Speaking of quotes....

This may be the best one yet:

I took my weight off the old fashioned way. I like to call it the 'Just Keep Your Fucking Mouth Shut and Eat Air Diet'. It's all the rage.
                                                              Tori.Spelling

I must admit I love that quote. Hysterical. I think I'll try that one. Duct tape please!

We're busy having fun around here. The boys are loving the extra attention. Baba is giving `Life Lessons`, Amma is giving cooking lessons, and the house is filled with noise, Neil Diamond in the morning, Ketchup laying in the sun at the open front door and time spent with two of my favorite people (that`s you, mom and dad). Less than a week left and then we count down to Christmas.

Happy Birthday to Kelly - hope you like your gift and have a wonderful day. We love you!

Quotes

I Have a site I truly love for inspiration, as does half the population of the world - Pin.terest.

I could literally spend hours sifting through the beautiful images shown. I have bookmarked at least 100 flower photos and pictures of dream kitchens. Who knew you could have 21 dream kitchens? So I thought I would post some of my favorite quotes I have found there. If people like it, I'll do it every week. Let me know.

1. When all else fails, give up and go to the library. - Stephen.King

2. Don't talk, just act. Don't say, just show. Don't promise, just love. - unknown

3. People overestimate what they can do in a single day and underestimate what they can do in their whole lives. - unknown

4. The secret to getting ahead is getting started. - unknown

5. Be happy! It drives people crazy! - unknown

6. Give a damn. Many damns. More damns than anyone. - unknown

7. If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance! - Maxine

8. It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice. - unknown

9. I realized this week that I cannot do it all. So I will choose to do what I can, fabulously!
- Clinton.Kelly

10. When nothing is sure, everything is possible. - Margaret.Drabble

11. Not to spoil the ending for you, but everything is going to be ok. - unknown (my personal favorite)

If you have a favorite quote, I'd love to see it.
Happy Tuesday everyone!

Week 5

Week 5 and the weather was rainy. That didn't stop us making the hour long trek to the racetrack. My kids definitely take after me in this case. They love the races. I was the big winner of the day with $15.20 in winnings. Sterling never won a single race, nor did Kaedo. Poor guys. Sterling wanted to win $200. Fat chance. There is something about horse racing that I love. Not only the show on the track, but the show in the building. People yelling, swearing and taunting each other. I didn't realize one of my horses had one as I had been too busy watching the sideshow. We had a nice day together and came home to an easy supper of chiabatas and salad. Sandwiches are big in our family so Amma and Baba had them too. When they are toasted it is even better!

We have been having a great time with our company this past week. The boys are loving it. Dad drives carpool in the morning, mom makes delicious suppers, and they get to spend some one on one time without Craig and I as well. Yesterday they headed to the theatre to see 'Bad.Grandpa' and the kids loved it. I think mom and dad did too.

This week we have a few things on the agenda and some more opportunities for some grandparents/grandsons time. I think it is really important they spend time without Craig and I. With school it makes it a little hard but they make the most of it!

week 4

A busy weekend of football (Craig), painting (thank you, Craig), Tupperware work (Craig - just joking), groceries, cleaning, being with the kids, re-decorating their bathroom, taking this picture, supper with a friend, cleaning oh, and did I say cleaning? Had you been here you also would have heard the Sesame Street Merry Christmas Album, and Sterling stomping his feet trying to get it to skip. I put a stop to the stomping as I don't mind listening to Cookie.Monster and the gang singing 'the 12 days of christmas'.

Off to work delivering stuff today and I have triple driving duty. I am helping a friend get her son home later this afternoon as well as this being my drive both ways week. A busy day and seems like there is still so much to do before my mom and dad arrive tomorrow.

We are all looking so forward to seeing them. It will be a great visit.

Progress Reports and Interviews

This week we have received the boy's progress reports and tonight have gone to their schools and visited with their teachers. Can I just say WOW!

Wonderful reports from all teachers. Unfortunately both kids had their meet the teacher night on the same night! What the Hell? We split up and each took a kid.

Here are some of the highlights:

S - His Media Arts teacher said he is far and beyond the class and the website Sterling designed is better than he even hoped for

K - His french teacher would like him to start helping his classmates because he is ahead of his class

S - Is a fantastic creative writer

K - Is a great writer, especially his poems

So many more good comments. Craig and I are thrilled with their progress and they absolutely rock!

Anyway, enough braggin' on them.

I have a Tupper.ware party tomorrow night and am hoping for good sales. It really is so much fun!

Week 3

Better late than never!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Family Pictures 2013

We used to get our family pictures done (take them ourselves) when we went pumpkin picking. Now that the boys don't want to pumpkin pick (boo) any more, we always take them on Thanksgiving weekend. 

So, today was the day.

Here's a few of the 118 pictures we took. The first one is my favorite:

Selfie

Love this one too

The boys are in a fight with each other, so no gnome picture today. Will post it tomorrow.

Happy Sunday, all!

Shaving

Today Sterling learned to shave, with the razor Craig's mom and dad gave him when he started shaving (he was 30 - just kidding!). His face is now as soft as a baby's butt. Craig took NO pictures. Can you believe that? None. Not a one.

Needless to say, Sterling is thrilled with himself. As a bonus, he doesn't have toilet paper stuck to his face. Thank god for electric razors.

Sterling was teasing me that I could keep all the stubble for his baby book. I scoffed at that. Between you and me though, I just might. Ha!

Glamour Shoot

Having a blind dog has its perks. Say for instance you want to do a photo shoot. In the past when Kaedo has tried to take pictures of Ketchup, he has been less than successful. Now, he can get right up to him and take some great shots. I thought I would share some with you. Kaedo even took a few 'selfies' of him and Ketch.

We've put him on some new food, and while he still sleeps more, he is a little more barky - which we are happy for. He did take a massive header into a recycling bin yesterday which was sad but I must admit a little funny. As it was full, he kind of bounced off it then looked up as if to say, "what the hell?"

In my defense, I would have laughed if it was the kids too.

hmmm - volume 152236

Our new neighbors have decorated their home with Halloween decorations. Including headstones and skeletons. I keep wondering if I should tell them they may only get 2 kids the whole night.  hmmm

I watch more tv between 4:30am and 6:30am than I do the rest of the day combined. hmmm

As a non-music listener it's amazing how many records I listen to. Speaking of that, I am proud to say that Sterling's favorite song is "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond. hmmm

I have a painting hanging in my downstairs landing that was painted in 1963. I got it off the side of the road. And I love it. hmmm

Craig came home early yesterday and was immediately put to work doing chores. We worked until 9pm. He probably wishes he stayed at work. hmmm

Kaedo was mad at me yesterday when I started hanging up at the pictures he had taken down in the 'mancave'. He said it wasn't manly any more and wouldn't help clean it out. I sent him to clean up the basement and not come up until it was done to my standards. I need to get that kid mad more often, it looks great! hmmm

We're working on changing the 'mancave' to the 'mansuite', making a guest bedroom/mancave. Kaedo says 'ManSuite' doesn't sound cool so he won't be using it anymore. This is good for guests. He smells. lol

That's it for today. T-13 days til mom and dad arrive. yay!

Week 2

A busy Sunday for the boys. They volunteered all afternoon at at KOS dualathon (run/bike/run) and had a lot of fun. They helped cheer on the kids that were participating and even ran with one of the competitors that was behind the pack. They helped with teardown and came home in time to work on homework and eat supper. Sterling headed off to his weekly Sunday volunteering gig and Kaedo opted to stay home and complete a school project (I don't even recognize that kid).

Needless to say, when they headed to bed they crashed hard.

Start of the week and a bit of a rough one but tomorrow is a better day. Have a good one everyone!

While Manning a Tupperware Booth

The sheer gorgeousness of our son brought on the following text conversation with Craig yesterday:

ME: Sitting down having lunch and the two girls sitting next to me point to Kaedo and one says "I so want to do him". I said  "He's my son". They left.

ME: I threw up in my mouth.

CRAIG: Wow, did he hear it?

ME: Nope it was gross. I hate girls.

CRAIG: Did you tell him?

ME: No, should I?

CRAIG: Umm I don't think so. He already knows girls love him.

Did I mention that we were in the middle of a mall? Selling Tupperware. We had more 14 year girls flock that booth than H.&M has sleazy tops.

Did I mention I hate girls?

The Breakfast of Champions?

The boys love that their breakfast is made for them in the morning. What kid doesn't, I suppose. After years of having to make it themselves, they are thrilled that now they don't have to. We have it down to a science and they eat the same thing every morning (by their choice). Our morning routine also includes "the LP of the Day". Today it was Neil Diamond. I thought it was fitting as it was a running theme in last nights Big.Bang.Theory.

I took some pictures of their breakfast so that you could see what they eat. Do you care? Probably not, but it's proof they don't eat Froot Loops. They would, but I don't buy them. Because then I would. haha

Kaedo has a smoothie and half a blueberry muffin. I have a wonderful non-electric smoothie maker (Tupperware) and just use frozen strawberries, yogurt and milk. He picks the straw of choice based on mood or color he's wearing. Yes, those are store bought muffins. While I make damn good muffins, we have recently learned that Cost.co has changed their baking processes and that there is no longer a 'may contain peanuts' warning. There are still 'tree nut' warnings, but we (the three of us) felt it was time for Sterling to open his horizons a bit. He is not allergic to tree nuts, so we thought we'd give it a shot. The first day I stood over him making sure he was ok and he was fine. Now they are hooked and only want those, so for now I am giving in. I cut them in half because they don't need a whole one each. When I get them I cut them all in half and store them in a ziplog bag and put them in the fridge. In the morning I put the two halves on a plate, heat them up and they are good to go.

Sterling has half a muffin, a glass ramekin of yogurt (strawberry or vanilla) and a cup of coffee. People may say "coffee will stunt his growth", well we can only hope! At least in the feet department. With size 14 and still growing - I figure he'll end us with 16 or 17s by the time he's done, a little stunting would be good. As to his size - at 6'1 and 200lbs, I'm not concerned about my kid shrinking.

Anyway, that's breakfast and I think it gets them off to a good start.

Now the popcorn in their lunches may be another story!

Printer's Tray

This Spring, my aunt gave us two printer's trays. One for Kaedo and his knife collection (yes, I know - knives - no comments necessary), and one for Sterling. Sterling didn't know what he would do with it, so he gave it to me. After seeing what we have created, I'm sure he regrets that decision.

Since coming home from their holidays we have scoured flea markets, antique expos and our own stuff for cool things to add. Our goal is to fill it up. I am saddened that we are well on our way. We may have to find another tray and start again.

This is the bottom half of the tray. Kaedo loves to fish, so a lure was a great addition. The elephant in the second row was a souvenir from one of Craig's staff from a visit to Thailand? The pin on the right hand side that is kind of blurred out is the Superman symbol - Craig's first tattoo. The skull with the red hat is a pin from our trip to DisneyWorld. The skeleton keys Kaedo and I have been collecting for months. The cream matchbook on the bottom says 'Shirleys'.

The elephant in this one is from an antique fair I went to with my aunt. An old Aspirin tin - simply 'cause it's cool, a compass, a coke bottle cap, a matchbook that says "Cocktails til curfew" (Kaedo loves that - yikes), a metal motorbike (Sterling's first 100% his contribution), a Disco Sucks pin (which isn't true - Disco RULES), and some more skeleton keys.

Our travelling gnome holds court on top, making sure all these little treasures are safe.

It has been a fun adventure finding pieces with the kids and adding them. I would recommend this to anyone. It's a little bit of this, a little bit of that and 100% all us!

Volunteering

On Wednesday nights the boys go to our local Y and participate in the Youth Leadership Corp. They are having so much fun. It is the highlight of their week. This week they were approached about actually volunteering at the Y. This would mean working with their advisers on programs with kids, youth basketball, supervision and lots of other things. They will also participate in outreach programs through the Fall and Winter like working at a Soup Kitchen, clothing drives, etc. We got their forms filled out today and were thrilled to get emails tonight saying they had been accepted through to the next step and are having their orientation in only a few weeks.

In our Province each high school student has to have 40 community service hours by the May of their grade 12 year. Sterling has 70+ now and by the end of November Kaedo will have all his. Their goal is 300 each. At 300 their can start applying for scholarships, etc. Plus your community service involvement looks very good on your resume.

I volunteered for 9 years on their elementary school council and held a variety of positions. I currently sit on Kaedo's school council. I think if you have the time, or can make the time, volunteering is a good thing. You don't ever want to volunteer doing something you hate to do, but I think if you can do it, it sets a good example for your kids. Especially in our case where they have no choice but to get their 40 hours. They will not graduate with out them. They have seen me volunteer and to a certain extent have seen Craig do so as well. While football is his true passion, they have seen him do more than just play the game. He sits on the executive, he goes to set up early, he stays late. It's good.

Let me say this - I am proud of my boys and what they are doing. To them it isn't a case of 'getting the hours'. Hell, Sterling doesn't need them and Kaedo won't by December 1st. What is amazing is that they love what they are doing. They feel good about it, are proud of themselves and each other. They are in this together. They volunteer together at all events. I like knowing that. On top of their Sunday volunteering they will now be working one day a week at the Y, are volunteering at a biathlon event on Sunday and will work with one of the Catholic parishes in December to do food hampers.

There is no pressure from us. We give them the information and they make their decisions. Some may agree with what we are helping them do, some may disagree. All I can say to those who disagree is find me another set of kids who are as kind and compassionate as mine. How can we not share them?

Specialized High Skills Major

In Ontario, High School students have the opportunity to "specialize" in areas of interest. Individual schools choose which High Skills Major programs they have the ability to run, and with the support of faculty, an interview and aptitude, students can earn a RED SEAL on their diplomas which signifies that they have used their high school career to be better positioned for a spot in college or university.

In Kaedo`s case, he has to attend in another city to be a part of this program.

We have learned that Sterling`s interests (graphic design) are well represented in his high school through an Arts and Culture SHSM diploma. Sterling was approached by two teachers and backed by another to enter the program. He made the necessary changes to his courses to line up with what is necessary for the program and now just waits for mid-semester 2 when he will have his interview and lets face it - be accepted! No proud momma here.

He has started a small design business and even has a couple of paying clients. And not to brag too much, his teacher felt he was too advanced for the curriculum so he is designing business cards and a website for a program that teacher runs within the school.

We are thrilled for him and the purpose it seems to have given him. It has been a rough start this Fall but he is doing awesome! Love that kid!

Lastly, hoping my B-I-L can tell me if these programs exist at his school. Would love to hear more about it from his neck of the woods.