Saturday, October 31, 2009

Halloween

This was Keith's year to do fireworks patrol so it was just me and the kids. Nate didn't really want to go out but I certainly wasn't going to leave him home alone on Halloween. Chad is still pretty keen to go trick or treating.


I thought it would be cute to get Liam in on the fun. Since he loves to roar like a lion I did my best to give him a few whiskers. Sadly he face planted on the kitchen floor shortly after and had a bloody nose that messed up his look pretty good.
He's had a cough all week so thankfully my mom offered to keep him for the evening as it was very chilly tonight.


We headed over to Kori's to meet up with the gang for our evening of fun. Nate and Karli didn't consult on their costume but were certainly cute cowpokes.


Keri showed up a few minutes later with her 'freaks' and we were off!


We walked for 2.5 hours! That equals a ton of candy which Keith and I will have to do our part in helping 'get rid' of it :)






A good night had by all. It was cold but dry which was great. Now, excuse me while I make sure my kids floss and brush properly tonight!

Friday, October 30, 2009

Dress Up

Both boys have dress up day at their schools today for Halloween.

Thankfully MEI doesn't do anything so I don't have to dress up! Although today is jeans day and that my friends, makes me very happy!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Home Away From Home

This is my new home for four days a week.

I like my new desk.
Today I felt like I actually knew what I was doing for the most part. It was a great feeling! What's even better is that Marilyn (who's position I took over) is on 'email stand-by'. I email her my questions and she answers! How luck am I to have 'online' help like that. Marilyn...I know you'll read this so here's a BIG THANK YOU!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Cozy & Warm


I received a most lovely gift from my mom when I went to pick up Liam after work today. A brand new 'bean bag'. Even though I call it a bean bag it isn't filled with beans...it's filled with wheat or barley. Warm it up for 3 minutes in the microwave and you can say bye bye to icy feet in bed. It's my best friend in winter! My exisiting bag was very old and somewhat worn out so my mom made each of us one of our very own. Thank you Mom!!!
Onto the health report. Keith, Nathan and Chad all had the flu (regular variety) this weekend. I played nurse and did my best to keep myself and Liam healthy. Nate and Chad should go to school tomorrow I think. Their eyes still have that ill look but I'm hoping a good night's sleep tonight with erase that. Keith will also head back to work tomorrow. It hit him the hardest as he was sick for almost a full week. It's a wicked flu.
Keep healthy out there blogger-friends...wash your hands lots!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Ole

Supper tonight was good, if I do say so myself. I'm just ticked I forgot to add the kidney beans to my meat mixture. It adds some fibre and makes the meal go further!


Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Long Time No Post

I haven't been bringing my camera with me anywhere lately. A post without a picture isn't much fun so maybe that will excuse my absence?!
Liam loves toys that aren't specifically toys! He can be happy with a jar and lid. A fridge magnet. A whisk and wooden spoon. Isn't it just the case? He's got a basket full of lovely things specifically for him in the living room yet he wants MY stuff! He knows which cupboards he is allowed into and routinely pulls out all the plastics or all my pots and pans. Thankfully he has stopped trying to get under the sink where all the dangerous no-no's are kept!
I'm not one to put childproof locks on the cupboards. I'd rather teach them to stay out and also keep them closely supervised. I'm sure others would call that haphazard parenting but it's worked for me so far.
Although you wouldn't know to look at me there has been a high level of anxiety right under the surface. I've even been waking up at night with panicky thoughts running through my mind. Next week I start four days a week at my job. Gone are the days of leisure....here come the days of being extremely organized. Gone is my co-worker/trainer....here come the days of having no one to ask what to do when I'm stuck! Of course, I'm sure it will all work out as it usually does but I am a bit stressed. A lady I know in the elementary school has told me that it took her 5 years to feel like she really knew what she was doing! I hate making mistakes and not feeling confident in my job. It wouldn't be as bad if the other ladies knew my specific tasks but they don't. I am taking over the budgets, spreadsheets, and money side of things that was all specifically done by Marilyn. She has assured me that she is only an email away so I am going to hold her to that. She's been so patient with me and I'll miss her very much even though I've only known her a short time. She has told me that she thinks my abilities are quite suited to the tasks so I do appreciate her vote of confidence! DEEP BREATH. Just going to take one day at a time.
Otherwise everyone in our house is healthy and doing well. I am getting a bit worried about this H1N1 flu though. I had poo-poo'd it last month and then I heard about a healthy young mom dying of it in Mission and my radar went up. A scary thing indeed. I'm doing the best I know how to keep us all healthy with plenty of hand washing and not touching anything in public. This is a challenge for my older boys who like to run their hands along rails, walls, checkout stands etc. I've also decided not to put Liam in shopping carts anymore either. They are full of germs and even though I generally wipe them down first, he's got his hands all over the thing! I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Ramble, ramble.....perhaps my next post will be a bit more exciting!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Thank You Weekend

Just a small fraction of the things I am super grateful for!
Friends such as these

That all four boys like to play Lego which gives me time to read in the quiet livingroom!

A park close by that entertains all the kids!


Sunny blue skies in October


Healthy, able-bodied children



Brotherly love (most of the time)



Family...especially a mom that makes the most delicious turkey dinners



Relatives that inspire with their zest for life at 90 years old!!!


Laughter!




And making good memories!
I hope you all had a fabulous weekend reflecting on all your blessings!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Shouting Out...

...a Happy Birthday to my besties!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Forever 16 year old ski bunnies, right girls?!
PS. Very poor picture due to my scanner kicking the bucket. I had to take a picture of a picture. Doesn't work so well :(

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Bittersweet

One of the fabulous posters that was made in my honor! Thanks ladies...some pictures are horribly embarrassing though!


Oh I had talked about changing jobs for years. Talk is cheap....easy....but reality is another thing altogether. In actual fact it is quite sad to change jobs. Maybe not all jobs but my job was a 16 year career. I had made some excellent friends, had some big learning experiences and pushed out of my comfort zone to grow up. I started off as a teller in 1993 ...a single girl with a boyfriend. I ended as a TSR2 with a husband and three children! So much happened and all those wonderful ladies saw me through my life changes. We chatted about families, life, recipes, dieting, religion, money and anything else we wanted. That's hard to leave.
As my manager said tonight at my farewell dinner, I stepped out of the box. It's been scary but in my heart I know that I have made the right decision for me and for my family.
I had a great time tonight at my farewell dinner. It's a bit surreal that I am done at the Contact Centre. I do know that I will remain friends with many of the ladies there and intend to visit them all lots!
How many people get to work with their very best and longest friend? MEI hasn't been told yet that we're a package deal :)
Yippee! A very generous gift certificate to Harrison Hot Springs....can't wait to go!
Margo! She's awesome. She took a chance on a very young, shy and inexperienced girl so many years ago. She's always been someone I could respect and trust completely.
Will miss you!

The lovely ladies at Paliotti's! Thanks for coming out and making my evening so special!

Monday, October 05, 2009

Cleaning Up Messes

I just got these fabulous bibs from a local business. I'd encourage you to check out her site. The bibs are very well made and you can chose the fabric!

I had booked a carpet cleaner a few weeks ago to do our house. It had been two years and they really needed to be freshened up. The day after I made my appointment, my mom emailed and let me know she had just bought a steam cleaner. She did her house and was very impressed with the results and told me she would do mine! I really didn't want to drop $300 on carpet cleaning so I was happy to take her up on the offer. Today she just did the stairs and my mats from the entry. They are sparkly clean and the carpet isn't very wet at all. She said she'll be back tomorrow to do the upstairs. Thanks Mom!!!

Sunday, October 04, 2009

A Dessert to Impress

I had Andrew in for dinner tonight. He takes dinner in lieu of payment for his painting services! How lucky for us. He and Keith had stained our new fence last weekend and it's looking very spiffy now. I made his favorite chicken Neptune, Gruyere scalloped potatoes, and veggies. Dessert was meringues with homemade fudge sauce, fresh strawberries, whipped cream and chocolate shavings. I have to thank my friend Delayne for inspiring this dessert and Aretha for the fudge sauce recipe. If you ever need a VERY easy dessert to serve company, this is it!