Purex 3 in 1 - my true love

Purex 3 in 1 washer/dryer sheets are my best friend. I LOVE THEM! No, this is not a paid advertisement, but I must just tell you how fantastic these are. They come in sheets and all you do is drop it into your washer with your clothes. It releases the detergent as well as a fabric softener and gets your clothes sparkling clean. It then comes out with with a little green bar across the top (when you add it to the wash it is blue). You throw the same sheet in with your clothes to the dryer and that green bar is the static guard. I have been using them for a year and while they are more pricey than regular detergent, I recently bought 5 packages on sale for half price. AND you can always get a coupon online. The nicest thing is that there is no fussing with liquid detergent, or stains from your dry detergent. There is no more Bounce sheets. You know how there are some things you just won't go generic on? Kraft Dinner, Bounty paper towels, Heinz Ketchup, Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup? The list can go on. This is one of these things. If we have to eat pasta for a week so I can buy these sheets we will. If you want me to send you one so you can try before you buy, let me know and I will. After all, I do have 5 boxes. ;)

Monday Ramblings

This was the quote in this morning's dove piece. Love it. I might just have to keep a collection of these "fortune chocolates".

When Jessica and I were kids, we used to go to Woodwards and do the grocery shopping with our mom. She would always let us have a sausage roll and let us pick out one thing from the bakery (I usually chose a mille feuille). I could generally be found either in the books, which was right at the front of the store in front of the cash registers, or in the shoe department. I guess things never change.

One other thing that never changes - peanut butter. You have read about it hear before, but we are back to eating "peanut butter" (really soy bean butter). The reason I am telling you this is because as kids, we always ate Skippy Creamy. My mom would buy it and Jessica and I would try to keep track of which bag it had been put into. When helping unload the groceries, we would try to be the first one to get the peanut butter open, stick our finger back into it and close the lid. This of course left the other to believe that they may be the first. It was such a fun game. I remember many grocery nights laughing about who got to the peanut butter first. Yesterday morning (at 5:15am) I opened a new jar of "peanut butter" and surprisingly was sad to see Jessica had not yet sunk her finger into the middle. I ended up doing it myself before putting it on my toast.

Feeling a big melancholy today and really missing home. Wish you were all closer so we could be together. Love you guys.

Soccer is Killing US!

If it weren't for the fact that Kaedo loves it so much, I would be crying myself to sleep, in the fetal position, due to the amount of soccer we have going on right now. To his credit, he loves it and loves to go, so I am happy to take him. Here's the schedule for this week:

Today - 2 hour practice

Monday - Game about 45mins away from home

Tuesday - 2 hour practice

Wednesday - Free day - yeah!

Thursday - game (some fancy cup game - have no idea what that is)

Friday - preparing for tournament

Saturday - Tournament - 2 games minimum

Sunday - Tournament - one game minimum

Note - tournament in 2 hours away

He has gotten such praise for his improvement and we were told by the coach this week that he is the most positive force on the team and they are thrilled to have him. He told us that Kaedo will never have to try out again if he wants to continue next year and that he was the only one who doesn't complain about their runs, practices, drills or instruction. I am so proud of him and how he has conducted himself. He's amazing.

So, a busy week ahead. I feel bad for Sterling but he doesn't seem to care. He hangs out with his buddies, bikes, and on practice nights comes to Bville with me and we have two hours of mom and Sterling time. For now it is working out. Wish us luck! Here's to another "top shelf" goal!

U.S of A

Had to buy some Dove chocolates as they have a message inside each wrapper. This was mine. Fitting, don't you think?

Deal of the day!

Yesterday we took a relatively impromptu trip to the USA for a day of outlet malls, Target and cereal shopping. We only decided Wednesday afternoon after the boys convinced us they had been saving their money for such a trip and "please,please,please, cant we go". We went and got US cash and the boys actually got more US money for their CAN$, so they were thrilled.

I had packed breakfast and we headed out about 9:15am. We headed into Niagara Falls, NY where there is a FANTASTIC outlet mall - a true outlet mall, where things are drastically reduced. That was the boys first stop. Kaedo's goal for the day was a new pair of cleats - amazing how fast they get worn down when you are playing as much as he is. He got the deal of the day (a game we play after every trip). His cleats were regular $150 and he got them for $19.97. To say he was thrilled was an understatement. We were on a tight time schedule as we had left Ketchup home alone for the day but we did manage to hit Target, although rarely quickly. I would have loved to have spent more time there but it wasn't in the cards. I headed to the stationary aisle and Craig was looking for a pair of pants that were a different color than ones he had gotten in the Spring that he loved. He was successful and was thrilled with that. The boys headed to the candy aisle and loaded up. They also always seem to buy pop (soda) while down there - ones they can't get here. My goal was to get Kaedo's teacher's gift. His teacher LOVES chocolate, so I stocked up on some different stuff I hadn't seen before and will make a basket covered in cellophane for him to give her. I also was able to pick up the mayo Jessica and my mom wanted, so that was great. Last but not least we headed to Wal-Mart for our cereal excursion. Cereal is cheap in the USA and they have many kinds we can't get here. I picked up Cinnabon, Eggo Waffles, and of course, S'Mores. We were back home by 7pm and our dog hadn't shit in the house, so all in all it was a day well spent. Mustn't forget being able to fill up the van for $4O less than it costs us at home!

Civics

handsome guy watching the show!

Racing to the finish line for the 400m

3rd place 800m ribbon

first lap in 800m

starting line for 400m

On Wednesday we spent the morning at the Civics Track and Field event. This event is for all kids who qualify through their school. They then race kids in their grades from all the schools in our area. It was great. Sterling took the day off to come and watch and cheer and we had a wonderful time. Kaedo came in 3rd in 800m and tied for 4th in 400m. He had a great time and we were (are) really proud of him. He is our athlete and I hope he continues to work hard at these endeavors. He's amazing.

Also - for all our family members that don't have BlackBerrys - get one - then I can give you the play by play like I do with those of us that do, on BBM. I do it for soccer games and any activity the boys are involved in. Do so now - it has been ordered!

week 37

Week 37 and the sun is shining. We had a wicked thunderstorm last night but aside from that the weather is great. The boys are doing well. Counting down to Kaedo's birthday, the end of the school year and a visit from Anti and the girls (I think that is what they are most excited about).

We are looking forward to measuring the boys in a couple of weeks on Kaedo's bday and I'm going to pull out the tape measure to see exactly how tall they really are! They are growing like bad weeds.

hmmmm

THIS

EQUALS

THIS

PLUS 4 WEEKS

Thank you ladies and gentlemen, I'll be here all week for your mocking pleasure!