Still here and lovin life!

Still here, all is good. Not much new to write about really, same ol same ol. Life is good really, busy but good!

Since I've last blogged we've had Taylors 6th birthday, and I'm totally sucking at blogging lately so I'll have to catch up one day with Bailey and Taylor on their history blogs. But yup she turned 6, we had a little family dinner and went to play mini putt, and then a big party over the weekend, a surprise party. That's all she wanted for her b.day, was a surprise party, and no word of a lie, this little girl, barely out of diapers, CRIED! Yes, CRIED, she was so HAPPY! Um...seriously, that much emotion in a little body. It was beautiful, then she made me cry...I'm a total sucker for tears, especially tears of joy!

Been busy with work and kids social events, playing taxi more this year than ever before. It's nice though, I don't mind, I just hate the dinner rush, trying to fix something good in 15 mins or less is hard. Any suggestions? Good recipies? I'm all in if you got any.

This weekend was nice, Friday night I went with a friend to see New Moon, no worries, I won't comment on it, except to say it was much like Twilight acting wise, kind of dissappointing and they will never match with the book. (Most movies don't anyway). Either way it was opening night and fun to join all the teens in their excitement...brought me back to my own teens.

Yesterday was a day for the kids. Taylor learned all 26 of her sight words this week, so I took her and Bailey for a treat to Kiddieland...(and indoor playground). They had a blast really. Last night we headed off, my mom, Taylor and I to join my aunt, uncle, Grandpa and other family to see my cousins figure skate. Their in syncro skating and are absolutely beautiful on the ice. It was a 'gala' for them and always fun to go and cheer them on. I got pics, I'll be sure to share a few.

Today was busy and yet I haven't left the house, but we got a lot accomplished. I got all the house cleaning done, the laundry, bills, paperwork and filing (yeah...I don't really like paperwork), and then would you believe it, we put up the CHRISTMAS TREE!

So fun, I'm already in Christmas mode. We missed the Santa parade so will have to sneak to another city to catch theirs, but doesn't matter, I'm in Xmas mode. Time to start the shopping, because both trees (yup 2) are empty underneath.

Yes, 2 beautiful wonderful trees, one in the rec room in the bsmt, and one in the living room. The house is decorated, the moods is chipper and well...is it Christmas yet?

Next week I got my niece Moyra with me in the mornings. In fact her mom's in a job training so I'll have her for 2 weeks or so...maybe more, maybe even up to 4. I'm looking forward to having a baby in my house, we'll see if that gets things going for me, or has me saying, nope no more, that's it.....

So that's my quick (but not so quick updaate). Kind of boring to read about.

Before I sign off can I just ask, if anyone is reading here anymore to please extend your prayers to my friend Natalia and her family. She has CF and is facing the battle of her life right now and could use all the support we can give. You can read her inspirational fight for life and love here:
http://natandmarty.blogspot.com/

Night.

Gotta get out of here

Run away, hide, no seek, whatever you might call it I had to do it. Last minute decision, which is how my life often times goes, I booked a hotel, played hookie from work, took the hubby and kids and just ran. Well, drove.

Off to Parry Sound for the weekend, no computers, no technology, very little contact with the home world, and we had a great weekend.

I have to say that life has been so busy, between house, work, errands, people, someone wanting something, something always having to be done, I was about to loose it. I know my limits though, and so we ran away, 2.5 hours away.

Ian has family up in Parry Sound we hadn't see in almost 2.5 years. So we thought why not take our reprieve up there, kill 2 birds with one stone.

Our hotel was.......interesting to say the least. I have to say I really liked it, great amenities! Fab, room. Pool, hot tub, sauna, fitness room, squash courts, tennis courts, playground, gazebo, hiking trails, lounge (ie. small bar with pool tables), and restaurant all there. PERFECT!

The kids loved the pool, we swam a lot. And Anthony was having some really good workouts in the fitness room too. On Sat night Anthony stayed in the room with the little ones once they were asleep and Ian and I snuck off to the lounge for a game (or two) of pool with his sister and husband who met us there. It was nice, Ian and I rarely go "out" together so it was nice to be able to go out and yet still be 'there' at the hotel.

For dinner on Sat, Ians sister B had us all over. It was really nice, a great visit and yummy roast dinner! It was a real treat to sit there like old times...been so long since we all just sat around her table! Thanks B!

Sunday was spent hanging around the hotel enjoying more amenities, and then a trip into town for a walk. Started off on the railroad tracks, I was so hoping a train would pass by us, no luck. Then a very very long walk of geo-caching through various parts of the town. All Ian's sisters where there, J, B and M as well as M's kids, and we had a great time...though 3 geo-caches in a day was a bit much for my old worn down body. 2.5 hours of hiking, the weather wasn't terrible though.

Afterwards we went to J's house and met up with her husband and son and had dinner there. Another real treat...with some yummy food. It definately helps to cut the cost too, as it's very expensive for us to go there. It was nice to see their son V as well, the kids all played so well together.

Sadly, we didn't get to visit much with Ian's sister M or her kids, besides the walk. I guess we were suppose to go there for Sat morning breakfast, but I didn't know of the plans, and so we sort of stood them up, unintentionally. I felt so bad when I learned of this, and we were hoping they'd be able to come by after supper on Sunday. Next time I guess.....

So that was pretty much it, or the logistics of it. What made it interesting....well...

Where we were staying, in the building we were at, a pipe burst! Yeah, you heard right, and it made for some interesting adventures. Water problems seem to follow us everywhere!!!

It wasn't in our room but a couple of rooms down. It all started Sat morning...we had no hot water. Ummm, I desperately needed a shower.......no hot water....cold shower? No way! Went to front desk, gave me another room to shower in in another building. Ooookkaaayyyy, off I go.

All day Sat, no hot water. Sat night, horray hot water! Sunday morning kids go to use the toilet, no water pressure! Umm, front desk can we get a plunger? They come in, the water pressure is too low to flush the toilets. Guess not all is fixed.

Oh dear, another pipe burst in yet another room! Hot water gone, oh wait, so is the cold. No water at all! Off I go to use another room in another building just to pee!

Sunday night we get back from town, water is working! Pressure is good, hot water, nice. But wait, water coming out of taps and toilet is like.....MUD! I mean MUD! Yuck. Front desk again, what's going on? Tell me it's normal...um, no it isn't. Bottled water please? Thank you.

Brush our teeth, off to bed, wake up, water is clear. Talked to manager and got a free night and complimentary breaky for two, woohoo! Guess they still needed to flush the line after all the plumbing problems, hence the water color.

Anyway, it made for some excitement, but still better than camping in a tent! (and using an outhouse) All in all, a fantastic time!

However, in my haste of fast packing and quick escaping...I fogot the camera...shite. So no pics this time. Sigh........

A balloon and a curtain

There are many things I miss about babysitting, those baby cuddles, feeding time and well, being able to just experience life through a baby's eyes.

Last week I got to babysit my niece, Moyra. She's about 15 months now and just too cute for words. Around me, she's really quiet, but last week I got some smiles and coos out of her. This is the 2nd time I got to babysit, so it was a real treat.

Now baby toys are scarce in my house, they went out when I stopped daycare and Taylor (ahem, 'I') outgrew them. BUT, years of experience has told me, who needs baby toys?

First time she came over, pots and pans were the star, nothing like the clamour of a wooden spoon and some good ol noisy pots. What a blast we had together making some real original tunes of our own.

This time around, a balloon and a curtain! Peek-a-boo was the winner through my curtain, and well not many kids don't like balloons....notice the drawings? Taylor likes balloons too!

Oh and the cats, following, watching, reaching out to touch them, laughing at them, yes those furry moving things with bells on are always pretty interesting here.

My favorite part, feeding her her bottle and having her fall asleep in my arms, ahhhh, sweet bliss, a little angel nestled in to me asleep in la la land. I actually asked Jenn to take her time getting home so I could get those cuddles in. 15 month olds only slow down at bottle time and I had to grab every chance I could get..wink wink. So mom did some errands and sweet pea fell asleep in my arms while I just soaked up all the angelic-ness I could.

Mom came in to find us all cuddle up, she knew how much it meant to me so she just quietly snuck in and sat and joined us, without waking the princess. Then....

The phone rang. UGH. Cuddle time over, sweet pea saw her momma and well, I was dissed. Oh well, the life of an auntie. I did get a good 15 minutes though....ummmm, just thinking of it brings joy to my heart.

October, really?

Can you believe it? Where did September go, where did the last 3 months go actually.

I keep saying that over and over again but when I get a chance to finally sit down and blog, I'm literally shocked each and every time at how fast time is going, I want it to slow down, I NEED it to slow down, I feel like I'm losing in the battle of time.

Lately I've been working about 45 or so hours a week, somedays more. This is work, not renovations or home life. Add 3 kids to the mix and home life, you know, errands, phone calls, cleaning, laundry, and well it seems I have very little time for anything anymore. I know it will slow down...eventually...but when? That's what I would like to know, please tell me when? I keep saying, next week, next month, and all the while there is always something new, some new crisis to keep at bay, something that takes my time away from free blogging time.

Not saying that life isn't good, it's GREAT, but I miss blogging. I miss reading about all of my blog friends, I miss posting pictures and well just sitting about at the computer.

I also miss scrapbooking. I haven't scrapbooked in almost a year and a half, I am someone who use to scrapbook every Friday night....it's packed away and hasnt' been brought out in a long time.

I miss my friends, I miss parties and social gatherings, I miss chatting on the phone, ya know?

But here in my house, with exception of my "social" being low, life is really really good. Any free time I have had I've spent with the kids, I find that as kids grow the work load doesn't really get lighter, it just changes. And it's fun from beginning to end. I still want to get to the zoo again before it gets too cold, maybe the Halloween Haunt might be a fun thing to try out??

Taylors started her sparks, Bailey has moved up to Scouts and Anthony remains in Ventures. All the kids love it, and I love that they love it. We also attended Taylors 1st school council, which went really well, and we go to meet Bailey's teacher on Monday as we couldn't do the 'meet the teacher night' because we had another engagement that we couldn't get out of and was booked long ago. That's another thing, despite there being 2 of us, we are constantly having conflicting schedules and even if we split up, there are still sometimes things we cannot go to or attend...how does a single parent of multiple children do it? CRAZY!!!

The house is looking good and clean...okay maybe not right now, but clean enough. Today we need to take whatever spare time we have and get the garage cleaned up and the bar started. I really would like to have that done by Thanksgiving, cause for some crazy reason I volunteered to have Thanksgiving here!

AHHH, half the time I do it to myself. Well at least I'm alive, and life, my life, keeps me alive.

Life is good!