Happy Daddy's Day

Abby wished everyone she saw a happy daddy's day today...several times. Eric was up before everyone and was super excited...he couldnt wait to give Jer his Toronto Maple Leafs picnic table condiment holder. =o) We gave him some tools , a toolbox and a kickass supper.
My dad and stepmom came for the kickass supper too...lobster and t-bones...my sisters dropped by afterwards for dessert and coffee. It was a decent evening. After they left, Jerry and Eric watched the old Indiana Jones movie (temple of doom I think), Emma studied and Abby and I did girl stuff. Check out the blue nails. =o)

Seriously Good Cookies!

I have got to share this recipe! I've been making cookies off and on for a few years now. Sometimes they're good, most often they are not. =o) I like them a little soft and can usually only eat them that way if straight out of the oven or microwaved later. Not so with these...I've made 3 batches this week and O.M.G they are good. Better the next day too which is odd since most cookies harden after a day in the cookie jar (most of the ones i bake anyway). Anyway, here it is, simple and delicious. Try them!

Never Fail Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yields: 24 servings

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup butter
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups semisweet chocolate
chips
DIRECTIONS:
1.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2.
In medium bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Stir with fork so all ingredients are mixed.
3.
In large bowl, combine sugars, and butter. Mix until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth and fluffy.
4.
Add 1 cup of dry ingredients at a time to mixture until all is incorporated. Drop cookies onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake for about 10-15 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

**I used half white chocolate and half dark choc. chips**

The Little Things

Here I sit, it's 3am and I'm at work with nothing better to do but blog.
I left the house tonight feeling great because I had an awesome nap before work...Jerry took the kids to a bbq so the house was peaceful for 2 whole hours. Heaven. That got me thinking....I sometimes do that during the 20 minute drive to work...about all the little things that make me happy.

1. Uninterrupted naps.

deux. A good book, one that I am itching to get back at whenever its not in my hands.

c. A family meal. We rarely eat together anymore...either I'm rushing off to work or hubby isnt home from work yet....the rare times that we are all able to sit and eat together is nice.

1v. Sleeping kids. Not just because they're quiet....they look so sweet when they sleep. Love it!

5. A clean house. This is even more rare than the family meal but when it happens, I have warm fuzzies until it ends. Kinda pathetic huh? lol

six. Weight loss. Any amount is good and the number on the scale sets the tone for the day so loss=yay.

sieben. Picture it. A nice day, on the deck, watching the kids play quietly, a cold drink and a good book. Did this today, got sunburned but who cares...I was relaxed. Aaaahhhh.

8 1/2. Pammy/Tammy/Jo night at work. Never fails to amuse me and it doesnt even bother me that I have to work til 3am.

neuf. Future planning. Lately there have been short term plans like deck building and house renos but we're also looking at bigger long term things like house plans....love that stuff, especially when we agree on the things we want/like.

perfect 10. A romantic night with hubby and wine. nuff said.

Floam

Love this stuff! I should have taken a video instead of pics because the sound of Abby laughing hysterically was just priceless. Just had to share...no other reason for this entry at all. =o)

Farewell Grade 9

My little girl is growing up so fast. Here are a few pics from yesterdays grade 9 farewell. She got ready at home and then went to a friends house to meet up with her 'date' and get more pictures. I gave her a list of poses that I wanted and threatened that if she didnt produce, I was going to volunteer to chaperone every.single.high school dance. hee hee. I wouldnt let her take my camera so she had to get friends to take the pics. Now I have to hound them all until they send them to me.
I figure that if one kid is dressed up, might as well clean them all and attempt a group shot. Poor Eric needs a haircut so badly but is refusing until after June 16. They have fun day at school and every year he misses out on the cool hair styles offered by a local hair styling school for 25c. He wants it as long as possible so he can finally have the sought after blue spikes his friends get.
And finally, my little 'lady'. Check out the undies...such class.

Changes

What a difference a day makes.
Yesterday high winds blew our trampoline into the street and cracked it in two. Hubby wanted to put a rush on the house..getting it on the market asap so we can buy something right away. I cut back my hours at work because he'll be working two jobs this summer and someone needs to be home with the kids.
Today the trampoline is fixed. Yay! Hubby WILL ask his father for land to build on but he doesnt want to rush the house..we'll do the work that needs to be done over the next few months and put it up for sale in the fall. I have a lead on another job. I have to talk to someone first because I cant give up my current job as the other one doesnt have health benefits and I'd like to find a way to do both.

Went to the dr. today. Ugh. I have to get my radioactive iodine treatment on July 16th. I go on the 14th and 15th for injections and get admitted on the 16th. For the 2 weeks prior to treatment I have to go on a low iodine diet...holy shit its a harsh diet! lol. It's one of those diets where the list of things you CAN eat is very very short. The list of what I cant eat almost made me cry. No milk, cheese, eggs, dairy products, seafood, salt or salty snacks, restaurant or asian foods, canned foods (soups, sauces, fruit, veggies etc), pizza, convenience foods, white breads, CHOCOLATE...the list goes on and on and on it seems. I can have meat (beef, pork or chicken) but only 4 oz per day and fresh fruits and veggies...so I wont die but it will be hard, especially since I cant add salt or butter or other good stuff. I have do continue this diet after treatment until my scan...a week later. I hope to God I lose a few lbs..some good has to come of my suffering.
The worst part of this..the part that actually made me tear up in the Doctors office....I have to stay away from small children and pregnant women for 8 days AFTER I get out of the hospital. *sniff* Abby is considered a small child. I dont think I can go that long without my Abby cuddles.

A few days in the life...

Look...me again! I havent been in this many pictures in my life! Who cares if I'm fat, not me. Actually, I think seeing myself in pics is more helpful when it comes to dieting. Perhaps I should have a bikini photo shoot?? lol, Nah, not ready for that yet. Took the kids (minus the teenager who was left at home raking the yard..her choice) to the beach today. We were hoping the bergs would be in a little closer so we could take better pics but it was not to be. They were way out. The weather was beautiful though so just being outside in the fresh air was a treat.




We spent much of the weekend working on the house. I called in sick for work on Sunday but didnt get much 'work' done at home since I was dying. Sat evening and today were productive though. We need to get this place ready to sell and there is A LOT to do...I think we should say screw it and sell as is but hubby wants to squeeze as much $ as possible out of it so we'll work some more. I found the house I want today. It's not built yet but is in the best possible area and I want it. How do you buy a house when you have a house? I need to check into bridge financing. Buying on the condition that ours sells sounds like a good idea but what if mine doesnt sell and I lose the house of my dreams? I dont think I could handle that kind of loss. lol. Hubby and I are planning on sitting down with some people...realtors and the bank...to see what our options are.

The teenager surprised me today. She was out with friend and came home with a job application from Tim Horton's (a hugely popular coffee/donut place for my 'merican friends). She's only 15 and wants a job? Whats up with that? Not sure how this will work as I work a lot and need her home to watch Eric and Abby quite often, PLUS hubby has taken on another job as a farmer for much of the summer/fall so he'll be gone all the time. I'm cutting back hours at work so that he can do that but cant cut back any more for her to take on a job. Must.Not.Discourage. I'm hoping that should she be hired, she can just give them my monthly schedule and have her schedule work around me and my days off.

And finally...I have to register my baby for kindergarten in a few days. Nooooooo. She's just a baby for God sake! Why must they grow up so fast. =o(

Is it wrong...

...that while reading the news I skipped over 'Myanamar children near starvation' to read 'Simpson Wentz wedding a fairytale'. I cant handle the bad stuff anymore and there is just so much of it, especially during the past few weeks. Makes me sad.

FYI

The stupid posts are for my coworker/schedule maker. Dont want any of the 'normal' people to think I've lost my mind. =o)
I'm trying to plan the first camping trip of the year..Canada Day Weekend in Terra Nova..like last year. We're trying to make it a yearly thing. If gas prices continue to go up however, we may have to stay in the yard and stick a Malady Head sign to the clothesline pole. Ok, so I'd have to get a clothesline pole first but you get the idea.

Dear coworker/Paloma/Tammy: I know you are reading this. Please schedule me off. I'll give you a Timmy's coupon and a scratch ticket. Thank you in advance.

My Holiday Haiku

A provincial park
pretty spot for Canada Day
I will be

Ode to Paloma

A camping trip is planned
I'm sure you understand
How important it is for you
The schedule you must do
I cannot work those days
I dont care about the pays
You wont be accused of nepotism
Nothing rhymes with that

By. Joanne (who got a C in poetry)

Happy Mommy's Day

One of these years I will spend Mother's Day how I want. I've been saying it for ages now but it'll happen, I know it will. I slept in and the kids stayed quiet...awesome. Woke up to a clean house and presents on the kitchen table (plus 2 very excited kids sitting at the table). I got a lovely set of outdoor flower pots, Body Shoppe white musk perfume, lotion and bath stuff and a cedar bird feeder (plus bird seed) as well as the traditional made in school gifts. I had my tea and toast at the computer while I played scrabulous on facebook and then it was rush time. I had to get myself and Abby ready, force the boy into the shower, find missing articles of clothing and then head out the door to visit the other moms. First though, we had to go shopping to get them something because God Forbid hubby should get them something while he's out shopping for me. No, that would just be too easy. I already had my moms gift. =o) We went to see my mom, his mom and then his grandmother in the nursing home. By the time we got home I was pooped and since I had to work the overnight shift, I went to bed. Just once I'd like everyone to leave me alone and let me veg on Mother's Day. Its MY day right? I'd eat junk food and watch online episodes of the shows I miss during the week and I wouldnt get dressed. Ahhh. Maybe next year. Here are a few pics of my attempt at being in more pictures. I need my roots done. Emma isnt in any of the pics because she spent the day at her other grandmothers house...she managed to avoid helping out around here with the traditional Mommy's Day clean up but I'll hit her with a chore list later. Gotta be fair.

The last pic I just threw in because its cute. Abby has given up daytime naps but she cant make it through the day without dozing, always at suppertime. Luckily the soup was just about gone this time.

I'll miss this...

Yesterday was a beautiful day weather wise so I spent a good portion of my afternoon reading on the deck. A litter of young rabbits were having a ball running around my house, into the woods, back out again etc etc. One even came up on the deck and sat near my feet...of course taking a pic was not possible because even the slightest movement caused them to dart away. Abby and I spent some time at the river catching trout in a butterfly net (we promptly released them) and we roamed around the yard looking for birds. We spotted this grouse, well actually I spotted it, it was 3 feet in front of the child and she couldnt find it. lol. After all of the exploration, I went back to reading on the deck, where I fell asleep and got a sunburn on my face...not pretty but it'll tan soon enough. Anyway, this just makes me even more against subdivision living. I need my wildlife.

Arrrggghhh!!!

Talking to my husband is like talking to a shoe, or a rock..pointless. We are getting our house ready to go on the market...hopefully by July. I would love to build a house rather than buy because...
1. Even though I know I cant build my dream home, it'll be closer to what I want than some cookie cutter house.
2. The building lot I want to build on is a bit bigger than a standard lot so I wont be crammed up against my neighbors.
3. We'll save a lot of $$$$. The lot would be very cheap and since hubby, his dad and mine are all handy, we'll be able to do quite a bit on our own.
Make sense? Back to the building lot. Hubby's dad owns a lot of land...one awesome lot (the much coveted one) is in the area I want to live in. I would like hubby to ask his dad to sell him this land...at the family rate of course...but hubby wont do it. He wont consider it at all. He has no problem living in that area, nothing against building vs. buying and I cant beat any other reason out of him as to why he will not ask. Even worse, I am not allowed to ask either. Huh?
He said something about having to make his own way...great, you are not asking for a handout, you are asking someone to sell you something that will be yours someday anyway.
I am getting very frustrated...not because I'm not getting my way (stomp, pout) but because I make freakin' sense! More sense than he does. Doing it my way will save us around 40k. How is this not the more appealing option?

He is trying to convince me that cookie cutter houses in sardine tin subdivisions are the way to go. Less lawn to mow, less house to clean. Never mind the bratty kids, annoying neighbors and NO privacy whatsoever. Those are all minor issues in his mind.

How do I get him to see the light????? (the light being my way. lol)

I'm so confused!

I just collected the laundry and only got half a basket. I brought it to the laundry room where there was no laundry on the floor, none in the washer and none in the dryer. This has never happened, ever, seriously. Perhaps I've fallen into another dimension?

Makeover

Since I have nothing to actually blog about, I figured I'd give the place a makeover. I'll replace the pic with one of myself when I get a chance to take one.

Made me laugh

This was just too funny to not share.

25 Most baffling toys from around the world...

http://www.cracked.com/article_15670_25-most-baffling-toys-from-around-world.html

6 Things you didnt know you can get addicted to.

http://www.cracked.com/article_16220_6-things-you-didnt-know-you-could-get-addicted.html

Funny stuff no?

Blog Neglect?

Do neglected blogs just curl up and die?

I've been busy with work, renovations, kids, hubby, facebook, delphi, ebay and everyday housewife/mom stuff. But I'm here now. That counts.
There really hasnt been anything going on worth talking about. My life is pretty dull so instead of trying to come up with some pathetic post for the sake of posting something, I wont. I'll just walk away now and come back in a day or two...or three, hopefully with an interesting anecdote or even a few cute pics.
Til then.

Meeeeeeeeee!

Not the best pics but its me.... actual real live pics of me! This is huge. I realized today that when I do my picture wall in the family room...of duh! family pictures...I wont be there. lol. I can put up a wedding pic but thats it, there are no more. Since I no longer look anything like I did on my wedding day, I thought it was time to take a few random snaps.

There were several taken and I didnt even delete any! I'm famous for that and it drives hubby insane. Pic is less than flattering...delete, I look fat...delete, I have my eyes closed...delete. Today I didnt and thats a huge step for me. Yay!

Check out the snow! Today was a rare nice sunny day...but it was only about 1 or 2 degrees. See my little red car in the first pic...it's almost ready to emerge from its icy winter sleep. Rain in the forecast for tomorrow so maybe she'll be free! Cross your fingers...its easier on gas.

Can I have a goat???

The answer has been no for weeks but Emma keeps asking. lol. She spent the weekend at my sisters house..the sister who has a little farm with cows, a horse, pigs and.....baby goats. She fell madly in love with the one in the pic, whose name is Sheila (Em named her) and made me fall in love too. Damn, what a cute little creature. I can admit that its adorable and move on....Emma, Abby and Eric however, all wanted to keep her. Check out the less than happy Abby pic...this is right after Jerry told her that she cant have any animals, period.

Not much to say

It's been ages since I posting anything worth reading here....and dont get excited because this isnt a comeback. I still have nothing to talk about..nothing new going on here and certainly nothing interesting. I thought I'd share these pics instead. Love the middle one, if only I had thought to brush Abby's hair first. That's a very rare smile on Eric's face and the only reason its there is because Abby farted. lol.






Someday you'll see a pic of me on here...not any time soon mind you but someday. I'm currently dieting...the goal is a 25lb loss by June. How hard can it be? I'm picking up an elliptical this weekend and have been doing ok with other excercising and eating ok...now, if some of those 'enablers' that I work with would behave, I'd be skinny in no time.
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Also need to mention that professional pics will get done soon...for really real. The cute little chinese dress arrived from Shanghai and the bruises have healed nicely. I'm hoping I can do this without an appointment because you know what happens when that appt. gets made. Stay tuned.

Professional Pictures?

Not gonna happen. She took a tumble over the stairs at my dads today. You cant see the blood all over the other side of her nose.

When moms let kids get dressed....

...all by themselves, this is the result. Looks like she is pondering what else she can put on. Eric's winter cap, her 'balldrina dress', her 'red best', too big boots from the back of the closet and her wonderpets cape. My little fashionista.

Decisions, decisions....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=380006473834&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=025#ebayphotohosting

Help me decide. Abby's room is in desperate need of a makeover. I've been itching to get at it ever since I bought the new bed. I already have a gallon and a half of pale yellow paint that I'll be using....I'm trying to do this on the cheap. I have oodles of accessories (old watering can planters, a picket fence window thing, some framed pics etc) so I'm going with a garden theme. Here are my 3 bedding choices. For some reason I cant save the pic in one so I've added a link. I love all 3. Help me choose!

I've never been so busy....

Wow. My house is a mess, the kids miss me, I havent seen hubby in 4 days and I'm tired. I dont work any more than I used to, maybe an extra shift or two every 2 weeks but it seems like thats where I spend all of my time. I try to make it to play groups with Abby during the day but its hard to get there when I'm asleep. lol. Plus there is the guilt of taking off for a few hours when the house could really use my attention. Now the weather is getting a little better and I'm going to want to be outside more often, and the house will still be neglected. Maybe I should just say to hell with it and live in squalor, just until I win the lottery or get cloned..whichever comes first.

It's Done!!!

Em got her head shaved this afternoon. Her grand fundraising total was 1000.00 even...which was her initial goal. She could have done more if there was more time but we are all delighted with this. I'd like to thank everyone who donated to this worthy cause. Everyone was so generous and I was seriously amazed at the number of online friends who donated via paypal! You are all awesome! Thanks soooo much! The local paper came by to interview Em so she'll have a little blurb in it next week (it's a weekly paper)....her 15 minutes of fame.

Enjoy the pics! As you can see they didnt shave the girls completely bald like the guys...the 2 guys are a teacher and the vice principal, the other girl is a friend who Emma roped in at the last minute. Doesnt my girl look gorgeous?! She loves it and everyone is super proud.

Shave for the Brave!

Emma is doing this! She's raising money for cancer and then having her head shaved in front of the whole school! C'mon, you have to admit that she rocks. 15 year old girls dont shave their heads! Plus...her grade 9 farewell (a sort of mini-grad) is in May...she'll still be pretty bald...and she's ok with that. Love, love, love her. I'm going to help her collect pledges. Her schools goal is $1000 and 2 male teachers are doing it too...her personal goal is $1000. I'm sure she'll do it, maybe more.

http://www.realtimecancer.org/contentpage.asp?PageID=99

Blogging at its finest

Ha! Not quite quality writing. Just some updates and stuff.

Abby saw me snarfing down chocolate this morning (breakfast of champions dontcha know) and asked for some....but Mommy had already eaten every bit. Besides, who shares lindor chocolates with a child? What a waste. I spotted Eric's box of spongebob chocolates from valentines day and offered her one...."No way, they're Eric's" she said and ran away. Perhaps he beats her when I'm at work? lol. What kind of kid turns down chocolate, especially when its her brothers. Hell, I would have eaten it all when I was a kid then trash some toys and blame it on my sister. Kid has a lot to learn.

I am soooooooooooooooooooooo proud of Emma right now. Will have to update to let everyone know why as it isnt 100% just yet. Let me just say, she rocks.

Yesterday Eric read a book. This is not a surprise but it makes me feel good nonetheless. I took him to chapters where he bought a few and then came home, locked himself in the 'good' living room and read an entire novel in one sitting. He said it was the best book ever. Warm fuzzies.

Anyone looking for professional Abby pics wont see any for a while. Had to cancel the appt as someone fell down and has a few little bruises that will no doubt look ten times worse on film. Will reschedule.

The New Bed

The new bed! She loves it but her room is just plain sad. We need to paint the walls, clear out some toys and get a window seat cushion and new curtains....and a fish according to Abby. Way over on the shelf is a little fish bowl inside a wooden tv but no fish lives there, yet.
I'm thinking of doing a garden theme...the carpet is sage green so this could work. I want to put something across the window since its just not safe (right now its locked and the handle is removed but still...) so I've been thinking of making a picket fence to go there...with flowers and butterflies and ladybugs. Shoot, now I'm getting all excited and I still havent started the family room. lol.

Back at it

Lookie what I got! I thought I deserved a little treat. I really shouldnt be spending right now because I ran out of paid leave last week but these are pretty and my collection has been neglected for a while now. For both with shipping was only around $30...I'd spend that on a good feed of Chinese (if I had an appetite) so I dont feel too bad.




I feel like shit. But thats no excuse. My house is a mess and none of the projects that I had planned on doing are getting done. Ok, so the whole hospital thing sort of put a damper on things but I'm back now! There are limits to what I can do right now....no heavy lifting or stretching are the biggies and I'm like a toy with cheap batteries. I can go go go for a short period but then I collapse from exhaustion and have to recharge before I can go again. If I work around these issues there is no reason why I cant get my January project done before the end of February. So...Feb.= Family Room. March=Abby's room. Recuperating is for wimps!

Btw: Abby has an appt. next week for professional pics. Stay tuned!!!

The week in review

The trip: Emma has returned from her school trip to Quebec and it was a huge success. They didnt lose any kids and a good time was had by all. She brought back a few gifts for everyone...maple syrup and hard rock cafe mugs for the grown ups and cutesy toys and stuff for Abby and Eric. She managed to buy some clothes too....and one awesome sweater that I will wear some day!

The kids: They missed me while I was in the hospital. Eric just a tad but Abby....meltdowns daily. They got to spend some time with my dad and stepmom...a babysitting first and my mother in law spent a day here as well. Things just arent the same when I'm not here so I think everyone is happy that I'm home and everything can get back to normal.

The surgery: Ouch! lol. This one was much more painful than the last and it was just all around very unpleasant. My calcium levels dropped so I was hooked up to the iv many times....plus blood draws every 4 hours by totally incompetent people who have very little training it seems. My veins are not that hard to find....just stop and look....but they preferred the jab repeatedly with a needle until we hit something method. My black, purple and green arms are lovely thankyouverymuch.
On Fri. it was decided that my drainage tubes could come out. I was not looking foward to this but having them in is painful enough...getting them out is a few minutes of excruciating pain and then its over...right? Not so. The nurse got ready, I prepared myself mentally...she pulled...and pulled and nothing. She said that something was wrong..it shouldnt be that hard but maybe its tangled in the other one...lets do that first....pulled, harder...and it came out. Ok, back to the first one. More pulling, me screaming and cursing (a lot of cursing, sailors would blush). I had to ask her to stop at one point because I was very close to passing out from the pain. I'm getting nauseous just typing this. She asked for help (just someone to hold me down really) and gave it another go...this time it came out but I swear to God it was the worst pain I have ever felt. They shot me full of demerol and gravol and I lay on the bed shaking until I slipped into a deep sleep.
Got out on Sat. and am so glad. I feel like shit. Constant nausea, shakes, wooziness etc but I'm home and getting lots of loves from Miss Abby.
I dont go back to the hospital for quite some time...early April I think. I'll have many appointments between now and then but the really hard stuff is over with....the rest should be easy.

15 Years Ago...

15 years ago today, Emma was born. It was just a few days after my 19th birthday and I was single, broke and scared to death. Being slightly 'wild' back in those days, I figured I wouldnt have what it takes to settle down and be a decent mom....I wasnt the only one who thought this. Of course, no one told me until a few years later when it was clear that I wasnt a total screw up. =o) I think I did pretty damn good. She is an awesome kid with a huge heart. In the past few weeks I've gotten some amazing compliments about what a great job I did raising her. ***warm fuzzies***. I'm super proud and she knows it. In fact, the more I tell her, the better she gets. Must try this with the other 2. Here she is on the day she was born, on her 1st Christmas, on her 4th birthday...threw this in because its the closest to Abby's current age and I wanted to compare. Abby is 3yrs 7months right now. And the last...this past Christmas. She is such a goof...like her mom. She wanted to see what her hand would like like if it was a gingerbread man/hand. She's en route to Quebec now for her school trip. The house is quiet without her...ok, so not that quiet as I still have the other 2 here. She's had 2 stopovers so far and called her mom twice. Awwwwww. She doesnt want me to worry. =o)

Unsuccessful picture day

Nobody wanted to cooperate. Eric took off when he saw me outside with the camera after school. I managed to guilt him into one shot. Emma laughed most of the time so pretty much every pic has her laughing or being goofy. Abby just didnt want to sit still. Love that shot of her with blackie and the last one, with the funny grin...she looks like a cindy lou who. That grin was because she heard Eric's bus pull up.

I'm going to try this again...maybe tomorrow.

Please forgive my lack of formatting knowledge. I dont know what I clicked to make my pics display this way. Screw it.

Happy Birthday Me

It's after midnight so its officially my birthday. I'm 34 today. Just got back from a little shopping excursion with my teenager. I was given a few birthday bucks and I had some leftover from xmas but I couldnt find a thing to buy! The one thing I wanted, this air climber, was a little bit too pricey...ok, so it wasnt even that expensive but I'm a cheapass...and maybe I wont use it anyway. I'll keep an eye out for a sale or something.

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Stay tuned. Some time in the next few days I'm taking oodles of 'nice' pics of the kids. Will post them here. *nice=clean face and matching clothes.

The 'C' Word

Scary. I was ok today when my doctor said I have thyroid cancer. I am dreading the second surgery but my nephew had the same cancer and he is fine, so I will be too..right? I need the full report before I relax. If it has spread to the lymph nodes....is that it? Where else could it go? I'm sure they'll call when the report comes in but until then....I need a drink.

Abby has been super clingy ever since I got out of the hospital, 2 weeks ago. I cant be in a different room or she has a meltdown. She is constantly climbing up on my lap asking for hugs....very cute but it does get tiresome. She didnt cope very well without me for 4 days and I dont think she'll do any better the next time. Maybe I can make life size cardboard cutouts of me? Printable masks for the babysitter?

I am sad.

Hubby and I are fighting...actually, not so much fighting as not speaking. We had a huge blow out yesterday afternoon and its been silent ever since. This is one of those situations that we relive every few months...its our biggest relationship issue and it never gets resolved...just sent to the back burner for a while until money becomes an issue again. I want to finish up some projects around the house, put the apartment back the way it was and stick this sucker on the market. The market is great right now and everything in our area is selling..quickly. He wants to fill our empty rooms with boarders to make as much $$$$ as possible in the next few months so that we can actually do things this summer. Hell, I'd love the extra money too but he isnt thinking of anything else..just the money. Where do the boarders come from? All that work and there may be none looking for a place this time of the year. Who will feed them? Clean up after them? My BIGGEST issue is that I leave for work at 4:30 or 6:30 pm depends on the day. He is never home so Em watches the kids until he gets here. Ummm, no way am I leaving my grown up looking girl with a bunch of strange men. He doesnt even see a problem with this?????
There are other issues here too...lots of them...I'd sit down and discuss things with him but we arent speaking.
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Damn you NuclearMom!!!!!!!! I am determined to finish a room this month. I was ok with just an area but you had to go and brag about doing a whole room. lol.
I still have more than a week to do this. How hard can it be?

I love you guys!!!

I have the best friends ever! Some people dont consider them to be 'real' friends as I've never met most of them in person....but real friends they are, and damn good ones. I got a surprise visit today from Karen with a whole pile of goodies from all of my friends on The Rock. Not sure if everything is visible in the pic so I'll list for you.

Flowers....a HUGE bouquet...enough for 2 large vases...and they are gorgeous.

Chicken Penne Alfredo..family size, just heat and serve.

Coconut cream pie!

2 magazines...Martha Stewart and Canadian living

2 books...Anita Shreve- A wedding in December and Alice Sebold- The Almost Moon

Lindor chocolate balls! Mmmmm. *Abby loves them. lol*

A get well card. =o)

I keep telling myself that I'm fine..just a little cut and its almost better. I refuse offers of help because thats just the type of person I am. Once I found a vase and arranged the flowers I started to feel woozy and had to lie down for a bit. Maybe sometimes I really do need a hand...having a meal already prepared..and delivered..is perfect and very much appreciated. Thanks so much! You guys are all awesome.

The cuteness that is Abby

Oh my God. My kid is adorable, seriously adorable. In the past few weeks her speech has just bloomed and she is the sweetest thing. Ok, so sometimes she'll try to beat the snot out of her big brother but most of the time the sweetness comes out. Constantly asking for hugs, kisses, singalongs and stories and she is more pleased with these little things than she was with any of the gifts she got at Christmas. Eric bought her a little penguin teddy bear today which she liked but when I pulled a pair of chenille socks out of my pocket that my sisters kid had outgrown she was over the moon! She did a happy dance and had to put them on right away all the while screaming "I love them, they're booootiful". I took them off when she got into bed because they are too warm but when I went to re-tuck her after she had fallen asleep, she was cuddling them, along with her penguin and blackie (the never leaves her side stuffed cat). Awwwwwww. Cuteness right?

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Eric and I had a date on Friday morning. We went to chapters so he could spend his gift cards that he got for Christmas. He loved being there and I loved watching him! Seriously, there is nothing better than seeing just how much your child loves books. It's an awesome feeling. He is the cheapest little bugger I know (gets it from his grandfather..on his dads side) and wont spend any money on anything...while his bank account grows larger than mine. He had $30 in gift cards and didnt flinch when his total came to $65. He even bought a book for me....and when I tried to pay him back he said no.
He also cooked supper...by himself..the other day. Chicken cacciatore. I'll have that boy trained yet.
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I've been working a lot lately and Jerry's hours have been horrendous so we have had to rely on Emma to watch Abby on quite a few occasions. I hate being that mom. My best friend had to watch her sister all.the.time and it was such a pain that I vowed never to do it to my own kids...ever. But..sometimes you have to. Em does a great job and never complains...ok, so she's a teenager so there is a 'little' bit of complaining but its never very serious.

I'm having one of those "Damn my kids are awesome" weeks....hope it keeps up.

Happy New Year!

It's 3:45am on New Year's Eve (day if you want to be picky) and here I sit at work. No better time to make a list of resolutions I say!

Get skinny. This is seriously the year for me. I'm willing to try anything and everything, including drugs and if I had the money, lipo. In my closet sits a pile of really good clothes and all of it is just a tad too small. My goal, for now, 25lbs.

Date nights with hubby will be reinstated. Just one night a month, away from the kids. Shouldnt be too hard at all.

Date nights/days with the kids. One day a month each...that's 3 days a month...to spend some one on one time with each kid.

I will learn to be tolerant! I need this, especially when we get new people here at work.

I'm also going to give my appearance a little boost. No more pj's in the middle of the day and definetly no pj's worn outside the house. If I lose weight, I will have more to wear and wont have to live in pj's so this one probably wont come into effect right away. I will try though.

Declutter my house! A room a week...or month...totally decluttered. Many need a good cleaning and painting too. No reason why I cant do all of that since I wont be sitting around eating anymore. =o)

Happy New Year everyone!