once again

So - the boys rode their bikes to school again today. Craig is home, so it works out. I thought we had agreed that they weren't going to ride to school again but apparently they got a second chance. Guess their dad is nicer than me. After strict instructions to call when they got to school, we waited for the call and today it came. Both were safe at school. Breathe. They were so thrilled with the chance, as they too thought that this was not going to happen again. Craig warned them that if there was no call there would be no more chances. I guess that was enough for them.

Not too much going on this weekend. Craig has football tomorrow, I have some design team work and we may take the kids to the Port Hope Drive-In tomorrow night to see Star Trek and Terminator double feature. The place is a dump (as you can see from the picture - but it's cool and has tons of personality. It is a really cheap date as you pay by the carload and take your own treats. We haven't been to the movies in a couple of months so we thought this might be a cool outing.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Found this in Kaedo’s backpack yesterday. I asked him about it and he swore that a friend of his wrote it. After some serious handwriting analysis (i just know) I am 99% sure this has been written by him. When I asked him about it he burst into tears and I’m sure would have swallowed the paper if I hadn’t had it in my hand. So - today I checked out her school picture and for the record - she is not hot - very hot.

The universe may not always play fair, but at least it has a hell of a sense of humor
- Michael Patrick King

Biker Boyz

Today the boys rode their bikes to school. Craig is home from work because they have a workshop after school and needed to be picked up. Last night they asked if they could ride their bikes and we agreed on the condition that they phone (cell phone provided) when they get to school and call when they were leaving school.
So, off they went this morning, excited as could be that they could take their bikes, promising to call...
At 9:15am Craig called the school to see if the kids had made it. They were just doing the announcements so they couldn't interrupt their classes so the secretary said she'd call him back. At 9:30am we got a call that their teachers had not marked them absent so they must have made it. (very reassuring - not).
Needless to say - they will not be riding their bikes to school anymore. All they had to do was call.
Tough love, people. Tough love.

Fun Facts from Kaeden

Did you know...

It takes 3000 cows to supply the NFL with enough leather for a year's supply of footballs.

The moon is actually moving away from the Earth at a rate of 1.5 inches per year.

Now, don't you feel smarter?

The Death Walk

Speedy died last night.
I told Craig it was the water.
I stand by my statement that the water should have been treated.
But what do I know.

short but sweet

Speedracer died today.
Kaedo is crushed.
He bawled his eyes out.
Thank God I'm at work!
I can't imagine what would happen if something happened to Ketchup.
We'd probably have to have him stuffed.

Fish Racing

The Fun Fair was great - or so I have been told. The boys had a blast and we seem to have adopted a pair of goldfish. Apparently the boys took part in a "Goldfish Racing" game and having both won their heat they became the proud owners of some goldfish.
They brought them home and got them into a bowl and to be honest, I'll be shocked if they last the week. Do I need to mention that Craig was thrilled?
Sterling named his "Speedy" and Kaedo named his "SpeedRacer". Interestingly enough, "Speedy" was what Sterling named his first ever goldfish (when he was about 3).
So I have been put on alert that if I do nothing else today, I MUST pick up some fish food.
Just what I need - more mouths to feed!

midnights

Yesterday was my first "pick up" shift. I worked 4-midnight. I was unsure if I would like it, but I really did. The atmosphere is very different when you work late. There is a mass exodus of people at 9pm and then again at 10pm and then there are very few of us that stay. It is quiet and different. I didn't mind it at all. I will be doing this again on Friday and again next Monday. I have the option to pick up shifts on the weekends but Craig and I agree that being at home is better. I want to be with the boys and spend time as a family and working on the weekends doesn't allow for that. So, unless I really need to, I'm going to stick with working nights. I'm hoping to pick up 3 midnights a week if that is possible. We'll see.

The boys have their "Fun Fair" at school tonight. They are looking forward to it. They have things like "Duct Tape a Teacher" and "The Cake Walk". I remember cake walks when I was in elementary school. The fun fairs I remember as a kid were so much fun. Tons of games and prizes. A really good memory. The boys didn't go last year but today is their chance. I hope they have fun.

Thanks for all the good comments on the Yo-Yo Ma-Ster. He really is so good. I love the giggle as well. It is so great! He's awesome.

Well, hope everyone has a great day. I'm only working until 9pm tonight so I will get to kiss the boys before they fall asleep. I'm sure they will have tons to tell me about! I'm looking forward to it.

Are Robin's Nests Lucky?

That is the question of the day as for the third year we have a robin's nest in our tree out front. It took me awhile to notice as it is deep in the branches so there are no longer eggs as the little ones have already hatched. If everything stays true to form they will be gone within a week or two. Quite amazing for them to go from eggs to gone in a matter of a month or so.

Well this is Shannon's first night working until midnight so I am on my own. Hopefully it goes well and she's not too tired tomorrow as she will still need to get up and drive the kids to school. Since she is working so late I figured I would give her a bit of a break on the blogging.

Tomorrow night the kids have a fun fair at school so I will have to race home, feed them and get to the school in time for them to enjoy some of the festivities. Hopefully I'm not too late as the kids are looking forward to it.


Sorry I'm not nearly as witty as Shannon but its either this or nothing.

Craig

Yo-Yo Ma-Ster

For the last few weeks all Sterling has talked about is yo-yo this and yo-yo that. In fact he has been diligently searching websites for his next yo-yo. Although this has been quite annoying to listen to non-stop, I gotta give the kid credit that he is a very good yo-yoer. Between the internet and another kid at school, Sterling has picked up numerous tricks. Here is a little video of his talents.

It's Thursday already??

First off, I could kill Craig for putting my picture on the blog. Brat. Secondly, holy hell has my hair ever grown. Hmm. You can really tell in that picture.
All is well here. The weather isn't great, but we all have school and work anyway so what does it matter what the weather is like.

Craig is busy at work, as usual, and the boys are busy in school, although they have started the countdown to school being over. I am busy at work and now that my probation is over, I have been able to pick up some extra shifts. Next week I'll be working until midnight a couple of nights and will hopefully be able to continue picking up shifts from here on in. Midnight is late, considering I won't be home until 1am, but that's the way it goes. I'm up for it.

This has been a birthday week let me tell you! My birthday was on Tuesday and then Jacob, my cutie nephew and Jenna, my gorgeous cousin both had their birthdays yesterday. Jacob turned 3 and Jenna turned 18 - OH MY GOD! I can't believe she is 18. I remember her as a little baby. My aunt has told on numerous occasions how adamant I was that she not be born on my birthday. I think maybe Susan held out just for me. Thanks for that.

Anyway - want to get the laundry all done and get something prepared for supper for "the guys". Hope everyone has a good day.

Happy Birthday My Love

Happy Birthday to a wonderful wife and mom!

We love you Shannon!

while trying to get a mother's day picture....

...this is what I got!

Mother's Day re-cap

Had a great day.

*Got up WAY to early (but that's OK)
*Had Monkey Bread for breakfast - it was great
*Read my book - laying on the couch, curled up in a blanket
*Went to the movies (thanks to my guys - happy mother's day to me!)
*Craig colored my hair for me - it's dark dad, sorry!
*Watched 13 going on 30 on TV
*Celebrated with some birthday cake - chocolate sour cream, lovingly made by Craig and Kaedo
*Watched Mythbusters with the boys
*Tucked in my two favorite guys
*Watched a guilty pleasure (Bret Michaels Rock of Love Bus)(pure skank but what the hell)
*and now I'm heading to bed and curl up with my book where I plan to lose myself in more of the police drama of lieutenant Eve Dallas and count my blessings - there are so many - where do I start???.

Hope your day was as great as mine.

Happy Mother's Day

this picture is of the baby robins that made our front tree home last year.

Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful women in my life. You are all a testament to what a mother should be and I am so proud to have you in my life and have you be part of my family. Your children truly don't know how blessed they are (I count myself in that category). It isn't until you become a mom that you truly realize what sacrificing is, what sleepless nights are, what "heart hurts" are, how much you hate to clean up puke, how a hug can feel after a long day. The other thing I believe is that not until you become a mom do you know what true love really is. That all encompassing, unconditional, forever and a day love that having a child brings to the table. It is the ultimate. So to all the moms out there, Happy Mother's Day.

I thought I would just let you know how long the important mothers in my life have been moms for:

Mom (Irene) - 13,514 days

Shirley - 14,437 days

Jessica - 1437 days

Petrica - 1093 days

and

me: 4195 days

Hope Mother's Day finds you well and with those you love.

Mom - thanks for being the best. I love you.

Sterling had a character description paper for class and he wrote about Craig. Here is the first paragraph. I love it!

"My dad is as tall as the door frame. He has bright blue eyes like blue hot tamales. My dad also has dark brown hair like a monkey".

Funny how kids think to describe their parents. I don't think I want to know how he would describe me. For the record he got a 3 (out of 4) on his paper.

sigh

Kaedo is home today. He had track and field at school and was going to be dispersed if he wasn't participating so he got the day off. He probably should have gone to school but he wasn't going to learn anything anyway.

I gotta tell you, he is such a kind boy. This morning's conversation went something like this:

Kaedo: "Mom, Scoops is open now, you know".

Me: "Are you sure? I thought it didn't open until the long weekend".

Kaedo: "Ya, me and dad saw the sign and it says 'Scoops Open', so it must be. Can we go and have an ice cream?".

Me: "Sorry honey, I don't have the money to treat you to an ice cream today".

Kaedo: "Mom (sigh), I meant can I take YOU for an ice cream? It's my treat".

So - off we went. A Simpson's Cookie D'Oh/Mint Chocolate Chip waffle cone, and a Creamsicle Swirl cone later our faces were messy and our bellies were full. Hard to let your kids treat but sometimes I think it's OK.

Now he's watching the Scorpion King now and keeps saying to me,"mom, watch this, mom, watch this".

Love this kid!

Hope your Wednesday is good and your weather is as great as ours is.

child labour

So, Sterling is home again today. He is not sick. In fact, he feels great. But he has a cough and the school won't let him come back until it's gone. He has big plans for this week - and he may not get the chance to attend. Tomorrow the school is having their Track and Field Day and Thursday he is supposed to go to The Ontario Science Centre with his class.

While I understand that the school is trying to protect other students but give me a break. 100's of kids have coughed, sneezed and puked all over that school. Sterling is no exception. Unfortunately, fear mongering allows for kids to miss school and then they pay the price when they have to spend their evenings catching up. Bugs me.

In light of that - Sterling has been put to work. He has a list of chores that Craig gave him this morning. He is going to dig up the dandelions in the lawn, de-weed the flower bed and clean up the poo. He hasn't asked for any extra allowance (which really surprises me, actually) but I'm sure I will be able to scrounge up some kind of treat for his hard work. Funnily enough, he would rather be doing all the work than sitting around watching tv. We are talking about Sterling, aren't we??

at least it wasn't the roof

photo Aug 3/06

So, yesterday, my youngest adventurer decided that he would see how far and high he could jump. In his infinite wisdom he decided to climb on the Superbox (mailbox) and the end of the street and take a leap. Unfortunately, he didn't think out the landing and now he is sitting at home with ice on his ankle, wrapped in a tensor, whining that it hurts. (Batman he ain't)

There is really only one answer to a situation like this -

Suck it up, buttercup

Sunday so far...

So far -
* Craig has gone mountain biking with Michael
* Sterling and Kaeden have been to Busy Bee
* Sterling and Kaeden have been to Dollarama
* Much Lego has been played with
* Kaedo has worked on his 12 times tables
* I have watched Twilight
* Sterling has watched "True Jackson VP"
* I have made 3 days worth of waffles for breakfasts this week
* I have taken Ketchup for a long walk
* Craig has put his bike away and refused to take the kids mountain biking (he's exhausted, apparently...hmmmm)
* I have made muffins and separated them for this weeks lunches

I don't know what else we have planned but it has been a jammed packed Sunday morning. Hope your day is good.

Me: "Kaedo, I could blow a bigger bubble than that if I had some gum".

Kaedo: "Ya, right!"

Sterling: "I see you took your competition pills today mom".

Just made me laugh.

Craig is out playing football, Sterling is sick and wrapped up in a blanket, Kaedo is blowing face sized bubbles and the three of us are watching Lucille Ball and Bob Hope in "Fancy Pants" (1950). (How's that for culture?)

Hope you have a good Saturday.

This made me laugh. How true! Have a good weekend and happy May Day!