This Week...in a nutshell

- I have been soooo busy this week at work that the days are literally flying by, which is a good thing

- my microwave blew, my iPhone went wonky and Maddy's tablet is kaput...all that has been replaced is a new microwave (I went to Apple and I was the 14th person in the waiting queue...I'll schedule an appointment next week)

- went to Maddy's school last night for a book fair and BBQ

- sold 3 cases of girl guide cookies...and got another case on Tuesday

- received flowers from my guys at work for Administrative Assistant's Day

- been wanting to sleep in every day this week...let's hope I get to tomorrow

- got to use my very first Starbucks Star Reward which meant something free in the store, so my normal Grande Cool Lime Refresher was upgraded to a Venti

- got new glasses and sunglasses

Out with the old...

and in with the new

Shades - these will get the most use

- hardly had any time to watch some PVR shows this week

- bought cookies for a bake sale (haha)

- nice sunny weather, but stupid cold

Have a good weekend!

5 Things Thursday

5 Things About My Nanny

 

 

It's my Nanny's 95th birthday today and what a better way than to dedicate this post to HER!

(1) She has been married three times

 

(2) She loves playing cards, BINGO and Skip Bo

 

(3) She is not shy to speak her mind...some people are probably afraid of her

 

(4) She knows EVERYONE

 

(5) She has 5 boys, 10 grand children and 12 great grand child

 

I will be anal now, she actually only knows and has met 3 of those great grand children

She has 3 step grand children and 2 step great grand children that are closer than the real ones

 

 

Why stop there...

 

- she is going to live to be a 100 (and beyond)

- she actually had her stomach removed MANY years ago due to cancer

- she is a tough lady

- she only has one living sibling left (Uncle Redford out west)

- she doesn't drive

- she loves pig tongue (blech)

- her favourite color is purple

- she likes a glass of rye from time to time

- she hates George Jones

- she loves gardening and flowers

 - most of the time you have to yell to her

(even when she remembers to put her hearing aid in lol)

- all my friends know her

- she knits and we always get a pair of knitted socks for Christmas

- the strap she used to use on the boys is in her kitchen drawer



What I'm NOT Loving This Wednesday

Perhaps this is a bad mood alert...

- I am not loving that my microwave blew on us Monday night...dude, we NEED a microwave

- I am not loving that while this is happening, my iPhone is being stupid and keeps going black...I took it to Telus yesterday and it appears to be a software issue...good news is it's still under warranty so a trip to the Apple store is needed

- I am not loving that technology really bit our butts this week....Maddy's tablet won't charge anymore.  When you plug the adapter into the little slot, it's not catching it anymore...there is no other option I don't think and this makes me sad because we fight over the tablets LOL

- I am not loving the cold weather we had yesterday, I actually had to wear my winter coat AND it was calling for flurries

- I am not loving that for the past week or so I feel like I am going to puke...not sure if this is heart burn but it's a yucky feeling...maybe it's the new pills?

- I am not loving that my favourite pair of boots have blown out as well...

- I am not loving that I just found out that Mother's Day is early this year (Linds, you can thank Ryan, he told me so at least he's on the ball)

- I am not loving that this post turned into a negative post!

- I am loving that Maddy sold all her Girl Guide cookies

- I am loving that I finally went and got my glasses AND they were ready in an hour (but I didn't have an hour to wait so I pick them up tomorrow)...I got a new pair (for distance) and a pair of prescription sunglasses (I still need a pair for near but I think the ones that I currently have work for that right now)...and I didn't have to pay a cent out of my pocket because I have this lovely Visa card for my benefits...it's a Health Spending account and there is no online claim or paper work to do!!  YES!

- I am loving that this weekend we are celebrating Nanny's 95th birthday

What are you loving today?

Currently...

Loving...
- the warm weather
- the way my back feels
- busy weekends

Looking forward to...
- celebrating my Nanny's 95th birthday this weekend
- busy days at work
- getting new glasses

Reading...
- Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult

Watching...
- The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Season 2 on Netflix
- Rookie Blue - the Final Season (all done now)
- Heartland on Netflix

Thinking of...
- getting my hair cut
- spring/summer wardrobe for me
- walking and exercising

Learning...
- French training through Rosetta Stone
- how to be patient
- to exercise

Wishing...
- for lots of money (mainly to pay off my income tax bill)
- it was going to be warmer this week
- we could buy a house

Eating...
- Digestive cookies covered in chocolate (my new fave - yum)
- Same Sorts
- Fresh fruit

Happy Tuesday!

{Weekend Rewind}

Friday

- quiet evening spent at home
- made blondies for the Brownie Tea
- went for a drive to look for turkeys
- bed early

Saturday

- visited with family that was visiting from Toronto area and met a cousin from Alberta - had a great time with them!

(Left to Right) My sister Shannon with my niece Rylie, Me, Mom, Cousin Judy, Cousin Anita, Cousin Cara

- Ricky had a poker tournament, went to visit them
- took the kids to a fundraiser for Relay for Life in town that was giving ukulele workshops - the kids loved it - Maddy learned some songs and was pretty proud!

Playing their uke's

- made sandwiches for Brownie Tea
- got to visit with this rug rat

Rylie making her face!

- went to Mom's and visited with the visiting family
- went to bed later than normal

Sunday

- woke up with a headache
- went to Church (Tanner had a blast in the tent)
- grabbed chip stand for lunch
- went to Maddy's Brownie Tea

Maddy with her guests at the Tea
(Left to Right) Nanny Earl (her great grandma on my mom's side), Maddy, Nanny Brouse (her great grandma on my dad's side) and my Mom (her grandma)

- went for ice cream and a drive
- went to Nanny's to say goodbye to visiting family
- sold all our Girl Guide cookies (3 cases)
- backed up my cell phone because it started to act weird last night
- went to bed later than normal on a "school night"

How was your weekend?

Friday Randoms

- Maddy is selling Girl Guide cookies and they really do well in our town because not a lot of people ever have access to them!

- this weekend we have some family coming to visit.  A cousin from Iqaluit and another cousin and her family which are from Hamilton and Grimbsy area.

- Ricky is off today to go fishing...so it begins

- this weekend I am dragging my kids and their ukulele's to a fundraiser for Relay for Life

- the kids are registered for t ball and soccer this year, let's hope I have no issues like last year

- Sunday is Maddy's Brownie Tea - each girl is going to be host to their table and they were asked to bring 4 important women in their lives...Maddy chose me (duh), her grandmother (my mom), and her two great grandmothers - looking forward to it

- Maddy has been asked to be a model for a local photographer who is doing an art show - she is pretty excited about it

- Prince died yesterday...and so did Chyna, the WWE star

- Josee and her family are still travelling...and with a sick child.  It hasn't been the best for them driving all the way from Ottawa to Cochrane, AB.  Landyn ended up with the flu and has been fevered and sick the whole time.  He gets worked up and then he pukes all over so they have been taking longer than expected because they have to keep stopping for fresh air and change of clothes!  Last night they were in Winnipeg and this morning when they hit the road, they said another 12 hours!

- I am watching Season 2 of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt but I am not enjoying it as much as Season 1 but I am sticking it out (when is Mindy coming back?? LOL)

- the other night I had a dream that was soooo real...I won't go into details but basically my cousin/friend Lindsay had a baby without anyone knowing - then she comes knocking on my door and here is this new baby but he's like 20 lbs and he looked IDENTICAL to Sam!  Strange, I know...or maybe it's telling us something....huh Linds??

- Last weekend when we got home from visiting, Maddy had a present on the door for her - Jilly made her a photo book from her birthday and she was sooo happy!  Thanks again Jill.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

5 Things Thursday

5 Things That Make Me Cry

 

 

(1) When higher authority get mad at me and raise their voices

(or send nasty emails)

 

(2) Over riped onions

(there is such a thing...onions that have been sitting too long tend to be the tear jerkers when peeling)

 

(3) Christmas Shoes: the song AND the movie

 

(4) When the kids are being extra bad and it's a full force fight going on at my house - I usually end up having to lock myself in a room, crying!

 

(5) Saying goodbye

(whether it's death or a friend moving 4,000 km away)

 

What makes you cry?

What I'm Loving Wednesday

- that it's already Wednesday (it's nice when it's a short week)

- nice weather

- walking

- Maddy's Brownie Tea party this weekend

- visitors from Toronto area coming to visit this weekend

- may take the kids to ukulele lessons this weekend for a Relay for Life event

- that I am just going to pay my mom to keep Maddy for the summer...our daycamp was a no go (shocking)

- this past weekend, I was out and about and standing for long periods of a time and for the first time in forever, I didn't have any back pain

- ice cream

- after looking at Tanner's summer clothes, he's all set for summer which is really weird...he fits into shorts from 3T - 5T

- Maddy is also good for clothes this summer

- upcoming events

What are you loving today?

{Weekend Rewind}

We were off yesterday so let's see if I can remember all the way back to Friday!

Friday after work we went to Mom's for supper, went for a drive then went back and sat in her porch and watched the stir on the downtown streets!  Nothing too exciting! 

Saturday we were up early and heading to the city.  We had a packed day.  We dropped my car off at Mr Lube for an oil change then we took the truck into Ottawa to pick up new tires for the car.  We waited while they put them on our rims then decided to take the kids for a little round of glow in the dark mini putt.  This was Tanner's first time and I wasn't sure how it was going to go but he loved it - he loved the dark and the lights and he was lucky...little bugger got two hole in one's!

After mini putt, the kids and I went back to Walmart and we did some shopping, got Tanner a much needed haircut and picked up the car.  I then went and met a lady that I was buying some summer stuff for Tanner then we headed over to Josee's for a final goodbye. 

There were no tears but I am sad that tomorrow they are heading out bright and early and moving to Calgary.  Safe travels and wishing them luck on their new adventure.

We got home, had a bite to eat and hit up the new ice cream shoppe in town and went for a drive.  We were home early, had baths and watched some shows.

Sunday was another gorgeous day.  We skipped Church again (eek) and headed up to my father in law's.  The kids ran around and played and got to soak up the sun.  When we got home, we went for two walks and cleaned the car.  After supper, we relaxed.

Monday we were off but that didn't mean we didn't have anything planned.  Maddy had a PD day and we scheduled some appointments.  The kids both had dentist appointments then Ricky and I went to the eye doctor.  Tanner's first trip to the dentist was successful.  He was great.  His mouth - not so much, his chocolate addiction has caught up to him and he has a cavity.  Maddy had a cleaning and no cavities!  We then headed to the eye doctor where we had to wait over an hour and were losing patience.  We left there with new prescriptions and I actually need two pairs of glasses.  One for far and one for near - but they can't be together because of looking at the laptop at work.  The place was a zoo when we came out and the kids had had enough so we didn't even shop for glasses.  I may check some online today seeing how I have to buy two pairs and I want sunglasses.

How was your weekend?

Things I Learned This Week

- that my immune system is rejecting my thyroid hormone and that if I hadn't gone in to see the doctor about the blood clot, I would have never known I had a thyroid issue.  He said that by summer I would have gained about 100 lbs, been wearing sweaters when everyone else was in t-shirts and just overall feeling really tired and down...things always happen for a reason right?

- teaching my kids to ride bikes is no easy task.  Tanner can't pedal and when he is on the bike with Ricky pulling him, he is afraid of any bump in the road.  Maddy thinks she knows how to ride a bike but is also afraid of falling and she also needs to learn how to stop (without using her feet).

- when applying for a job, it's 90% "who you know" even if you have the criteria

- paying a bit more for gas in our small town actually gives us more gas mileage

- that my friends at the Korean cart must think I have a problem: I seriously could eat there every.single.day

- I am going to miss Rookie Blue...I bought the final season and it makes me sad that there is no more

- when Tanner has a cold, we have no problems when it comes to bedtime cuz he's so sleepy

Happy Friday!

5 Things Thursday

5 Things I Am Doing This Weekend

 

 

 

 

(1) Visiting Josee and saying our final goodbyes

 

(2) Picking up groceries and new tires

 

(3) Getting an oil change

 

(4) Going to Church

 

(5) Meal prepping

 

Happy Thursday

Wednesday Thoughts

I really couldn't think of things that I am loving today so I am going random today:

- this weekend will be my absolute last time that I see my best friend before she loves to Calgary next week and this makes me sad.  I am happy that she is going to be back with her family but sad that it had to be a million miles away.

- Maddy's daycare provider at school had a heart attack last week and is out for the rest of the year which is a bummer.  I got my mom an interview for the position and unfortunately someone was "more experienced" and got the job.

- Maddy was really close with her daycare provider so we are going to send some flowers to cheer her up

- I am still loving my chiropractor appointments but they are coming to an end soon

- Monday we are taking a vacation day for appointments.  The kids both have dentist appointments (Tanner's first one) and then Ricky and I have eye appointments.  Depending on time, we may take the kids to see Zootopia in the afternoon

- I need to get my car in for an oil change

- I think our summer vacation plans have changed...I think we are just going to stick to Toronto and stay an extra night there instead of going to Niagara Falls

- I can't wait for the nice weather, I think I will be more motivated to get out and walk

- I woke up yesterday with sore ears, sore throat and feeling like a big bag of poop

- Tomorrow I have a follow up doctor's appointment, I'll get some explanations of what's going on with my thyroid but at least there is no blood clot.

Happy Wednesday All!

Happiness Is...

I saw a fellow blogger do an entry titled this and I thought, why not:

Happiness is...

- when Tanner wakes me up in the night and says "can you cuddle me?"

- when Maddy doesn't turn her head when you give her a kiss good night (I guess she's too cool for kisses on the lips now)

- a clean house and laundry all caught up

- a moment of silence

- a week with no headaches

- family and friends over for dinner dates

- when everyone gets along

- meeting new friends

- LOVE

- knowing you are doing a good job raising your kids

- having the needed patience

- Netflix

- having a charged tablet at night (Tanner can never leave one plugged into the wall to get fully charged and this makes me mad cuz I watch Netflix in bed haha)

What makes your happy?

{Weekend Rewind}

Friday evening when we got home, we had a pizza supper (well Maddy and I had toast and cereal) and then headed to my grandparents for a visit.  Home early, bed early!

Saturday morning I got up and started on a big batch of spaghetti sauce cuz we were having guests over for supper.  The rest of the morning was cleaning, doing some laundry and just getting ready.  Maddy had a birthday party and then our guests started arriving between 2:30 and 4:00 pm.  We had my parents, my sister, brother in law and Rylie and friends Bonnie, Toby and their two kids, Molly and Liam.  We had some Caesars and chatted and had a great spaghetti supper.  After dessert, we just sat around and talked while the kids played.  Eventually the neighbours came over and everyone was gone by like 9:30 pm.  It was a great day/evening.

Sunday morning we skipped Church cuz I was able to get the pass from the Library to the Museum of History and wanted to take the kids to the Children's Museum.  It was going to be the last real weekend we could hang out with Josee and Landyn, so we called it a play date.  We were at the Museum for a good hour and a half and that was plenty.  It's such a great Museum - so kid friendly and hands on, BUT Tanner tends to wander and I kept losing him.  I think I would like to go back with just Maddy and actually do the other half of the Museum.  We waited in line for the Thomas exhibit and once we actually got in there, it wasn't that great or anything.  I thought it would have been better, but again, too many kids and I just wanted to get out. 

We headed to McDonald's for lunch, stopped at the grocery store quickly and headed home.  We just got home and then Butch and Uncle Dan stopped in to drop something off and ended up staying for supper.  After baths, lunches were made and we watched an episode of Big Brother and off to bed. 

Today is Monday.  Today we woke up to more snow...and freezing rain crap.  Today I am very sleepy!

How was your weekend?

The Start of Blogging

Way back in 2010 when I started blogging, it all started with a 101 list of things that I wanted to do - 6 years later and the list completely forgotten, I thought I would bring it up and see what I actually did:

101 List

1. Go horseback riding - NOPE
2. Go to a drive-in movie - NOPE but still want to do this
3. Knit a scarf - I did learn how to crochet...but it didn't last long, therefore, no scarf was made.
4. Learn to drive standard - NOPE
5. Go bungee jumping - NOPE
6. Take a cake decorating course - YES COMPLETE...Josee and I took a cake decorating course through Michaels.
7. Donate money to a charity - YES COMPLETE...a few times in the last six years actually
8. Buy a new car - YES COMPLETE - we bought a Kia Soul in 2014
9. Have a garden - NOPE but this year my neighbour is going to help me
10. Buy a bike - NOPE but we were just talking about this the other day, but holy batman, bikes are expensive
11. Meet someone famous - YES COMPLETE, Josee and I met Chef Michael Smith
12. Get a puppy - NOPE but we almost did around Christmas time but they were all gone
13. Go to a beach - YES COMPLETE, most summers you could find us in Norway Bay
14. Paint my living room - YES COMPLETE - I did do this when this list was made, but I have not done so in my new house
15. Take an unplanned road trip - NOPE, I am not good with unplanned.
16. Make my own jam - NOPE but maybe this is the year!
17. Visit Nashville - NOPE
18. Visit Vegas - NOPE
19. Plant some flowers - NOPE
20. Buy a pool - NOPE
21. Get family pictures done - YES, many times in the last 6 years
22. Take Maddy to Disney - HAHA NOPE
23. Go down south with friends - NOPE
24. Knit baby hats and booties and donate to hospital - NOPE, remember, knitting didn't go over so well
25. Buy a new house - NOPE, still looking
26. Have a spa day with Maddy - YES, sort of - she has had two spa day birthday parties
27. Make something new - YES, like dinners, always trying new recipes
28. Take a correspondence course - NOPE but I am doing online French training now
29. Try a different culture food - YES, tried Korean and love it, tried sushi and hated it
30. Make my own maple syrup - NOPE...need maple trees
31. Go shopping at the Carousel Mall in Syracuse with friends - NOPE
32. Win Bingo - YES, I won $40 one night at our town Bingo
33. Go for a brisk walk every night - YES, I am sure this has been completed, but we are trying to do this again once the weather gets nicer
34. Plan a kid’s activity day in Quyon - NOPE cuz nothing ever works out the way you want it BUT I have planned many activities for kids through the school.
35. Clean up the park - NOPE, again, they took away a play structure and our park sucks, so I don't even take my kids there anymore.
36. Plan a fundraising committee for new park equipment - NOPE because our Municipality sucks and gives everything to others
37. Have a fenced in yard - NOPE, no house
38. Open an RRSP - NOPE BUT I do have some through work now
39. Start a savings account for Maddy - SORTA, started a savings account
40. Watch all the seasons of 90210 - YES COMPLETE
41. Buy a new wardrobe for ME - YES, I did go and splurge on myself a few times
42. Make a memory quilt - NOPE
43. Try and find my “signified” dish for potluck - NOPE
44. Visit Eastern Canada - NOPE, so close to doing this this summer but we're not now
45. Spend the night in a hotel with Maddy and Ricky - YES
46. Stepdance again - NOPE
47. Bring Maddy to Build-a-Bear - YES COMPLETE, we took her and Tanner for Landyn's birthday
48. Take a food course at Loblaws - NOPE
49. Keep my cans and get the refund instead of recycling them - NOPE but we really should
50. Have a second baby - YES COMPLETE Feb 22, 2012
51. Go on a 4 wheeler expedition - NOPE, no 4 wheeler
52. Take a hike in the Gatineau Park - NOPE, we're not hikers
53. Sign Maddy up for swimming lessons - NOPE but she has learned
54. Teach Maddy how to ride a bike - YES COMPLETE...she's still a little tipsy but working on that this year
55. Help Ricky lose 25 lbs - YES SORTA, helped yes, but has he lost 25 lbs, nope
56. Have a girls sleepover - NOPE
57. Make a tutu - YES COMPLETE, I made one for Maddy
58. Take a train somewhere - YES COMPLETE, Hollie and I took the train to Montreal
59. Be a guest on a talk show - NOPE
60. Do a walk with friends for a cause - YES COMPLETE, Relay for Life
61. Make a fondant cake - YES COMPLETE and hate them
62. Rent a cottage in the summer for a “Girls Weekend” - NOPE
63. Have a sliding party - NOPE but have had winter related parties, sorta
64. Go on a grocery store tour - YES COMPLETE
65. Try reiki - YES when I was pregnant
66. Sing karaoke - NOPE but I sing all the time
67. Get a 3^rd tattoo - NOPE, this was so close, but I want to get my medical stuff sorted out
68. Organize my house - YES COMPLETE
69. Learn to make jewellery - NOPE
70. Pay of income tax loans - YES COMPLETE
71. Go skating on the Canal - NOPE
72. Get a new artificial Christmas Tree - YES COMPLETE...it's a little one though
73. See a musical - NOPE
74. Sign Maddy up for dance - YES COMPLETE
75. Organize my picture electronically - YES COMPLETE
76. Be in a parade - YES many
77. Decorate my house for every holiday - YES for the most part
78. Sleep in my own bed and make Maddy sleep alone - HAHA NOPE, but it's cuz of Tanner, not Maddy
79. Go to a museum - YES COMPLETE
80. Put a message in a balloon and let it go in the air for someone to receive - NOPE
81. Dip my toes in the ocean - NOPE
82. Get a passport - YES COMPLETE
83. Read 10 books a year - YES COMPLETED
84. Make smores over a camp fire - NOPE
85. Spend a whole day baking - YES COMPLETE
86. Make a homemade “gift” - YES COMPLETE
87. Buy a PVR - YES COMPLETE, we own 3
88. Spend a day being a “tourist” in Ottawa - YES, Maddy and I did this last summer
89. Go through my closet and get rid of clothes that no longer fit - YES COMPLETE
90. Don’t buy anything during working hours for one whole week (shopping, lunch etc.) - YES COMPLETE
91. Watch a whole Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game on TV - NOPE, not a whole game
92. Get hair extensions - NOPE
93. Make a snow sculpture - NOPE
94. Go to Winterlude - YES COMPLETE
95. Try two new cookie recipes this Christmas - YES COMPLETE
96. Meet someone from the Food Network - YES COMPLETE, met Chef Michael Smith
97. Go carolling - YES COMPLETE...carolling at our library counts right?
98. Redo my deacon bench - NOPE got rid of it
99. Buy a sewing machine - YES COMPLETE, was given one
100. Buy a filing cabinet to organize all my paperwork - NOPE but the paperwork is organized
101. Make a pillowcase dress - YES COMPLETE, for Maddy

48 completions, not too bad!

 

Have a great weekend!

5 Things Thursday

5 Things I Hope to Achieve from Exercising

 

 

(1) Being able to wear a bathing suit without feeling weird about it.  After I had Maddy, I went right down to my pre-pregnancy weight and for the most part, I wore my bikini still (even though I have a nasty scar from leaving my belly button ring in) but with Tanner, not so much.  Last year I think I bought two different bathing suits trying to cover my stomach.  This year, I am on a mission to find the top that I want but not feel so ashamed of my belly.

 

(2) More energy.  The other night I told Maddy that we were going to start exercising and she bugged me all day asking when we were going to do it.  By 6 pm, I told her I had zero energy and I went and made an ice cream cone.

 

 

(3) Enjoyment.  On Monday night when I was doing sit ups and burpees, I was dying to say the very least.  After one round, I told Maddy that was enough for me.  Haha!  I hope to enjoy it like I enjoyed Zumba.

 

(4) Fitting into old clothes.  I don't have many clothes that I have put away for that moment that I may fit back into them (Ricky on the other hand, he has like 3 bins full haha).  I do however have some jeans that I just don't feel comfortable wearing because of my "thicker thighs".

 

(5) Doing it as a family.  I hope that Ricky will join us eventually (and this would be easier if we had more room, but right now, the kids and I have to exercise in the kitchen) and once the nice weather comes, we will take up walking and biking outside.

 

Happy Thursday!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

- I wish I was loving the spring temps, but it's calling for snow today, around noon which could dump 15 cm...boo

- got good news last night, doctor called and my scan came back normal, no blood clot in my lung!

- the burn in my abs, yes, I can't laugh without being in pain BUT I am slowly starting to work out, thanks to my motivator: Maddy

- having family and friends over for dinner on Saturday night

- quieter, down days at work

- my Korean cart is back and I have had two servings of it already AND I am almost at a free one because I still had my stamp card from last year

- my back pain is pretty minimal now

- taxes are in...not loving that I will owe, but we'll see what holds this year

Happy Wednesday!