Terrible 3's?

I am going to start drinking, or doing drugs...I have to if I'm going to get through this horrible stage my child is going through. I dont remember the other two doing it, or maybe they did and I was too drunk to notice? Ha, just kidding, I was never much of a drinker. Maybe it's time to start. Abby cannot go out in public any more...ever. Last week we went to McDonalds to kill some time. I had a cup of tea and a muffin and she played in the playplace...until an elderly man wandered in with a coffee and a newspaper...and a patch over his eye. Miss Abby came running up to him shouting "Argh! I'm a pirate!!!" Today we ate supper at a family restaurant...someone was having a birthday and it wasnt my child. When the staff started to sing to this person who we couldnt even see, my child screamed "No, in 6 more days!". When they didnt stop singing, she started. Apparently they have their own little version of Happy Birthday that did not include living in a zoo or smelling like a monkey...so she let them know, loudly. Then we hit Old Navy...where I am pretty sure we are no longer welcome. She found a ball and a pair of sunglasses and was ready to leave. I took the $14 sunglasses and laid them out of her reach and she had a meltdown ... a major meltdown. I, being the calm, cool, and collected mom that I am, walked away from the screaming, writhing toddler on the floor. I walked away saying "Hmmm, I wonder who owns that unruly child?"

The Butler Family goes camping!

Here's our new 'baby'. The first outing is planned for Canada Day weekend. June 28-July2. I cant wait!!! It isnt huge but I think we'll all be comfortable enough in it. I'm so stoked! I'm just happy to be able to pee indoors. lol. Better again, I can shower!!!!

Random Stuff

Potty training has failed, miserably. She has no desire whatsoever to get out of diapers. She has peed in the potty a few times and it seemed as if we were making progress but now flat out refuses to sit on it. I'll give her a break for a week or so and start again.
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Exams are over. Emma was on the verge of failing 2 core subjects and getting a really good mark in those 2 exams was crucial. She studied her butt off and says the exams went well but we wont know until report cards come home on Thurs. I'm a nervous wreck....probably more that she is. Keep your fingers crossed!
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Tomorrow I'll post pics of the new camper. Eric is over the moon. He knew we were looking around for one but thought we were getting a crappy little small one. We didnt tell him that we bought one until he came home and saw it in the driveway. I'm at work now, working the overnight shift...Jerry, Abby and Eric are sleeping in the camper. They rented a movie to watch out there and picked up some snacks....when I left I could hear giggles. Gotta love that.
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Running

I've started! I tried a few years back after quitting smoking but couldnt really get into it. I'm not exactly into it now either but I'm trying harder so it could become a regular activity. I'm following a start running program I read in a magazine and it seems to be working so far..this is only week 2. There is a baseball field near my house that is perfect. I can do laps on the soft gravel (actually its more like a kitty litter/chaulk combo) and not do severe damage to my body PLUS Abby can come with me and run around the fenced in field while I run. There is a little playground next to the field so I can take Eric or Emma some days and they can play there with Abby. Knowing that I dont need to get someone to watch the kids so I can exercise makes me more likely to keep it up. Hubby wants to start too but I dont think he will...he says he will but he also said he'd start walking with me, a month ago.
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We made a fairly large purchase today. I'll post pics just as soon as we get it home.

Facebook

In the past few days I have 'hooked up' with friends from every phase of my life. How awesome! I have found 4 'best friends' and several old boyfriends, former coworkers and even a few teachers. There are networks for almost every neighborhood I have ever lived in....it's like taking a walk down memory lane without leaving the comfort of my computer chair.
I fear I am becoming an addict. Are you on facebook? Look me up. =o)

Treasures

First let me say that my house is not a pigsty. Really.

Abby has 4 sippy cups. One has been missing for few days so today I decided to search for it. I was afraid that it may have contained milk when it went missing. Ewww. I couldnt find it anywhere and had given up my search when I decided to do Abby's hair. She has a winnie the pooh chest on her dresser that I keep hair bows in. When I opened the lid I almost passed out from the stench...and the sippy cup was found, along with a few other things. A wet diaper...an old one at that. A soggy, dirty sock belonged to Eric (he fell in the river with this particular sock on many days ago) and 8 Always maxi pad wipes. We just peel the wipe part off of the pad wrapper and toss them (not anymore because I realized I can use them as wet naps for a sticky toddler). It seems the little princess has been taking them from the garbage to add to her collection. When I asked her about it she looked at me with the sweetest face and said proudly, "it's my treasure mommy!"
And yes, the sippy cup contained milk. Nice.

I am fat...and other stories.

I have gained a considerable amount of weight in the past few years. After Em was born, my 19 year old body bounced right back. After Eric was born, it took a while longer and I didnt get back to my original weight...but I was at a happy, healthy weight for me. Then, we quit smoking. Hubby and I both gained 50 lbs each! I had half of that gone when I found out that I was pregnant on Abby. After her birth, I lost quite a bit of weight but still have about 30-40 lbs to go to be in my happy place. I know this yet when I get all dressed up to go out, as I did on Sat. night...I think I look good. Not so. lol. I caught glimpses of myself all night and I was disgusted. The kicker though, the one thing that got me off my ass this morning and out for a walk was something someone said to me. A male friend of my sisters, who I hadnt seen in a few years (since I was a skinny smoker) looked at me, did a double take and then said "Hey, where did this come from?" referring to my extra pounds. Yes, he was rude and I should have slapped him but I didnt. I did tell drunk hubby to beat him up...but I was only kidding..sort of.
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Saturday nights benefit for my nephew was a success. We raised 4100.00! Still no word on when he is going to Boston but at least now he's ready and just waiting for the call.
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My dream dining room table, the one I actually visited and blogged about because I am lame, is not to be. A local store had a big sale on all furniture because they are no longer stocking it so I took my dream table off layaway (it was just about paid for) and bought the cheaper one. I put the remainder of the money on bills. I couldnt justify spending more than I needed to when there are bills to be paid. Oh well, the other is a nice color, seats 6 and matches my other stuff nicely. I also wont freak out when I see the kids at this one as I would have with the other. Maybe I'll get it when Abby is a little older.

Ocean front property?

I took Abby out for a walk around the garden today. We still have a fair amount of snow but only where hubby plowed it into huge piles over the winter. We were finally able to get to the path that leads to our little river so off we went, armed with pockets full of rocks and my camera. Abby was delighted! She liked the spiders that 'swim' on the water more than the trout or clams but throwing rocks was even better. Sadly, she cant throw worth shit. One rock landed a mere inch from the water so she leaned in to get it and 'SPLASH'...face first into the icy cold water. She cried for a minute but on the way up the driveway she sniffled and said "I fall in the ocean...I'm okay, I'm OKAY". She came straight in the house and told Em about her fall in the ocean, then we had to phone daddy so he could hear too. She is quite the drama queen but kept insisting that she is okay, so I guess she wasnt traumatized. We'll go back to the river later for more pics.

It would have been cruel to take a pic of her IN the ocean....so I didnt...but I did take a few of her today and am feeling the need to share.

I took the dog one at our neighbors house yesterday. I have the best neighbors ever.

No time!

So I did buy a digital camera. Not the one I wrote about previously...I got a better deal on a slightly better camera. Kodak easyshare c663, or something like that. I love it for its ease of use! I am technologically/electronically challenged so this is perfect for me. I have take a few recent pics of the kids and updated our family webpage..www.butlerfamily5.piczo.com for anyone who cares.

I have been spending much of my free time helping my family with a fundraiser for my nephew. While I love Canada's health system, it has its faults. My nephew has to go to Boston for a new 'experimental' treatment and then back to Toronto for several surgeries. He is expected to be gone for 2-3 months. We dont pay for treatment but there is very little help with travel expenses. Several months away from home can be costly so we do have to raise some $ for the trip. We have a few local bands playing a benefit dance this weekend with oodles of donated prizes to sell tickets on. I'm hoping for a decent turn out and a good time for myself as well since I havent been out dancing in years.

Potty Pictures? Soon!

I am finally getting a digital camera. Nothing fancy, but a camera nonetheless. I have been waiting for hubby to get me one...Christmas, my birthday, mothers day and no camera, for 3 years, so I'll get my own. Checked out a few at Shopper's Drugs the other day and it works out that I can get the one in the link below, for pretty much nothing! Gotta love Shoppers Optimum points. I'll end up paying $30 or so. I'm sure everyone will be quite annoyed with the multiple daily pics I'll be posting/emailing. =o) Who wants to see pics of Abby on her potty? Ha! It will all be possible in a few short days. *Gotta do one more shopping trip to up the points to the next reward level*
http://http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/A530/A530A.HTM

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Speaking of Abby on the potty......ummm, not going so good. She'll be 3 on June 25th and I would like to have the whole process complete by her birthday. Emma was trained before she was 2, Eric, shortly after his 3rd birthday. I'm not 'seriously' training yet but for the past few days I've been letting the princess go around in her undies and we've spent some quality time reading stories while she sits on her princess potty. All I need is one pee in the potty to make this work. Just once and I will make such a huge deal out of it, buy her presents, give her chocolate, whatever her little heart desires that she'll only want to do it more...right?
This is what worked with the other two so I'm hoping it will for her as well.

Urge to kill, rising!

I dont know if I will make it through the teenage years. I feel so bad now for what I did to my mother. I'm sure she was sane before I hit age 13.
Em was caught skipping school...not once, not twice, but 8 times! Skeevy teenage boy lives across the street from the school...how convenient...and this is where she spent those days. Report cards came home yesterday and her grades show just how much interest she has in skeevy vs. schoolwork. Failed math, failed social studies, both core subjects. Science and religion..she went from 90's last term to 50's. She felt the need to point out how well she did in phys. ed, home ec and music. I almost throttled her. She has been banned from tv, computer, friends, phone and ipod since I found out about the skipping school but she still found her ipod and took it to school the other day. She had to use the computer to charge the battery and while she was at it, she checked her email. Last night she used the phone when I went to Eric's parent teacher meeting. This is why mothers drink.

I came up with some very interesting new punishment ideas last night and laid it all out for her. She does good, she gradually gets back what she lost...she does bad, she loses more. She insisted that she lost everything thats important already but I made a list. Next to go, the nosering, then the guitar, stereo and my favorite...her hair! Ha! I told her that I'll give her a bowl cut. Then the stylish clothes. I'll sell her Converse all stars on ebay and buy her $7 walmart sneakers with velcro. Oh yeah, the haircut, the shoes....she'll be the most popular girl in school.

Life List

Thanks for the idea, April.

Many years ago, I had a life list. A fairly long list of things I wanted to experience/accomplish before I died. Actually, I remember breaking mine down into age categories...things I want to do before I turn 20-30-40 and so on. Looking back, I remember only a few things that were important enough to make the list...but kids came along and the list fell to the wayside and now, most of the things on my list arent important to me anymore. I'm a different person now than I was when I wrote the original. So, at age 33, married with 3 kids, I will make a new list...without limiting my to-do's to age.

Things I'd like to do before die.

• Plan and build a house, my dream house.
• Own a camper, one big enough for the 5 of us and more...in case we bring friends.
• See my husband change careers.
• Visit Ireland
• Bungee jump
• Learn to play a musical instrument. Possibly guitar since I have a teacher right here in the house. I dont need to be good, just a song or two to say I can do it.
• Own farm animals! Ok, if/when the time actually comes, I may hate the idea, but I always wanted a few farm animals...goat, ducks, horse and maybe a pig.
• Make a piece of furniture, start to finish, all by myself.
• Go on a cruise.

To be continued: Kids need feedin' and chores need doin'.

Time...

I have none. Why is it that when we have some free time, we automatically look for ways to fill it? I have 2 days off so I am making lists of things to get done during that time so that my days off end up busier and more rushed than my workdays. Why cant we just do nothing and relax on days off? I'm trying to adjust my work schedule so that I dont work on the nights that the kids have scouts, pathfinders and kungfu as we only have one vehicle and it makes getting everyone to their destination and back on time quite impossible. I have errands to run on these days too, and any social events must fall on the off days as well. I'm off today...I've done oodles of laundry, have a toddler and a sick 8 yr old at home, I'm heading off to get groceries in a bit so I can come home and cook supper before I head out to a friends fundraiser. Why are they called days off?
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Speaking of time. Abby has started saying 'in 5 minutes'. It doesnt matter what I ask or say, her response, 'in 5 minutes mom'. She heard it on a minute rice commercial. =o)

I'm cool, I'm really cool!

Yesterday, my teenager told me that I am awesome, hilarious and way cool for a mom. I was floored! We were joking around and she said that we should never ever fight. Huh? Where is this coming from? She is a teenager and she is acting this way? What gives?

Does this make me weird?

I went to visit my table yesterday. lol. I love this thing! I made a payment too and will have it soon...but still need to wait for hubby to finish the kitchen so I can move the kitchen table from the dining room and bring in this new baby. New stuff makes me freakishly happy. A blog entry about a table...no, thats not weird. Is it?

Disorganized!

One of my many New Years Resolutions was to declutter my house and finally get rid of some of the junk I've been holding on to. Wow! How on earth did I accumulate this much crap??? I have enough in my house to fully furnish 2 more houses! I know I gave away several garbage bags of the kids clothes in Sept. so why do I have so much more? Did they really grow that much? I'm doing it room by room but just thinking about some of the other rooms that I need to tackle...the worst ones...is making me feel totally overwhelmed. Will I ever be clutter free?
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I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair...

http://www.sandithom.com/site/video.php

My new favorite song! Thanks for bringing it to my attention Karen. I love this and havent been able to get it out of my head since I first heard it. Love the beat and the sexy black guy in the background. =o)

Another death

On New Years eve, a 14 year old boy who lived just down the street from us, was killed. Everyone in Emma's school was upset...there were grief councellors, an early closing for the funeral and a memorial service for those who couldnt attend. Last night, another 14 year old boy in her school died. He choked to death on his food. It breaks my heart when someone so young dies. Hugging my kids a little closer now.

My New New Years Resolution

In the year 2007 I resolve to: Dedicate my life to making someone else's horribly miserable. Get your resolution here.

A scientific study

You need to have your sound on for this. Very interesting stuff.

Count your blessings

Today is one of those days that really make you stop and thank God for what you have. I spoke to a young woman who lost her husband on Friday and found out today that she is pregnant: A mom whose hiv+ child now has full blown aids. A local boy died last night, his young body fished out of a pond this morning. He was only 15 years old. Another boy, 17 years old, has been missing for over a month and it kills me to think what his family must be going through right now.
My kids are happy, healthy and warm. I know where all three are right now and I cant wait for this shift to be over so I can go home and hug them, a little tighter maybe, but I need that today.

I resolve to...

**in no particular order**

Lose weight! My goal is 40 lbs but I'll really be happy with half of that. I plan to keep a food journal and get in some exercise every day.

Take better care of myself. This one is actually a combination of a bunch of little goals/resolutions. I have put off my yearly pap for 3 years now so that has to get done. I'm going to stop cutting my own hair and actually pay to get myself 'prettified' on a regular basis. Every now and then I'm going to go shopping and buy things for ME! This will work out much better if the whole weightloss thing goes well.

Have a permanent layaway at a local furniture store. I'm sick of thrift store and hand me down furniture buy dont want to finance any large purchases soooo...I'll just layaway stuff and pay on it like a bill.

Speaking of bills. I resolve to take over all bill payments! Hubby, God love him, is not great in this department. The money is always there but he just forgets. He also has no concept of time so when a cut of notice comes in the mail because a bill hasnt been paid for 3 months, he really believes that he just paid that 'last month'.

Get my kids on some sort of schedule. The past few months have been hectic because of my work hours. I wont be change those but can get hubby to help me out with things. They are getting more chores, scheduled homework times and less computer/playstation and tv time. I dont think they'll notice the latter too much...they'll be too busy doing chores! ha. Just kidding.

Spend more time with hubby. We rarely see each other right now. He works days, I work evenings. He usually gets home just as I'm walking out the door. On my days off, we are usually too busy doing other things to take time for each other. The kids have lessons and homework, plus we want to spend time with them while we arent rushed, then there is housework and a seemingly endless pile of 'to do's' to do. So, I'm making a date night. One night a month isnt too much to ask for and shouldnt be hard to do. Dinner out, or a movie and dinner in, hell, even just sitting for more than 10 minutes to talk about something other than children would be fantasic.

I think thats about it. There are a million other things that need to be done but they'll get done anyway. The above are goals that I am going to make a conscious effort to achieve. We'll see how it all goes.

Happy New Year!!!

I'm done!

I am finally done Christmas shopping. About time huh? The house is mostly clean...decorated the tree and the rest of the house today...picked up the last few things I needed on my way to work and now I have no need to go into a store until well after the holidays. I dont however, have anything wrapped, nothing, not one freaking thing. I may have to barricade myself in a room tomorrow to get it done. I also have a little Christmas baking to do but thats not considered work as I actually enjoy baking and its ok to do that on Christmas eve....the house will smell good for company.

To anyone who reads this blog, Merry Christmas! I hope you have a wonderful, family filled, safe, chock full of food holiday!

My neighbors gift

Really, what do you think? I havent printed any yet...except the test page, because the labels are friggin' pricey! If you look closely, you can see Abby near the front door. I was going to put wine types on the labels but he makes so many different kinds and I'd like him to be able to use them all...do the 2 lines look dumb? It's 3.5x5 and one line doesnt seem like enough room to write those long names or to add any notes. Any suggestions or anything that should be added, taken off???

Spending Money

Wow! It is so easy to overspend when you arent paying attention. I went out this morning and got some great deals on gifts for Emma. This evening, Jerry and I hit Canadian Tire to buy a new vaccuum (badly needed and NOT a Christmas gift). Lights were on sale. This means, to my husband, the Clark Griswold wannabe, that he has to buy some. Lots. He declared last week that he wasnt doing lights this year....the sale however, was a sign from God and who is he to ignore God? lol.
After that, we hit walmart, where I spent more than I should have on clothes for the kids, movies, toys and the one thing that I hated to buy...the ipod video. $300 f***ing dollars! It's so small! She wanted one that was half the price but I couldnt find it anywhere so lest she have neither one, I caved.
Jerry grumbled all the way home about how much we spent. Odd, he never said a word about what we spent at Canadian tire. Men. Apparently its ok to spend his hard earned money on flashy lights but not on clothes that keep his children warm? When it gets cold, they can huddle around his multicoloured glowing orbs for warmth.

It's Me!

This is probably the only picture of me (not counting warped whore pics from Halloween) that has been taken in the last 5 years at least. We spent the day in Bowring Park last month and I got in a pic! Some day we'll get a nice, colour coordinated family picture done but until then, this is it.

Time

It's December already!?! Remember when you were a kid and Christmas took FOREVER to get here? Now that I'm a grown up, it seems like we just freakin' had Christmas and now its almost here again. These next few weeks will just fly and I'll be rushing around at the last minute trying to get everything done...and this is the first year that I started shopping early. I'm so glad I did.
The kids are getting so excited that its hard to grumble about it all. I love how happy they get at the littlest things. I let Eric take a cd player and some xmas cds to his room the other day and he sat quietly and listened to music for hours. Abby has been playing with all of my little snowman ornaments and Emma has been writing down every fudge recipe she can find for our fudge making day.
Hubby is off playing poker right now. I think first prize is $1000. Keeping my fingers crossed. A few extra bucks right now would be sweet.

Title-Less

It's been ages since I posted anything and honestly, I still have nothing of interest to say. I'm counting down the days until I can decorate for Christmas...around here, decorating before Dec. 15 means you are a total whackjob. I can put up the outdoor lights but they cant be turned on...big no no.
This is the first year that Abby will be really interested in whats going on. Last year she only cared for bead garland, this year she is going to flip out when she sees all of the presents and decorations. I cant wait!
Eric still believes in Santa, a little. I know that this will be the last year for believing and after that, I only have to convince him to go along with the farce for Abby's sake. It's sad when they stop believing. He emailed Santa the other day and was giddy when he got his reply. Too cute.
Emma is still being a teenager and that has me very, very concerned. She is still grounded, indefinetly. I wonder if I can keep her in for 5 more years? There is no way that I was like that. =o)

Falling in love, all over again.

It can happen! These past few weeks have been awesome in my house. Ok, forget about the Alberta talk, that part was not so awesome and I'm trying not to think about it until it actually happens. Hubby and I have been getting along wonderfully. Late night talks, cuddling on the couch, even going for drives, alone! I even had butterflies today...remember when you first fall in love, you always have that butterfly feeling?...I got it today while watching hubby outside playing with Eric. I think he's getting handsomer too <----handsomer is a word if I say it is.
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I have got to start the potty thing with Abby and I am not looking forward to it. She isnt showing any signs of readiness but she was 2 in June so its time for me to get her ready. Should be fun...not.
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I'm working on a cheesy family webpage. Just a place to post pics as I dont give everyone my blog addy, and for family members to keep up with my kids. I added a link but it isnt showing for some reason. Anyway, its www.butlerfamily5.piczo.com and it is nowhere near completed. I'm just playing around. I have several rolls of film in to be developed and am hoping there is at least one family shot for the homepage.

Long distance marriage. Part 2

The talk of heading out west to work is back on again. Hubby wants to go to work on the oil rigs in Alberta because apparently, thats where the money is. He has been to two related job fairs in the past week and met some people/made some contacts and really wants to do this. It's killing me! Sure, it would be nice to pay off some debt and not live check to check. A family holiday every now and then would be pretty good too....but having a husband/father at home every night makes me happier than any amount of money ever could. I could deal with him being gone a week or two every now and then but for months?! Dont wanna do it!
I work most nights and he works all days so we really havent had much of a chance to sit down and discuss the pros and cons together....but I have a feeling that there will be many more pros than cons, at least in his mind, and this is one of those things that I really shouldnt keep him from doing because he'll regret it, and probably resent me, if he doesnt at least try. <----nothing like a good 'ol run on sentence to get my point across. =o)

Do you think I'm hot?

Denise called me last night and asked if I wanted to go to her work Halloween party....with only 30 min. to get ready and get to her house. I was wearing scrubs at the time so I figured I'd just go like that....Nah! Couldnt do that. I raided my closet and Emma's and came up with this delightful ensemble. These pics do not do the mullet justice.
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A few more....

More random pics

Eric, the middle child

My handsome man. These pics are priceless because in most, he has a frozen fake smile...this is actual laughter. Icky bathroom humor instead of saying cheese...it works.

Emma, the teenager

My oldest, the dreaded teenager. There are more great ones of her, and some very goofy ones, but I'm trying to get pics uploaded before law and order comes on.

Love this!!!

How cute is this???? Definetly going to get a print and frame it.

Abby, the baby

My baby, Abby. Denise came up today to take pics of my kids. I think she took 200. These are just a few of my favorites. She hates having her pic taken and Denise spent quite a bit of time chasing her, trying to get her to look in the direction of the camera.

Calgon, take me away!

Do you ever feel like running away and hiding from the world? I seem to have too much on my plate lately and not much motivation to get things done. This is why I havent blogged in ages...havent done much of anything in ages really. I had some time off work, which is really not a good thing. You get used to having more time and then when your free time is gone, you wonder how on earth you'll ever get anything done. Being broke doesnt help...most of my stresses would be taken care of if I had more money but since I dont, I stress more. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. You know how it is...things are bad enough now with the kitchen reno and the kids growing out of every single thing they own...Christmas is just around the corner and there will undoubtedly be that thing, the one thing that happens every year to break the bank. One year it was the car dying, another year our oil tank needed replacing, hot water boiler once, well pump and the best (worst) was my getting laid off on Dec. 14, 40 hours shy of the required hours for pogey.
I think I'm just having a bitch of a day. Ignore me. I'll be back to normal...ha ha..by the end of the month.

A lame entry, because I have no imagination

Working, again. I am so tired. I worked the overnight last night. Got home at 7:30 but had to stay up until I got Eric off to school. Crawled in my bed at 8:30 and slept until my little princess woke up at 10. I managed another 30 min nap before I had to come back to work but I am exhausted. Thank God I'm off for several days.
I have a whole bunch of plans for my time off. I dont think we'll get to do everything but I'll be pissed if we dont get to do any family stuff as my time off will be wasted....yet again. Jerry and I are going to see if we can put a huge dent in the kitchen renovation too. He's been too busy lately to make any progress and we're having a party next weekend so that's our motivation. It doesnt have to be finished because we have another kitchen, and its an outdoor party...but if it rains, I'd rather not have guests tracking plaster dust through the house. I'll be praying for decent weather. Chilly is ok, just not wet.
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I am uber excited about tomorrow night. Hubby gets his birthday gift from me! I'm making a kickass romantic dinner for two..thats right, two, not five! The kids are sleeping over at my mothers. This has NEVER happened. I've gotten rid of one or two but 3??? Wow, a dream come true. lol. I wont say what his gift will be but it'll be damn good.

The kids

First let me say that I am not one of those overprotective psycho moms. Eric came home from school, grabbed a snack and said he was going to V's to play. Fine. Suppertime, I sent Emma across the street to get him...no Eric, they hadnt seen him all day. I called the only other 2 friends in the area, no Eric. He does not go anywhere else, ever. He always lets me know where he'll be, even if its in the next yard. The feeling you get when this happens is indescribable. My heart was in my throat and I'm sure all the color drained from my face. Even Jerry, who is not one to panic, looked scared and jumped in the van. I live on a main road and I'm sure there are nutjobs out there. So many things went through my mind in the 30 minutes it took to find him....alone, at the river in our backyard, fishing. Phew!
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Last fall Emma opted not to go back to Girl Guides...it just wasnt cool. Today, she decided that it is cool again and joined Pathfinders. I love this! All of the girls in Pathfinders were with her in Brownies and Girl Guides for a few years and they are really good kids. It seems like the friends that she's been hanging around with are an awful lot like I was at that age, and that scares me. Hopefully, this new/old crowd will keep her out of trouble.
She is also taking sewing lessons starting next week. My mother is giving classes and Em can go for free provided she helps with the cleanup after each class. Looks like everyone is getting handmade gifts this year for Christmas.
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No blog entry would be complete without mention of my youngest, Abby. Damn she is cute and getting cuter every day. She never shuts up, ever. If she isnt talking, she's babbling or singing...and this kid sings everything. Every theme song of all of her favorite shows...when she doesnt know the words, which is quite often, she throws in a lalalalala in the right tune. Its sweet. She knows twinkle twinkle, all of it, and sings it to me every 4 minutes or so. lol. She also loves Chicka chicka boom boom and I am forced to read it to her many times a day....how can I say no? The child is showing an interest in books and I love that.
Still no sign of readiness re: potty training. I'm not even going to bother trying yet because she just isnt ready. I'm waiting for my sis in law to comment on that...should be fun since her 5 year old just got out of pullups last month. I am in no hurry for her to grow up....I'd keep her little forever if I could.
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I'll post some recent pics of the little darlings tomorrow or the next day. =o)

Men!

It seems like the majority of my blog entries are complaints about my darling husband...I wonder why? The phone rang early this morning...it was Light and Power, wondering why they havent recieved a payment in 2 months. I was tired, said I'd pay today and went back to sleep. It didnt occur to me to get angry until the cable company called to tell me that we were scheduled for disconnection tomorrow. Ummm, cable internet..disconnected..season premieres...missed? I dont f**king think so. Both companies have main offices near where hubby's company office is so he figured its just easier to stop in every month with payment...but he hasnt done it! We are set up to pay everything online but one thing got screwed up months ago so he'd prefer not to. I just checked and we have the money but he didnt pay the bills. I am so taking over the bill paying in this house, starting today. I paid online and everything should be fine now, but what kind of person risks losing his wifes cable??? My god that man has a death wish!