What I'm Loving Wednesday

Today I am in a better mood.  Yesterday we came into work even when there was a freezing rain warning.  If we stayed home every time there was a warning, we would be home all winter.  My boss had sent an email Monday night saying that if it was bad, he would close the office, would let us know by 8 am.  Well...we are on the road at 6:20 am.  He emails us at 6:44 am to tell us he is closing the office and I emailed back saying we were on our way...highway was good, I'll hold down the fort...a little haha.  Well he emails me back and says I am not happy about this.  He proceeds to call me later on and chews me out and had me in tears.  He claims his email was at 5:30 and I wasn't gone.  He claims that I not only jeopardized my family's life, but our customers and clients.  I went against his judgement of closing the office. What does he think he should do now?  I was speechless really and in tears for about an hour.

On to today...

- loving that the freezing rain wasn't that bad

- loving that our buses were actually cancelled...this NEVER happens

- loving that we have supper taken care of most of the week

- loving that it's our Christmas exchange on Friday night

- loving that Saturday night, Maddy and I are going to see the Cinderella ballet with Girl Guides

- loving that tomorrow is pay day

What are you loving today?

Tuesday Ramblings

I do not like the changes that have happened to my Blogger...anyone else? 

I am pretty sure that I am the only one on the planet, or at least in the Ottawa area that DID NOT watch the Grey Cup.  I would never be able to sit through a full football game but I was still happy to hear that our Ottawa Redblacks brought it home!

Is it wrong to not want to do Christmas work shindings?  For the last...oh at least 7 years I have been with smaller companies and our Christmas parties have been pretty low key.  My last job, the last couple of years just included luncheons with our co-workers which suited me just fine.  This year, new company and well it's only me and two other guys.  We are in the city all week, so to have to come back for a dinner sucks, so I arranged to have dinner Wednesday at Baton Rouge near our work basically right after work so we can get home early.  Mom will just keep Maddy and we'll bring Tanner to my sister in law's.  Still waiting for confirmation from the others (but secretly, would love for them to postpone it, postpone it until we realize that there is just no time left hehe)

Monday morning when I went to Starbucks to get my Venti Cool Lime, I knew something was up, the color wasn't right but I took a sip nonetheless and well nearly puked.  I brought it back, one of the girls gave me attitude and I got a new drink (she told me she thinks she put green tea in it by mistake).  Second one was much better!

I am totally in Christmas music mood now.  Magic 100 revealed on Friday that they will be 100% Christmas music so now I am too (at work).

This week I am planning on sending some packages out - my blogger ornament exchange is going to Calgary and Landyn's birthday is this Sunday so I want to send them a package to Calgary as well.

My uncle Craig is arriving today and coming home with us.  We are going to head up to my Nanny's on Thursday night for a turkey dinner.

I am taking charge of the Christmas pageant this year at Church and I am hopeful that it will be good.  Maddy and I are the big parts and everyone else has to act out the story of the birth of Jesus with minimal lines...the problem is making sure I have enough kids!

I am feeling good about Christmas shopping.  I have enough for the kids but Ricky is on the hunt for two bigger, hot items...after that, I think we're good.  I just need my parents at this point (and the nieces).

Happy Tuesday to All!

{Weekend Rewind}

I had an extra extra long weekend with Thursday and Friday off.  Let me start with Thursday.

Thursday morning we were up early and heading to the city to do Christmas shopping with my mom.  It was a snowy day but we took our time and made it to the city eventually.  We had breakfast at Tutti Frutti then headed to Bayshore, then finished off at Carlingwood.  I was happy to check off my daycare provider, teachers and my Christmas exchanges. 

Friday morning I was up early again as I invited the two neighbours over to spend the day with us because it was a PD day and their moms were working.  We had a pancake breakfast then the girls and I made some crafts.  After crafts, we got dressed and headed outside for some fresh air.  It was a gorgeous day.  After lunch the girls watched a movie and I started Gilmore Girls!  Right around that time I also developed a headache that stayed with me all weekend unfortunately.

We made these!

Saturday morning I was not feeling good.  After getting up and realizing that I couldn't do anything, I laid back down for a bit.  Once I got up an hour later, the headache was still there but I had to go on with my day.  Ricky and Tanner headed to the bush and Maddy and I headed to the local Christmas Craft sale to pick up a few things.  I checked off some more items off my list and headed home for a nap.  After my nap, Maddy and I got ready cuz we were heading to Ottawa to have supper at Lonestar for my sister's birthday.  After a good supper and singing Happy Birthday, we headed home with Rylie.

Maddy with the birthday hat on

Sunday morning I slept in a bit and then got up, started my spaghetti sauce and got ready for Church.  After Church, I laid down again to try to get rid of the headache and woke up at 1:30 to get ready to head to Lindsay's to watch Coat of Many Colors (because the Christmas one comes out this week).  I headed home, made supper, got lunches ready, baths and just relaxed the rest of the night.  I went to bed with the tablet and finished Gilmore Girls (seriously though, is there going to be more episodes...cuz I mean 4 episodes isn't enough and the ending MUST mean more....)

How was your weekend?

5 Things Thursday

5 Things I Am Doing Today (on my day off)

(1) Wishing my sister a happy birthday

(2) Shopping with my mom and Maddy

(3) Planning crafts and activities for tomorrow's PD day

(4) Eating out (breakfast AND lunch)

(5) Laundry (when I get home)

What I'm Loving Wednesday

- last night was Maddy's enrolment at Girl Guides and I was part of the ceremony because I am helping this year

- that I got to work from home on Monday when we got all that snow

- that despite the fact that I hate snow, Tanner and I had a good time outside Monday morning playing in the snow and cleaning off the cars

- today is my Friday...tomorrow Maddy, Mom and I are going Christmas shopping

- two day work week basically

- that Tanner never ended up with the flu...he woke up feeling icky on Saturday and well I blasted that diffuser and immune booster and low and behold, other than a cough, he's good

- catching up on shows

- I met with Maddy's teacher and he had nothing but nice things to say

- Christmas presents are starting to flow in

- online shopping

That's all for me today!  You may not hear from me for the rest of the week!

Believing in Santa

Santa is still real in our household and I hope it lasts as long as possible.

I don't remember ever coming out and asking if Santa is real or not and so far, my kids have never asked.  Ricky however thinks that Maddy should know and I immediately stop him in his tracks.  Let them be kids.

One thing I do hate is the fact that Santa gets all the credit.  I buy the expensive toys and when my kids are misbehaving and I threaten to take away their toy because I BOUGHT IT, I get the whole "actually Mom, Santa did". 

Growing up you believed that Santa had his workshop and all his little elves and they made all the toys, right?  I thought with this day and age that this might have stopped and that kids actually clue in that Santa and his helpers don't make the toys, but they go shopping and pay for everything.  Maddy still reminds us that Santa makes everything in a workshop.  Does she not realize that most of the time I don't even take price tags off...I got that at Walmart for $39.99 haha.

There will come the day that the kids will not believe anymore and when that times comes, I hope they will realize the costs that are put into Christmas.  I will be sad but I think that you can believe for as long as you want.  Let's keep believing!

{Weekend Rewind}

Friday evening we stuck around the city.  We dropped Tanner off at my sister in law's and our niece babysat Tanner while we had plans for dinner and casino.  We stopped at Walmart for a much overdue oil change and then met Tracy and Butter at Baton Rouge.  It's been awhile since I had a great steak dinner. We headed over to the casino and after a couple of hours and $80 lost, we headed home.

Saturday morning I started digging out all the Christmas décor.  I dropped Maddy off at a Home Alone course she was doing and then my plan was to start decorating.  Instead, we decided to head to the city to pick up a few things and to spray off the truck before the snow and freezing weather.  We stopped and had an early supper at McDonalds and then headed home.  We decorated the house and the tree and then settled in for some TV time.

Sunday it snowed...it snowed all day...and it was really windy.  We headed to Church and then stayed inside all day.  We caught up on shows, did homework, cleaned and made some homemade soup.  My parents came over for dinner and then Maddy spent the night.

Today I am working in my pajamas because Ricky has to get the scope down his throat at 2 pm and I need to drive him back home...I hope the roads are clear by then!

Have a great week!

This Week

I got more Christmas gifts bought (love online shopping)

I had a really bad night on Wednesday.  Let me tell you.  Usually it takes me 10 mins MAX to get from my work to Ricky's work...except Wednesday.  I left work at 3:40 pm and got to his work at 4:30 pm, then we didn't get to daycare until 4:50 pm (thank god she likes us and doesn't charge us extra) THEN I just wanted to get home cuz I was starving, only to get home to a raw roast in the Crockpot because the power went off....grrr not a good night.

I did a load of laundry every night.

I had an inspection at work.

I got my partial for my mouth and well...I can't eat with it yet.

I had soup all week.

We have seen a lot of police.

We are going out for supper tonight and casino for a bit (please give me more money to buy Christmas gifts)

I bought two Scentsy warmers on sale for $13.

I have been trying to figure out what to buy a male teacher for Christmas (first time we have had a male teacher).

I have been looking at a lot of Christmas related pins on Pinterest

I wore a pair of pants that I haven't worn in forever AND they were a little big (score).

Hope you had a great week - Happy Weekend!

5 Things Thursday

5 Fave Christmas Songs

 

 

 

Okay, this is very hard, I love all Christmas songs and I love different versions, but here are 5 of some of my faves...I could probably make a list of 50

 

(1) Christmas Shoes - yes it is very sad, but I have to listen to it every year

 

(2) O Holy Night by Martina McBride - my fave version

 

(3) Christmas in the Valley by Wayne Rostad - it's an Ottawa Valley classic

 

(4) Mary Did You Know by Pentatonix - I really love Pentatonix (check out their song: That's Christmas to Me)

 

(5) Must Be Santa by Bob Dylan - we played this a lot in the car, the kids love this version

 

Do you have the same problem as me, can't narrow it down to 5?

What I'm Loving Wednesday

- that Maddy decided that she wanted money to do some Christmas shopping so she went through her toys and decided to sell ones that she doesn't use anymore (maybe not as generous as just giving them to less fortunate but whatever)

- lots of things planned in the next little while, basically until Christmas

- booked my last 5 days of vacation for the year

- getting a crack on Christmas shopping

- getting paid yesterday

- soup season...love eating soups at this time of year

- getting a free Starbucks yesterday

- my Korean cart has a permanent spot on Laurier which is awesome

- hunting is over so I should be getting my winter tires on soon

- the community support for our Church auction

- the weather for November!

What are you loving today?

To Decorate or Not...That is the Question

Ricky claims that every hunting season he comes back and I have the house filled with Christmas décor.  I say no but maybe I have in the past.  This weekend was the last weekend of hunting and my house has no Christmas decorating whatsoever. 

Jill put her tree up on Saturday and I thought, whoa, this is way too early but then I was itching to dig into my Christmas boxes and to start decorating...that was the plan for Sunday but other plans popped up and so, my house is still bare.

This gives me time to go Pinterest crazy and see what I want to do.  I have limited decorations and to be honest, I prefer the Christmas décor rather than the tree.  Since moving to this place, we don't really have room for our tree.  The first two years we didn't even put up our tree.  I bought a porch tree and put that up.  Good enough.  Santa just left his gifts all over the house.  Then two years ago we decided to bring out the big tree but set it up in the kitchen which worked.  What would work better is a half wall tree, then I could possibly fit it in my kitchen but I don't want to spend money on something I use once a year.

I want to decorate outside more this year which will include perhaps a wreath on my door and maybe I'll do something special in my big front window.  I have some ideas floating around, just wait and see if I can get the things and do what I am envisioning.

I wish I had a color scheme for my tree but when I replied to my partner in a Christmas ornament exchange, I thought, it's nice not having a theme too...this way, each ornament has a story which is pretty much the case on our tree.

I think I would love this in Maddy's room

If you have any budget friendly Christmas décor ideas, pass them on to me!  What am I going to do without Josee to "fluff" my branches this year?  Eek!

Happy Tuesday!

{Weekend Rewind}

This weekend was a great one I do have to say.

Friday I had the day off and spent the morning cleaning and making chili and soup and packing up my baked goods for the Craft Sale.  Tanner and I headed to the school for the Remembrance Day service and well, that didn't go over too well.  Tanner was a bear.  Thankfully when we got home, he had lunch and said he needed to rest cuz he was cranky.  We laid down and two hours later, he was in a much better mood.  When school was out, we headed over to set up for the Craft Sale and was home around 5:30 which was nice.  Tanner was having a sleepover at Momma's, Ricky was at the camp so Maddy and I got our baths, our jammies and slept in her bed and watched The Parent Trap.

Saturday morning we were up early and packing the car and headed to the school for 7:30 to get ready for the Craft sale.  All my vendors showed up (except one who was packing a hospital bag cuz she was having contractions) and it was a great day.  As always, we sold out of everything at the canteen and all I had was great feedback.  I was also able to get my ornament for my ornament exchange at the Craft Sale.  I love when it's over and I can just smile knowing that it went off without a hitch.  We picked Tanner up, had a quick bite for supper and basically tried to stay awake until bedtime.  We were all pooped out. 

Sunday morning I thought about going to Church but I wanted to head up to Shawville to visit my Nanny, so we decided to do that.  We had a nice visit then ran to the grocery store to grab a few things for the week and while I was in the store I got a text from relatives that were down visiting saying that another cousin was coming over from Kanata with her little girl, did we want to meet up?  Sure!  We ran home, unpacked groceries and headed to my other Nanny's to visit.  When we got home, there was a nice surprise on my doorstep:

My cousin Judy (second cousin) and her partner Gina were visiting from Grimsby and another...third cousin I think, Amanda came over with her 3 year old daughter Madison.  Once Madison warmed up to us, she loved having another Maddy.   The kids played for a couple of hours while the adults chatted then we headed over to the cottage that Judy and Gina rent and had a little play there too.  I brought Amanda and Madison back to the ferry and then we went home, prepped supper, got ready for the week and welcomed Ricky home from the hunt (no deer) and caught up on some shows before calling it a night.

Madison and Madyson

Weekly Highlights

- I am off today

- Trump is the new President of the United States

- it's my last week of driving solo

- I bought another Christmas present (thanks to Visa Reward points)

- I prepped for the Craft Sale tomorrow

- I am wishing Tracy, my SIL a Happy Birthday this weekend

- having attitude issues with my nine year old

- left work a little early one day because I had been busy and just needed to leave

- got to work earlier than normal one day

- listened to Tanner sing Jolene (Dolly and Penatronix version, listen to it, love it) in the back seat of the car on the way in one morning (my kids and their love for Dolly)

- caught up on American Housewife and This Is Us

- had different Remembrance Day services this week (Sunday at Church and the Cenotaph, Tuesday at Guides and today, the actual day at Maddy's school)

Happy Weekend to All

5 Things Thursday

5 Things I Learned Yesterday

 

(1) That I will never, ever understand politics.  I have not been paying any attention to the US election but I was aware of the people running.  Wednesday morning I woke up and picked up my phone...I was bombarded with posts and tweets about Trump winning the elections.  Enough said.

 

(2) Paying gas for your car sucks.  Haha!  Ricky usually pays gas when we are travelling together, so for the last two weeks when he has been off, I have had to pay for it...boo, I hate being an adult sometimes.

 

(3) Media twists stories and overall sucks sometimes.  My friend was involved in a car accident on Saturday night due to a road rage incident.  The man that was driving the van (with his wife and 4 kids) were the ones being stupid on the road which ended resulting with their van rolling into a gulley.  The father actually passed away Tuesday evening.  Media however has reversed the story because the wife claims it was the other way around...the investigation is still on going and unfortunately things may take a turn now that there is a death involved.  Sad!

 

(4) I can go from straight hair to curly hair and people think I changed or cut my hair.  I had my hair straight last night when I went to the local store and I had two people ask me what was different...my response: I did my hair, it's straight! Haha!

 

(5) The Girl Guide Tap song...I finally got it memorized.

 

Happy Thursday!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

- thinking of Christmas

- this weekend the hunt is over

- this weekend is also my Craft Sale

- I have Friday off

- I didn't get up last night for a midnight PB and jam sandwich

- I bought my first tea infuser thingymabobber

- the cute stuff at Winners

- getting my partial next week (soup diet for a couple of weeks I'm told to get used of it)

- Dixie Chicks are coming to Ottawa in April and I really wanna go....BUT that is money that could be spent on Christmas gifts - there used to be a time that I didn't care about spending money on concert tickets, clearly that was before kids

Happy Hump Day!

Tuesday Confessions

I am pretty sure that Wednesdays are "confession days" but today is mine:

I confess...that I listened to Christmas music this weekend even before any snow has fallen

I confess...that I actually like hunting season and Ricky not being around, the kids and I can have quick, simple suppers - like cereal!

I confess...that I wanted to call in sick on Monday, with the time change, I just wanted to sleep

I confess...that I have way too many things going on right now, too many projects

I confess...that I have been eating way too many mini chocolate bars

I confess...that every night/morning around 1 am, I wake up starving.  I head upstairs make a peanut butter and jam sandwich (just one piece of bread folded over) and a glass of milk and bring it downstairs while playing 1010 on my phone until I get sleepy again

I confess...that because of that middle-of-the-night snack wake up, I usually feel really tired in the morning

I confess...that I do not like this time change, everyone likes it because they gain an hour, I see it as getting up earlier than normal

I confess...that I am thankful that my friend and her husband were okay after a horrible car accident on Saturday night in Aylmer

Happy Tuesday

{Weekend Rewind}

This weekend we did almost nothing and that is what I had planned....okay, so maybe NOTHING but check out our weekend:

Friday after work the kids and I ate then we got ready for when Ricky came out of the bush to head to the city for his cousin's 40th birthday party.  We decided last minute to go since we found out that the kids were able to go, if they weren't allowed, Ricky would have just went.  On our way there we were detoured and saw a horrible accident on our highway.  It involved a transport truck, a car on fire and two other cars in the ditch.  There were so many emergency vehicles.  Unfortunately, one man was killed.  It was a horrible scene.  We stayed at the party for about a couple of hours before we headed home (way past our bedtime).

Saturday I had planned on doing nothing and that is basically what we did, except if you know me, I can't spend my day literally sitting around and doing nothing.  In the morning I made a couple of banana breads to throw in the freezer for our bake sale this coming weekend then I decided to clean the storage area.  Well half way through and a very messy downstairs, I decided I didn't want to do it anymore.  Haha...but obviously it had to be done.  Ricky came home and we all had a nap after lunch.  The rest of the day, Maddy and I watched Full House and Fuller House.  I love introducing her to old shows that I loved.  We got dressed at like 4 and headed up to visit my grandparents just to get out of the house then stopped at the chip stand for supper.

Sunday we were up extra early because of the time change.  Boo!  What else is there to do when you are up early, well clean and bake of course.  I made some shortbread cookies and lemon cookies for the bake sale.  We headed to Church and after lunch we headed to the Cenotaph for the Remembrance Day Service.  This year was extra special because Maddy, Tanner and Rylie laid a wreath in remembrance of their great grandfather Jim Earl who just passed away.  I organized the kids from our school to sing O Canada which went well and then they all got to lay a wreath for their school.  After the service, we headed home and just got supper ready, had a little visit with my sister, BIL and Rylie and then Ricky was home for supper.  It was then baths and catching up with shows and we were all in bed early.

How was your weekend?

November Plans

I can't believe it's November - crazy time flying and I still only have...two Christmas presents bought!

This month:

- I am putting on our Christmas Craft Fair

- I want to make soups

- I need to buy more Christmas presents

- I will likely listen to Christmas music

- My kids will lay a wreath in their great grandfather's honour

- I will attend the school Remembrance Day service

- I hope to get to the city for dinner

- All the outdoor stuff will be put away until Spring

- I better get my tires on

- I want to teach Tanner how to spell his name

- The Hemlock Hideaway gang hope to get a deer (or two)

- I am not looking forward to seeing those guys that do Movember...some people just don't suit moustaches

He can barely even grow one...and he looks horrible with it.  Sorry Crosby!

- I need to take a day to myself and use some vacation days

Happy Weekend!

5 Things Thursday

5 Reasons I Was Happy Yesterday

 

(1) The weather was sooo nice yesterday, almost made me forget that winter is still coming

 

(2) Tanner went back to daycare with just a little pain from the needle injection site in his mouth

 

(3) I ordered prints from Shoppersphoto.ca and I received them yesterday, including Christmas cards!

 

(4) I found a second hand store downtown (it's St Vincent de Paul BUT because it's downtown Ottawa I guess, it's call The Paul) and I scored a Michael Kors purse for $32.00...now, is it the real thing?  I don't give a $hit!

 

(5) I got mostly all green lights into work and a great parking spot!

 



What I'm Loving Wednesday

- that Tanner had his teeth issues resolved yesterday - look how big his tooth was...whoa!

- that I had an unexpected day off yesterday and was able to get my stuff for Craft Sale.

- that Ricky joined us for trick or treating on Monday night

- that my daycare gave me a practically new snowsuit for Tanner


- cool days and nothing planned but laying around and watching shows

- baths...nice warm baths at night reading my book

- that the kids will be placing a wreath at the cenotaph in memory of Papa Earl this Sunday at our Remembrance Day service

What are you loving today?

Poor Child

Lucky for us, our kids are rarely sick and to be honest, other than 4 years ago when Tanner was pretty much lethargic due to multiple ear infections and pneumonia, I have never had to experience my kids in pain.

Until Sunday night.  Everything was fine at bedtime, Tanner was tired so he was very easy to put down.  I laid with him watching my show as usual and then Ricky came home.  I went upstairs to catch up with him seeing how we don't see much of him these days and then I could hear Tanner crying.

I ran downstairs and he was asleep but screaming in pain like I have never seen.  I tried to console him thinking he was just having a bad dream, but he kept yelling "ouchie".  I tried to ask him where it hurt but he wouldn't answer me.  I brought him upstairs and got some Tylenol into him.  Between whimpers, he said that his tooth really hurt.  Weird.  I know how bad a toothache can feel and I felt helpless.

We tried to look in his mouth and noticed his back molar looked like it may have been broken a bit, so the exposure of the nerve was what was likely causing the problem. 

Luckily, I had a dentist appointment on Monday so we decided to bring Tanner to work with me (the guys were okay with it) and the dentist saw him at the same time as me.  Poor assistant tried to get an x-ray of the bad tooth but of course when she did that side, Tanner just kept gagging.  He kept looking at me and saying he was okay, he just almost puked!  Eventually we got it done and the dentist confirmed that the tooth needed to be pulled.  Unfortunately there was no time to squeeze him in on Monday so we are heading back today to get it done.  I am not looking forward to that...having him experience the needle, the freezing, the freezing coming out - ouff!

I took a vacation day to head home right after so we can just relax and chill, it may be a long afternoon and lots of Tylenol needed!

Wish me luck!