chaos reins

A Picture/Video Message!

2010-02-01T11:29:00.003-08:00

A Picture/Video Message!
Originally uploaded by lynxhoney

I never see this at home, but take them out and one might actually start to believe these two might actually LIKE each other.

A Picture/Video Message!

2010-02-01T11:29:00.001-08:00

A Picture/Video Message!
Originally uploaded by lynxhoney

You have received a New Message. pxt.virginmobile.ca:80/share.do?invite=OEor4LJyP7zzB8Uh0Lgo

2010-01-06T11:59:00.001-08:00

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A Picture/Video Message!

2009-11-03T07:01:00.003-08:00

A Picture/Video Message!
Originally uploaded by lynxhoney

happies

A Picture/Video Message!

2009-10-31T12:51:00.003-07:00

A Picture/Video Message!
Originally uploaded by lynxhoney

You have received a New Message. pxt.virginmobile.ca:80/share.do?invite=YE0r4pJEPP8ewLX707Kh

A Picture/Video Message!

2009-10-30T12:53:00.003-07:00

A Picture/Video Message!
Originally uploaded by lynxhoney

You have received a New Message. pxt.virginmobile.ca:80/share.do?invite=KE9r4VJ7PP8uIhE877ea

the fort

2009-05-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

Ok, so i scrounged around an i built the kids something of a fort.

Although I am sure Joe could have built something better, I'm actually quite proud of myself, it's sturdy, and was a no cost project for us. This is intended to be the start of a massive play structure i'm planning.

The girls loved it while I was building it, but of course once it was finished they all decided they....

...liked to play in the dirt better.

what's blooming

2009-05-15T07:07:00.001-07:00

Marry Marry quite contrary how does your garden grow...

lilacs are blooming

rhubarb is growing

violets are invading

o and J's apple tree has blooms!

Pricess Izzy's Party

2009-05-10T08:23:00.000-07:00

So now that there has been a party it's official. My middle princess is 4years old.

I look forward to watching you grow up baby girl.

i found my camera... again

2009-05-10T08:22:00.000-07:00

So who do u think stole it?

yup the camera still works

2009-04-21T21:20:00.000-07:00

For a certain meany who in not floating around in the Pacific but in the Indian Ocean (I think), a few more pictures.

Being very insistent that her picture be taken.

Getting ready to leave the park.

Going up, and down the slide ALL BY HERSELF.

Winning prizes at the school fun fair.

Hmmm, seems I need to take some pictures of Super O next.

getting ready for spring

2009-04-18T09:41:00.001-07:00

Well spring is in full swing around here and I thought a certain someone who floating around in the pacific may want to see a couple pictures of his girls doing spring things like...

making spring time decorations (coffee filter and cloths peg butterflies),

or refusing to pose for a look what we got for easter picture.

I think if I'm going to post more I'm going to need to start keeping my camera with me, and away from the sticky fingered thief in the last post.

evidence

2009-04-16T19:41:00.001-07:00

I found my camera. It was sticky, and there was a new series of videos on it. Hmmmm. I think I recognize those toes.

one day a week

2009-04-08T21:00:00.001-07:00

Ok, so DND provide three hours of free daycare a week if your significant other is away for 28 days or better. I was not all that impressed with the care when Super O was small so I've been procrastinating a bit with Baby Hey. Anyway the daycare has moved to a much nicer facility and the care provider was very nice. Baby Hey seemed quite content and happy until I picked up my bag to go. I escaped as soon as little miss thing was pried off my leg, but stayed close, I just had one of those feelings.

She lasted an hour before I got the call saying she was completely inconsolable. Yes Baby Hey was extremely happy to see me, and completely exhausted when I bought her home. I've booked her in for next Tuesday anyway.

just because

2009-04-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

Princess Iz

so this is what we do for kicks

2009-04-06T20:05:00.000-07:00

Saturday after Olivia's group we got a CAR WASH.

Baby Hey oppened her window, just a crack, between soap and rince, and everyone got wet except Super O.

Ahhhh! The things we do for fun around here.

one of those weeks

2009-03-30T21:51:00.000-07:00

Super O: Mom Princess Iz did something that I KNOW is going to make you mad.

Me: What.

Super O: She's spilt the new paints in the sticks (bingo dauber) all over the floor.

Me: Ok, lets see.

Before going on I'd like to make it perfectly clear that Izzy did not have anything to do with the purple puddle on the floor, and when I asked her about it she said she was too tired (ie/lazy) to tell me what was going on.

Super O: See mom. (yup it's a big puddle/stain)

Me: Izzy did you do this

Princess Iz: NOOOOO.

O: I saw you I was peeking.

Me: Let me see your hands. (they're not purple) Olivia stop accusing Izzy! (grrr) Where's Baby Hey!

and no sooner do the words leave my mouth than this walks in .

and while I was scrubbing this thing clean, somebody else decided it would be a FANTASTIC idea to turn herself purple. You know 'cause she wanted her picture taken too.

Of course she thought I was out of line when I lost my mind. I honestly thought she knew better. Serves me right.

rule of mom

2009-03-23T16:00:00.001-07:00

RULE OF MOM #2

The higher you hide something the more determined you children will be.

baby hey's first haircut

2009-03-23T12:57:00.000-07:00

With all her fluffy, baby fine, crazy, defies the laws of physics, type hair, I did not think her first hair cut would have been for awhile now. Thing is I was sick last week, and while I was sleeping Super O opened a beauty parlor, and cut off Baby Hey's fuzzy locks.

It could have been much worse, just lopped off the curls in the back and around her ears. I'm sure the unpredictable nature of H- hair is helping with my denial, but man it still nearly breaks my heart to rub her fuzzy head.

Befor you ask. Yes I did manage to salvage a lock for her baby book, and no O- did not get into very much trouble. Like I said I was sick, and o so tired.

a bunch of nuts

2009-03-10T22:21:00.001-07:00

rule of mom

2009-03-06T20:58:00.000-08:00

RULE OF MOM #1

For every moment you take for yourself, you'll spend 10 cleaning up somebody elses mess.

a week of sick days

2009-03-06T19:26:00.001-08:00

Super O's been home almost all this week. First with a soar throat, then with a soar ear, then a day off for parent teacher interviews. Sheesh.

By the way I am aware that my girls get way to much "screen time" and moments like this one make that fact glaringly obvious. Thing is I'm not 100% convinced it's a bad thing. I'm weak and Pokemon and helping each other learn to game are some of the few things the girls consistently agree on. RPG's are one of the things that really illustrated how much trouble O's having learning to read, and have helped me find out exacly how many letters and sounds she does know, as well as how good her problem solving skills can be.

So I may be guilty of raising geeks and media freaks. Does that automatically means I'm raising, unthinking zombies, desensitzed violent monsters, or couch potatoes? Costumes, gardening, cooking, building, ponies and pet shops, books and games are also part of our days, and even if my girls are a little warped, I personally think it's genetic. I guess time will tell if letting the monsters feed their media addiction is an error as they grow.

family

2009-03-04T12:36:00.001-08:00

Our house can be full of surprises. Now I'm not talking about shovels in the bathtub, or underwear in the litter box although both of those seem to be a possibility on any given day. I'm talking about when one sister admits that maybe she likes/misses/loves another. Today I found this little treasure, Super O drew this and wrote her sister's names all by herself. Maybe, just maybe there is some hope for us after all.

lost

2008-11-11T21:04:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I took the short one's to the playground and look what I found as I was helping the monsters out of the wagon.

Tres cute, but very odd.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

sometimes...

2008-11-09T22:17:00.001-08:00

chasing leaves
Originally uploaded by lynxhoney

Sometimes when I've had enough and need a break, I take one. I'll storm up the stairs, or stick my nose in a book, or work outside. Sometimes, I regret it. It is unbelievable how well my girls can work together when they have a common goal, especially when that goal is to drive me nuts! I'm not saying I wont do it again, I will, but sometimes I regret it.

Mommy, I won a prize!

2008-11-08T18:51:00.001-08:00

halloween08
Originally uploaded by lynxhoney

Designed and carved all by herself (thanks H- for the pampered chef kids knife). Super O was just bursting with excitement and pride when she showed me her first place (for funniest grade one) pumpkin.

my little entrepreneur

2008-07-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

So we get home from the park and Super O decides that she is going to have her own lemonade stand. I'm tired and in no mood to help her with her little business endeavour. Of course my little super mouse is too suborn to let go of the idea, but instead of fighting me she found a table (which I moved for her) and all the accessories necessary for a lemonade stand all by herself, and sat out in the hot sun waiting for customers.

It was a hot Saturday afternoon and Holy Cow did she have some success! Super O was nearly bouncing with excitement after her first customer who "gave me lots extra money", and was so excited that she ran right back out after being grudgingly dragged away from her stand for dinner.

What was her price for a cup?
Three quarters. I thought she was over charging but when I told her this she told me she was just going to have expensive lemonade. Mid afternoon she'd raised her price to "one dollar and three dollars", not quite exactly what she meant by that, but when I asked she told me that "that's just the price mom" and a roll of her eyes. She did tell me that the price was NOT $4.

How much did Super O make?
$18.01
WOW! Next time I'm making her buy her own Country Time and cups. I am so proud of her, and her determination and success, and I'm grateful to the all the neighbours and pedestrians that supported her. BTW she bought a new black alley cat Webkinz with the money she made, and still has "lots of change" left over.

graduation

2008-07-02T21:23:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned that Olivia graduated kindergarten.

Canada Day!

2008-07-02T21:13:00.000-07:00

We almost didn't go. I had every reason not to. Iz was in a mood and if J- had been home she would definitely not have been allowed to tag along. One adult, three itty-bitties, it all could have gone very badly. Yet despite the odds it all worked out. We ran into some friends and the odds improved, a bit. Three adult can, more or less, keep track of five kids six and under. Baby Hey only completely disappeared twice (for a second or two). hat girl was on a mission. After her first disappearance she came toddling back leading a brand new to her grandma to the playground by the hand. The second time she disappeared it was to join the races with her sisters. Sneaky and fast. We missed the dog show but Super O won five ribbons, and Iz got two. Everyone got cotton

candy, and anyone awake got an ice cream on the way home. Super O, Iz and I even caught the top half of the fireworks from the upstairs windows of the master bedroom to-be, and Baby Hey must have had an awesome time 'cause she slept from when she passed out in the wagon to after seven the next morning.

a very regular dance

2008-06-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

"I WANT Daddy!"
"Daddies in Halifax hon."
"Well I want him to come home now!"

"What's wrong now."
"I miss daddy"
"We all miss Daddy..."

"Your not the boss Daddy is!"
Um, no. I am, and Daddy knows it.

look what i made

2008-06-18T20:14:00.000-07:00

It was suppose to be bedtime, and she was suppose to in bed (not sleeping, I'm a realist - my children don't sleep.) Instead she comes running from the kitchen all excited bits or tape and feathers stuck to her grubby pyjama's.

O: Look what I made Mommy!
Me: Huh, where'd you come from?
O: The kitchen, look what I made all by myself! It's a GIRAFFE!

Pom-poms + feathers + pipe cleaners + googly eyes + lots of tape = creative genius.

you were wondering

2008-06-16T21:58:00.000-07:00

I don't think Miss O's slept in her own bed since J- left. In her mind it is not a perfectly beautiful, quiet, private bedroom, and it is most definitively not where she want to sleep. Most nights she sleeps with Baby Hey, some nights Izzy joins them. What the hey, as long as they're sleeping...

one of THOSE mothers

2008-06-15T20:35:00.000-07:00

I hate to admit it but I am turning into one of those mothers. You know those mothers who let there kids were there pyjama's pretty much all the time, and let there kids get really dirty before sticking them in the tub where they flood out the bathroom. I'm not sure if it's a good things or a bad thing, but right now that's just the way it is.

did i tell you about wiggles

2008-06-09T19:48:00.000-07:00

Did I tell you about Wiggles? Wiggles is the name O- gave to all the salmons her class was raised for release at the Potholes. Shu-Shum-le- Lethum where she is very lucky to go to class in the afternoon's received 60 eggs sometime after Christmas, and released them at the beach at the Potholes on a Tuesday two weeks ago. It was all kinda cool with native drummers and a smoked fish, Bannock, and fresh fruit BBQ (where mom ate way too much fish and the girls did not) at the school afterwards. What did the little one's do while the "big kids" were busy with their salmon fry. Why they threw stones into the water, what else. More pictures and video on flickr.

it's raining it's pouring

2008-06-05T21:23:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been rainy, and I won't dig in the rain so other projects have been worked on. So far I've tidied up a very little bit, once I was bored with that I decided to try my hand at laying tile. I laid nine slate tiles where the woodstove will eventually be. Definitely a beta projects but passable. I'm pleased, but I know if Joe had been the one doing the work he would have pulled the tiles 10 times before they either broke or were perfect. Funny, took owning/building a house to prove that he's the worst sort of perfectionist. Me, not so much; most day's I'm happy if I've finished anything, I don't have time or energy to worry about little things like perfect. The day after I laid the tiles I found a hammer and started smashing all sorts of bits of ceramic that have been set aside since moving to our ranch style mansion. Ya, I know I have the dropsies, but it wasn't all me. Honest.

Olivia's detail; created out of a piggy bank one of her best friends gave her for Christmas years ago and was broken within a week. Amazing fast fact: she recognized the shards!

Casa de Csik; Constructed from an assortment of stuff, and some blue leaf shaped bowls I found at the clothing exchange eons ago. O's comment, "but nobody will see it when we get the stove". She's right but I think every creative detail counts.

Before you ask. Yes the girls have been helping, and let me tell you there are a very few things in life as disturbing, or as exciting for the short person, as seeing them in a pair of goggles wielding a hammer destroying plates and cups with a reckless abandon. Irony is my favourites ended up in the pile because of one of them in the first place. More pictures at flickr.

stand back

2008-06-02T21:54:00.000-07:00

I'm almost ashamed to admit what a hard time I've been having the last couple of weeks. I'm tired, sometimes emotional and always overwhelmed. Most days I wake up with at least one little body in my bed with me, and they look so sweet. Such potential and mischief in their resting faces. So much energy, so much to see and learn. That may be part of the problem 'cause as the day wears on I start to feel that, that living person with so much energy is going to do me in. Each demanding a huge chunk of me each and every day, and I'm a selfish person I don't really want to give up myself. So I fight, and the call on my mind and body seems to be never ending and many days end with me nearly in tears 'cause I just can't stand the fact that it seems like everyone, and everything wants a piece of me, and I'm failing. Failing as a mother, a wife, a housekeeper, you name it I'm failing at it, and I don't fail. I can do anything. I have precious little time for my personal projects and what time carve out is usually spent teaching little hands how to help, or I have to figure out what to do with children who take advantage of the fact mom is ankle deep in concrete and can't deal with them, so they sit where I can see them, and "be bad".

I think things are getting better tho. We're starting to build some routines, and work is getting done. It doesn't help that Iz and Baby Hey are now working as a team. At least keeping the deadbolt to all the exterior doors locked seems to be keeping the trouble inside the house. I haven't lost a kid in a day or two. Ya, I know I shouldn't admit to loosing children but they really are sneaky little things when they want to be.

Nope I wouldn't say that anything around here was under any sort or control, but maybe life would be easier if I stopped fighting the chaos. Maybe I should just go with it and see where it takes us.

don't you wish you could make your own fun

2008-05-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

Flickr is doing video, 90second max, snapshots with movement. We all know how much I love flickr right.

A little amazement courtesy of itty bitty mirror sewn into a certain cuties shirt.

today i moved dirt and gravel

2008-05-12T22:29:00.000-07:00

Today I moved dirt and rock and gravel, and I am stiff, sore, and tired. I'm trying really hard to not get overwhelmed, but man, everywhere I look is another humongous job, and one or more of the three little people I have to find ways to have help me or they cause more trouble than the helping.

Note the tape on Izzy's finger. She had a sore that would not heal, since she sucks that finger, I took her to the doc 'cause she kept saying her ears hurt (no problem there) and she let him put this little piece of *special* tape on her finger. The sore that had been plaguing her foe weeks healed in two days.

take a picture of me

2008-05-10T15:40:00.000-07:00

"Take a picture of me mommy!" I hear this every time Iz sees the camera. She usually doesn't stop moving, so doesn't really pose, but is always happy with the picture. It's like she thinks there is something magical about the entire picture taking process.

Iz got a package in the mail today; a be-latted birthday present from Grandma and Papa. So here she is modelling her fancy new princess dress which needed to be worn with her new pink dancing shoes with ribbons from Daddy. I'm not joking when I say she's a princess every day. Doesn't play like a princess though, I think my mom would pass out if she saw the things she done, and the places she's already taken her special princess dress.

somebody turns three

2008-05-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

Iz turned three this Saturday, but she didn't know it. She had found her present as we were unloading the groceries from the trunk on Thursday and rather than fight with her I figured, what the heck. We picked up O- ordered pizza, ate HUGE chocolate muffins, and watched Dora videos. I cannot tell you how glad I am that we celebrated early.

Friday night Iz and Baby Hey were sick, and Baby Hey was sick and slept almost all Saturday. Saturday night O- threw up and was REALLY sick all day Sunday, and is now tired, ache, and feverish. I feel for her but she has managed to keep some juice and a few cheerios down today so I think we've weathered the worst of it. I hope she feels better tomorrow.

Things Izzy did to celebrate her #3.
Practiced holding up three fingers.
Went out for dinner and shopping with Daddy before he left. This means playing at Playland and gawking at the toys at Wal-Mart whre he bought her a new remote control Geotrax train, and "pink shoes with bows on them."
Ate Pizza with Mommy, and Big Sissy, and Baby Hey.
Ate cake with cookies on it.
Got a Tamagotchi (that mommy's now addicted to) and a Tin Box filled with Dora Videos.
Got a Ponyz and Ponyz Car from her best friends.
Wore a pretty dress and danced around the house, 'cause she's a princess. I know that Iz has been a princess every day for months now but did I mention that one of the Dora video's was Dora becomes a "true" princess.

it amazes me...

2008-04-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

It amazes me how fast drain rock is comes out of the wheelbarrow, especially considering how slow it goes in, and it's lightning fast compared to the many, many, loads of dirt and soil I've moved so far. I swear if I am not very fit, and very strong by the end of this project I am going to be very disappointed.

I've also been thinking about why working on the house upsets me so much, aside from the fact that I had not planned on helping AT ALL (when was that ever the truth, eh). I think it's 'cause this is J's project, J's plan, and J's house. He's building his own home and gets credit for it. He's seen as unstoppable, a machine. While the assumption is that either works stops when he's gone or that it is done by hired hands or contractors. Yes I've brought in some help, but I've also finished walls, cleared constructions debris, stuffed insulation and vapour barrier, finished drywall, and laid floor.

trouble with a capital "T"

2008-04-28T20:53:00.000-07:00

One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, d*mn it where's three. Monster number three is truly living up to her name, and more days than not I'm beginning to feel like the Robin who lost her "small blue egg" on Little Bear (I know, my kids definitely watch more than 60 minutes of TV a day). Problem is she's quick and wants to explore uninterrupted, poke around, have some fun. I don't think she means to be a terror, but man does my heart stop when I can't find her, and I can't help but pause for a moment, shake my head in disbelief, before I charge out the door to catch up with the terrible toddler who thinks she's big enough to find her own way home.

I can almost here her now "See ya later ma. People to see, things to do. I promise I'll come crying back in a few."

the longest week ever

2008-04-25T20:41:00.000-07:00

Longest week ever, but I think it's more than that. April feels like it is never going to end; spring is never going to come; I'm getting old, and am beginning to believe that I will never again wake up refreshed and ready to face the day.

Twenty five days gone and five to go. So far this month J- (who sailed home last month) has been around long enough to stirred the pot, alter all our routines, celebrate one early birthday, and stay up all night working on some you've-got-your- priorities-screwed-up-project more than once. Only to be driven to the airport at 4am where he escaped and flew as far away from us and the never ending noise, mess, work, and general chaos as he could without leaving the country for most of the until mid-July. Of course all this change in routine has result in O-, Iz, and I all losing our minds and our tempers. I took my frustrations out on my husband (who totally deserves whatever he gets!), while the girls have been taking most of their frustrations out on me. Birthday parties, taxes, a never ending reno. I think we are all feeling like dog poop 'round here. I'd pray for May, or summer, or good weather, but what I really need is a whole house and/or a big o' truck to stick my camper on so the me and my crew can escape the chaos for a few days whenever the going gets tough.

lazy day

2008-04-22T22:22:00.000-07:00

Daddy left on an airplane yesterday, and 'cause we miss him already, and because I'm the boss and say we can, Monday became a mellow out lazy day. The girls and I lounged and napped in the big bed, and ate a stupid amount of donuts, leftover birthday cake, and any other sugary, starchy, not so good for you treats. Let the good times roll! Oh, and don't bother chastising me, I payed for my sloth today.

look what i found

2008-04-07T20:58:00.000-07:00

I need to move my stuff. It was the closed bathroom door and eerie silence that gave her away. Iz and Baby Hey as happy as two pigs in poo trying out all my lipsticks and serving themselves to my meds. Now that was scary, I was in a mad panic until I found the last pill dropped and forgotten in my bedroom doorway. Yep, definitely need to move my stuff.

This child will not nap!

2008-04-07T20:54:00.000-07:00

This child will not nap, she is so afraid she's going to miss something that she cries and screams all afternoon instead of just giving in and rest for a bit. Personally all the crying from her and whining from the middle monster is driving me a bit batty. I think I need a vacation.

daddies home!

2008-03-29T17:30:00.000-07:00

Daddies been home for almost 12 days now, but who's counting. We're all falling into a new routine, getting used to sharing resources again, and J's been doing a lot of digging. All part and parcel of living in a reno that half finished and needs drainage. O, but don't worry about him too much, he had 3 pairs of eager little hands helping him.

c -- a -- t

2008-03-10T20:55:00.000-07:00

I was so surprised I almost fell out of my chair!

i wanna do art

2008-03-09T21:08:00.000-07:00

A few months ago Grandma B sent me an awesome package filled sparkly beads. These new additions to my stash were a real mixed lot, and included was one HUGE package of assorted plastic beads. Well today Izzy asked to make pretty bead art. I'm not sure where this idea came from as my beads have been packed up and hiding for months now, but she was insistent and using her best manners. I dug around upstairs found one of the packages of new plastic sparkly bits, and handed out a handful to each monster. Who, armed with a tapestry needle threaded with with yarn, had at 'em.

O- is and old pro, and settled in deciding to make one REALLY long string once she discovered I was not going to give her more beads until she's strung the one's she had, and that she was not going to be allowed to bully Iz into "trading" with her. Iz took a bit longer to figure the whole stringing thing out, but was unusually patient and very determined; she spent a good hour making a necklace and watching Dora. Our little princess seems to be torn between making a present for Grandma (or Grandma B) and making a pretty to tie around her neck. Hmm, this worked out pretty well, maybe I should listen to the monster's suggestions more often...

signs of spring

2008-03-09T20:54:00.000-07:00

About a week ago the girls were very excited to notice bits of purple flowers growing on the dirt mountain outside my front door. Excited shouts of "You won't believe it!" and "It's a sign of spring Mommy!" and "Hurry up, we're late!" filled the crisp morning air.

Since then there has been quite a few signs of spring in my garden, even if that part of my yard is little more than a dirty, dug up, trampled, muddy, wanna-be construction site. I guess despite it all life will go on (a la Jurassic Park).

Seen blooming in and around my garden this week

purple and yellow crocuses
pink and purple primula
daffodil (almost hidden along the front wall)
spring fire heather.

I guess there are a few things to love about Vancouver Island.

the joy of transition

2008-03-07T09:16:00.000-08:00

Daddy is back and gone. Home just long enough to say hey, go out for pizza , take a look at our fancy new siding, and take O- on a day sail on the big boat.

It was good while it lasted but now we need to get back in routine before my oldest succeeds in driving me completely insane. I don't know about where you are, but in this house it is not ok to call your mum a "dirty ask". What's worse is she's always on her best behaviour the day or two before she looses her mind. A very nasty bait and switch for mum. I swear if this keeps up that child is going to have a lot of very bare shelves in her room.

can i ride my scooter

2008-03-03T19:42:00.000-08:00

RULE #1 No touching the walls.
RULE #2 No crashing into furniture.
RULE #3 No fighting over O's helmet (Iz's is hiding).
RULE #4 The second I hear squabbling the fun is over and everyone goes to their room to cool off.

All in all I think fun was had by all. Next time I go shopping I'm going to buy some chalk!

haiku monday

2008-03-03T12:00:00.000-08:00

He is home from work.
Only a two day teaser
before the boat sails.

i miss daddy!

2008-02-28T20:34:00.000-08:00

O: What if daddy doesn't come back?
M: Daddy always comes back.
O: But what if he doesn't! What if there is a war and he gets DEAD!
M: Daddy always comes back. Daddy is very safe, but if something happens to Daddy, Mommy and Daddy have made sure that our family will be OK.

************************************

O: What if daddy forgets to bring something back for me.
M: Daddies bringing himself, isn't that enough.
O: Noooooo.
M: OK. If daddies doesn't bring something back for you when he comes home you can yell at him.
O: But what if daddy doesn't bring me even one little thing, not one big thing, not one little thing NOTHING!?!
M: Then you can yell at him and stomp on his toes.

O- is having a rough night.

i don't wanna get up!

2008-02-27T08:54:00.000-08:00

Some mornings are tough, all three babies sleeping sweetly (dreaming of new trouble I'm sure) and it's so warm, and QUIET. I don't want to move, much less go around shaking sleeping bodies and brushing teeth in squirming mouths, or offering a breakfast that will be slurped, gulped, tossed or altogether ignored. Most mornings I brew up a cup of coffee and push on, but today I was weak. I hope one lazy morning doesn't make me a bad mum.

"But Mom, it's my library day! It's important!"
Yes, school is VERY important, but so is sanity, and for some reason weekends never start out peaceful.

sunny days are here again

2008-02-25T19:05:00.000-08:00

The last week or so we've seen a lot of sun and despite the enormous amount of work that needs to be done around the house, fact is my yard is not really safe and I can't stand to keep everyone cooped up inside all the time. A quick drive down to the beach to throw rocks in the ocean (we've been going to Whiffin Spit, but I'm thinking Elise Pt. may be more dramatic) is just what is needed when the sunshine calls. Unfortunately the trips are necessarily short as my shortest monster cannot seem to keep herself dry for more than maybe five minutes and it's still to cool out for her to be happy and wet. Yes I know I could dress her in muddy buddies or change her cloths, but I'm too forgetful to remember rain pants and I'm too lazy for more than one cloth change per outing.

When it's time to go Iz waves good-bye to the ocean, and somedays yells bye-bye to Daddy just in case.

i hate it when he's right

2008-02-24T11:09:00.000-08:00

I admit it I do a lot more things with my girls when J- is at sea. Especially on Saturday mornings, when the girls are used to getting up and doing something right away, the lazy sort of lack of direction Saturday mornings are great for lead them to poke and prod and push each other's buttons until I decide we'd better get out of here and do something (no matter how much I hate the weekend crowds) before something bad happens.

I'm prepared and have season passes to a couple of fun spots in Victoria so quick escapes are easy. Yesterday I decided on the Bug Zoo. O- had a good time "I guess", but Iz got bored, and Baby Hey was just miserable. I managed to convince the staff to let us stay until O- got to wear a millipede bracelet but ultimately we did have to leave early 'cause Baby Hey would not stop crying.

On the sunnier side O- was really into the show (but she's still going to be a paleontologist when she grows up) and Izzy managed to amuse herself in the drawing corner, or by watching the *pond* for most of the show. Good thing Costco makes big, cheap, and yummy pizza's so we could all get some R&R when we got home.

I hate to admit it, but J- was right. The little monsters are moving into my bed. I'm so wasted at the end of the day that I can't stand the fight. I put them into their bed each night, but they've discovered that as long as they stay out of whatever I'm working on (and we have a king size bed so that's pretty easy I'll let them stay.

it will be nice

2008-02-21T20:01:00.000-08:00

"It will be nice." is something I hear almost everyday by myself, by people coming to work on the house, by misc. passerby's who feel the need to say something. "It's coming along" is another popular comment.

Thing is the house will be nice, it just seems to be taking forever, and I sometime wonder if we really need all this space. Our house started out at a hair over 1100 square feet, it's closer to 2200 now, I know we can fill the space, do we need it? Probably not, but the possibility of being able to carve out a quiet corner a space to call my own it very appealing, and the little balcony makes me smile.

Now is difficult. My bedroom serves as master bed, TV room, dinner room, and sometimes play space. On the sunnier side spring is coming and soon we'll be living outside, and seeing as much of my garden is dug up and buried, and most of my yard is a dirt mountain, and the Blueberry is gone (but we still have the camper), I'm sure that will bring around a whole new set of problems

"Look Mom, deer poop"
I nod my head defeated.
"That's a sign of spring you know!"

pushing the limits

2008-02-20T18:57:00.000-08:00

Is anyone else out there afraid of vapour barrier? Not to say I'm having ghastly nightmares of sheets of vapour barrier smothering me in my sleep. Not quite, but I am having fits about installing the stuff. This entire reno has been a reeducation. I'm just about done the insulation, I've fixed a wall, I've used power tools I've never used before, I've move electrical outlets, I've installed doorknobs, and soon I must install these large clear sheets of plastic horror. I've been procrastinating a bit 'cause I'm really not sure what the stuff should look like when it's done, and there seems to be pitifully little info on the subjects online, and what I can find does not seem to discuss the bits that are worrying me. Here is what I think I should be doing. I should be unrolling and stapling the sheets so they completely cover/seal all exterior walls, taping any opening and stapled bits. What I don't know is how to handle areas like around the floor joists, or how do I seal the stuff around windows, or what to do when a wall has no plastic over the studs like the wall between the living room and the garage. UHG. If anyone out there knows a good site, book, or video that covers this stuff, please pass it on.

mom i need you!

2008-02-19T20:14:00.000-08:00

Quick mom,

here's your camera, (I am NOT going to ask!)

take a picture of me and my baby sister!