My last night as a child.

This week end was rather productive.
I:
~ held two babies (rocked one of them to sleep, I still have "it")
~ pulled weeds in my front yard
~ wrapped 4 presents
~ attended 2 birthday parties
~ borrowed 13 books from the library
~ washed, folded and put away 4 loads of laundry, and yet I am still not caught up. Ugh.
~ bought 2 new blouses for my new job
~ fell asleep on the couch while watching my husband play Rock Band
~ dyed my hair, it looks fabulous
~ looked at houses on mls
~ played with my children
~ read a couple of chapters from, Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down I am on the second book and am loving the series. The series is about a group of random Christian women who met at a interdenominational women's retreat, they are placed into a prayer group, which was out of their comfort zone, however, they had a spiritual connection which led them to keep the group going. What is so facinating about this series is how they interact and learn from each other, given there very diversified backgrounds. Not only do they have different denominations, but different social classes, ages and race. There diversification brings them closer to God by learning through each other's experiences they may not have encountered other wise. As the group gets closer, they too find themselves connecting with God on a more personal level. I highly recommend the books.
~went to church
~ put ice on my child's eye at church
~ went out for lunch after church
~ picked up the tomato plants and egg plants from my friends house. I will be planting them tomorrow. The tomato plants are already 2 feet tall. I can't wait to see what they will do in my garden.
~ enjoyed a nice bowl of ice cream.
~relaxed

After all that, I am ready to grow up and start a near full time job tomorrow. The good thing is it is only this week that I am in the office, after that I will be only out working 25 hours a week in field. I am looking forward to the flexibility and increase in pay.

Yeah, to growing up. Boo, for having to wake up every day before 9:00am. Yeah, for having a job which will teach me and my daughter to be ready by 8:30 every morning. Boo, for going to bed early. And yeah, to God for giving me the experience needed to take this job, and giving me this job.

For the last week, or so, I set a goal each day to clean something before I go to bed. It has been working great. I thought I could inspire pooky bear and little monkey to join me. I started talking to them about my goal and how they should do the same thing. I suggested picking up toys and making their bed. These are things I want them to do everyday, but constantly have to either nag them or do it myself. Pooky bear agreed to try to make sure she will make her bed and clean. Little Monkey, is of course going to need help. We will see what happens

I am in His hands

I applied for a job back in March, which has taken a long time to go through the interview process. I am in the final stages in which they are now checking my references. I am concerned, stressing out, and needing to be reminded I am in His hands. If it is God's will for me to get this job, I will.

I keep thinking, "what if my boss gives me a bad reference?"

I need to trust God, and have patience.

I am not that bad of a person, am I?

Actually

I was on the phone with my new boss today going over a detail aid for pharmacists. After I read my detail to her, she commented I say the word, "actually" a lot. My comment to her was, "Actually, it is my replacement word for um or like". Then it dawned on me that I actually do say it a lot. Look I just did it again. No wonder Pooky bear says, "actually" a lot as well.

I thought it sounded more professional than saying, "um, or like" when you are trying to place your thoughts into words. I am actually... "DOH!" I did it again! I am scheduled for another conference call tomorrow morning to go over the detail aid one more time before Montreal. Here's hoping I can get my thought process quick enough to stop saying actually.

Here's hoping!

Feeling accomplished

Tonight I:

* did the girl's entire bedtime routine; which is changing the girls into pj's, brushing their teeth, reading one of the world's longest bedtime stories, prayers, water change, care bear stare, and then finally leaving them to fall asleep.

* washed, dried, folded and put away 3 loads of laundry

* washed two loads of dishes

* made 2 dozen muffins using a recipe I created from scratch

* watched Corner Gas and Little Mosque on the Prairie and other various shows

* mended, I mean preformed surgery, Pooky Bear's bunny.

* visited facebook several times through out the night.

* blogged.

I can't wait for Pooky bear to wake up to realize her Bunny's surgery went well and Little monkey's reaction to having muffins for breakfast. I love being a mom!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

This year it has been a challenge to get into the Christmas spirit. Financial constraints and health obstacles have made it diffcult to even think about Christmas. My husband and I procrastinated in putting up the Christmas tree as a result of this. We ended up putting it up on Sunday, and it started to look like Christmas. However, it still did not feel like Christmas. It was not until tonight that it felt like Christmas.

I was at Superstore taking advantage of my husband being sick at home and being able to go to Superstore, which is now open 24 hours. I walked into the store, grabbed a basket, and leisurely shopped. Ever so often, I would check the cashier line ups. There were two cashiers working which had line ups leading into the isles. When I saw how long the line up was, I decided to "shop" in another department I had not been to yet.

When it was just after 11:00pm, I decided to check the line ups again. That time it was not looking too bad. There was one line up which was still rather long, however most of the people in the line had only a few items each to purchase. The other line only consisted of one mother and her daughter. Her cart was very full and was just starting to unload her cart. I took a chance on the mother and daughter.

While I was watching her unload her cart, I noticed her shopping trip was not a leisure one, like mine was. Her shopping trip was an entire grocery shop which, I would assume, would last at least 2 weeks. The mom looked tired, and worn out. Her daughter appeared happy to sit and play with the chain on the cart. She didn't even seem to notice it was late and probably way past her bed time.

When the mom finished paying for her groceries, it was my turn. I quickly paid for my items, bagged them and noticed the mom still working on bagging her groceries. Looking down at my groceries and realizing she still has half of her groceries to pack, I quickly set my groceries down out of the way and offered to help the mom bag her groceries. After offering, the mom looked at me, pondered if it would be a good idea, then agreed to receive my help. I quickly went to work.

After we were done, she quickly said thank you to me. I told her I understand what it is like to be by yourself shopping with a toddler. I wished her a Merry Christmas, which had caught her by surprise. She paused for a moment, then wished me a Merry Christmas also. With how she responded to my wishes, I felt as though no one has said Merry Christmas to her this year and I was the first one to. That could be why she acted surprised when I said it to her.

I definitely now feel it is Christmas. I think it was actually a blessing, I ended up in line just behind the mom. I think we helped each other. She reminded me to be a servant of Christ and I reminded her of Christmas.

10 comandments for parents

This was written when I was in grade nine in a family studies class. I stumbled across it while looking for old Christmas cards. I was surprised to see I actually follow most of the comandments. I am pretty sure I have broken the "thou shalt not say do this or do that" comandment. However, I am comforted to know that if I do ask my girls to, "do this or do that"; I am polite when asking them for help. So, I think I am on the right track for the ideals I set as a teenager for what a parent should be. I just hope my children are happy with it.

back to the gind

Well I am back at work and am doing OK. I am still sore, but was excited to work with my new boss today. My boss and I have children the same age, so we had lots to talk about. It is funny how having children the same age can be an instant conversation starter. We filled our driving time by comparing the differences in our 5 year old's schooling. Since she lives in Ontario, her 5 year old is in sr kindergarden 2 full days of the week, where my pooky bear is in school 1/2 days all week. Whether one is better than the other, who knows. I do know I think I scared her when she came with me to pick up my 5 year old from school. The idea of 8 busses is a little intimidating to even me, let alone some one who is not used to it. Oh well.

All in all, it was a good day and look forward to working tomorrow. Not before 1:00 p.m. though. (Little monkey has gymnastics in the morning) No rest for mommy!

It's been a while.

This past couple of weeks have been filled with establishing new routines. This week is starting to finally feel normal. I am able to take Pooky bear to and from school, which few working moms can do with a pre-school aged child. I am able to attend mom 2 mom, knowing I can work in the afternoon. I have to say I am really enjoying the new routine now.
Since Chad was not able to get funding for school, he is currently looking for a job. For now I am still working at IQ Metrix in the evenings. Yes, life is definately busy, but only temporary. Once he gets a job, it will be a new kind of busy....Ok, so my life will probably not ever be not busy....it's just the way I am.

a weird, make no sense, chat

I am spending time with family today, extended family and my family. Yesterday, we celebrated my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. Pooky bear and Celeste stole the show with their cuteness. Today, Pooky bear really wants to go to church so she can be around kids for a while before going back to the environment where her and her sister are the youngest ones there. Poor girls, I sat with my cousins at supper reminiscing about "the good old days" with my cousins, then looked at Pooky bear and realized "good old days" with cousins will not be for a long time for them. At least they have each other.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This morning I woke up realizing I am not going to see my girls in the morning tomorrow. Wow, I am going to miss them! I have been already talking to Pooky bear about me going away and she does not want to talk about it. I know she will have fun without me, especially because she gets to go to school tomorrow. Still, I am sad to miss her and been feeling guilty for being excited to go on a plane for a business trip. Today will entail as much family time as we can tolerate.

obsessive

For the last week I have been trying to finish crocheting the blanket I started for Pooky Bear when I was pregnant with her. I am nearly finished and don't want to put it down. I even made the comment, "it would be easy for me to do at church". Chad quickly stopped that idea. My goal is to have it finished by this week, so I have 4 months to work on a blanket for Little Monkey. This is very ambitious of me, however, with money constraints due to Chad being in school, I think a home made blanket from mommy would more than make up for a little less toys this year.

It's so weird to already be worried about Christmas presents and school has not even started yet!

Sad

We wanted to go to the lake for one last "sleep over", but the weather said no. Pooky bear is sad about this, but I got her to feel how cold it was outside, and she really didn't like to the cold at all.

This afternoon, we get to go to the church to clean, which Pooky Bear and Little monkey love to help! Maybe this will help take Pooky bear's mind off the lake. I also was thinking of taking the kids somewhere special because we are home tonight. We will have to see.

A random chat

We are getting ready for one last over-night at my Grandma's wonderful cabin. The cabin is not insulated, so it gets very cold at night now. We are only staying for one night this weekend. It seems weird to me because the last time I packed for the lake we stayed at Lumsden Beach for 6 days, came home for 2 days, then went to Arlington Beach for another 4 days. That was a lot of packing!

Last night, while I was figuring out the few things we should bring, Chad and I made yummy, triple chocolate cookies to take to the lake. I have to say, I am liking the cooler weather, as I am much in the mood to cook and bake because of it.

Tonight for supper is pot roast with chocolate zuccini cake for dessert.