed and scared for most of the phone calls and unscrewing. Would one of those plastic thingies have mad a difference? NO he just takes them out, I think this is how he had to learn.
On Wednesday of this past week we had a very long day that involved vaccinations for Gabriel, swimming lessons for Gabriel and a McLunch as a treat as well as spending the better part of the day with good friends. All that before 1:30. By the time we got home we were wiped out and this is when we would usually watch a movie and/or have a nap. I came in here to have a quick turn on the computer just to check what I had missed on fb since the morning (lol). Kids were picking the movie as far as I knew....
Michael comes in and says 'Come look at my cool key slot mommy,come look!'
Me 'ok ok one sec'
I step in the hall and I see a set of keys, one of which is hanging out of the electrical outlet.
'Oh my god Michael are you ok? Show me your hands!' I try to simply pull them out, I mean there is a key ring I should be able to do this right? nope, it's stuck. I start to panic. I call Susan, freak out that she isn't home and answering, I call Justin who is at work and not answering, I call my father who is home and answers. I turn off the main breaker (as in the whole house is OUT), get the pliers and screw-driver. I come back up and unscrew the plate thingy, try to wiggle key out, unscrew actual box thingy, try to remove key, wiggle wiggle SNAP! There is now a piece of the key in the outlet, this is almost worse for me than having the whole key. After many phone calls back and forth between people who know about these things and me I decide I can turn on the house and just off the breaker for that outlet. Then there are messages on my phone because it is cordless it doesn't work when the power is out. I check messages I call J back he says he'll come over after work and pout a new one in, he knows we have many downstairs because of what is currently going on downstairs (another blog another day).
By the time this is all over I am still shaken I need a nap worse than before.
Did Michael learn never to touch outlets? YES, I think they call it shock therapy because I know he got zapped since the key was burned. Did he learn through watching mommy panic? YES he was shocked at that too and watched me wide eyed and scared for most of the phone calls and unscrewing. Would one of those plastic thingies have mad a difference? NO he just takes them out, I think this is how he had to learn.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Boys
Just when I though my day would be 'reasonable' or acceptable .....
It's 1:20 and my day so far has been more good than bad but the last little bit has me thinking and not fluffy thinking either, it's the heavy shit.
Took Chris to airport, went for early morning coffee at Sue's on my way from airport, left there (9am) got call, dad in town let's hang-out. OK sure, All good so far right? Dad and the boys played for while then we went out for lunch where the restaurant was surprisingly busy for 11am and while waiting for food Michael bit me through my sweater (jacket). I took M outside for a time out and a bite, he got the message. We went in very sad and ate the food that took nearly 50mins getting to us. There are a million and 1 excuses for today's behavior, but when it comes down to it it's just plain bad and unacceptable, like I said though I don't think it'll happen again. We came home, took care of a couple of things and while saying bye to my dad I show him the teeth marks to which he admits he didn't even see what happened back at the White Spot. He does however decide to take the opportunity to mention that my kids' obsessions with weapons bothers him and he really wishes that they would drop it about swords etc. NO SHIT! I don't like it either. Where do they get it from? Do I really promote a violence? Do I like it? Really? I just don't know what to do, they aren't the dinosaur kids, or truck lovers, or trains, or dolls, or whatever else it is that they are supposed to like at this age. I admit they have playmobile with swords and TMNT are still a fav. Am I supposed to take away all their 'violent' toys? They will (and have) made weapons out of lego and K'nex. Do I take everything away? Start from scratch? No more tv or movies because no matter how innocent it seems it is still there. Can I really keep telling myself he gets it from the other kids? I know he got most of it from them but I also now that he is now on the other side of that; passing it on to innocent ones. He got it form other kids and I let it get in my home and didn't leave it there with those other kids, that's where I went wrong, but how to undo it now? Wait for school where the teacher won't allow it? I don't want that to be their job, it is my job, they are my kids and this is my home.
I am frustrated. I know that most of you who read this have kids, boys even, the same age as my boys or even older kids and some younger kids, and from what I know none of your almost 3 year olds play with weapons, neither do your 5 year olds. I think I know what I did wrong I just want to know how to undo it to have nice sweet little boys, who like to colour or draw, write or spell, build for the sake of building not to be a castle or fortress with an armoury or bad guys, I don't care if they get dirty outside or climb like unsafe monkeys I just don't want the violence.
I will try to be open minded if you leave a suggestion, that is the point I am at.
Thanks in advance
Boys will be boys is not an acceptable response either...just so you know.
It's 1:20 and my day so far has been more good than bad but the last little bit has me thinking and not fluffy thinking either, it's the heavy shit.
Took Chris to airport, went for early morning coffee at Sue's on my way from airport, left there (9am) got call, dad in town let's hang-out. OK sure, All good so far right? Dad and the boys played for while then we went out for lunch where the restaurant was surprisingly busy for 11am and while waiting for food Michael bit me through my sweater (jacket). I took M outside for a time out and a bite, he got the message. We went in very sad and ate the food that took nearly 50mins getting to us. There are a million and 1 excuses for today's behavior, but when it comes down to it it's just plain bad and unacceptable, like I said though I don't think it'll happen again. We came home, took care of a couple of things and while saying bye to my dad I show him the teeth marks to which he admits he didn't even see what happened back at the White Spot. He does however decide to take the opportunity to mention that my kids' obsessions with weapons bothers him and he really wishes that they would drop it about swords etc. NO SHIT! I don't like it either. Where do they get it from? Do I really promote a violence? Do I like it? Really? I just don't know what to do, they aren't the dinosaur kids, or truck lovers, or trains, or dolls, or whatever else it is that they are supposed to like at this age. I admit they have playmobile with swords and TMNT are still a fav. Am I supposed to take away all their 'violent' toys? They will (and have) made weapons out of lego and K'nex. Do I take everything away? Start from scratch? No more tv or movies because no matter how innocent it seems it is still there. Can I really keep telling myself he gets it from the other kids? I know he got most of it from them but I also now that he is now on the other side of that; passing it on to innocent ones. He got it form other kids and I let it get in my home and didn't leave it there with those other kids, that's where I went wrong, but how to undo it now? Wait for school where the teacher won't allow it? I don't want that to be their job, it is my job, they are my kids and this is my home.
I am frustrated. I know that most of you who read this have kids, boys even, the same age as my boys or even older kids and some younger kids, and from what I know none of your almost 3 year olds play with weapons, neither do your 5 year olds. I think I know what I did wrong I just want to know how to undo it to have nice sweet little boys, who like to colour or draw, write or spell, build for the sake of building not to be a castle or fortress with an armoury or bad guys, I don't care if they get dirty outside or climb like unsafe monkeys I just don't want the violence.
I will try to be open minded if you leave a suggestion, that is the point I am at.
Thanks in advance
Boys will be boys is not an acceptable response either...just so you know.
Wordscraper
I had something on my mind but now I don't remember what it was... Chris is away for 11 days and I am going to keep busy with retail therapy :) LOL
I am very excited about the wordscraper application except that most of my fb friends can't seem to find it and add it, or after they do they can't find it again.
Dad's on his way so... maybe I will remember what it really was later.
P.S. K-M I don't creep, I came out as soon as I found you and I am glad for it :) Welcome to blogging.
I am very excited about the wordscraper application except that most of my fb friends can't seem to find it and add it, or after they do they can't find it again.
Dad's on his way so... maybe I will remember what it really was later.
P.S. K-M I don't creep, I came out as soon as I found you and I am glad for it :) Welcome to blogging.
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