Holy smokes! I just pulled up the old blog and realized it's been over a year since I posted! A LOT has changed!!! Let's see....my bugs are almost THREE YEARS OLD! This blows my mind! They're also going to be joined soon by Ladybug. That's right, little sister is on her way! I've got just under 8 weeks to go, depending on how things work out, and it can't come soon enough. This pregnancy has been a whole different experience than the boys. I found out at about 20 weeks that I had a complete placenta previa. It was referred early to an obstetrician, and basically told to do nothing until I had a chance to talk to her. After several more ultrasounds I was told that the placenta had migrated, but not quite enough to make my OB happy, so I wasn't put on bed rest (yeah! Try telling a mother of twins that she's going to be put on bed rest and have her NOT freak out!), but I was still on lockdown. So, no excessive lifting, no excessive walking, no working out...I've been going crazy!
My boys are fantastic! They've grown and changed so much, and I love seeing all of the new things that they learn and discover every day. For example, D figured out that if he pushed a barstool over to the back of the loveseat, it was the perfect height for flipping over the back! After sending the barstools down to purgatory (AKA the basement), he decided that wasn't going to stop him. He then continued the game with a chair from the dining table! His brother figured it was a pretty cool game and got in on the action too! Listening to them giggling as they took turns tumbling over the back of the couch was fine for about 5 minutes and then it was time to sit them down and explain how dangerous their little game was. I'm not terribly keen on spending hours in emerg in the event that one of them breaks something! Thankfully, the game was forgotten the next day and they haven't gone back to it since. I'm sure they'll figure out some other way to give this mama more grey hairs than she already has in the near future, but until then I hope they keep having fun every day!
My husband is now the service manager of the car dealership he's been working at for the last 2 1/2 years. It makes for much busier days, but he's enjoying it. He's been so great with helping out around the house while I've been pregnant. It's almost frustrating some days because he won't let me do much, but I'm not going to lie...it's kind of nice having him carry the laundry up and downstairs, cleaning the bathroom, doing the vacuuming, etc. I feel like a big-time slacker, but he always tells me "you're baking a baby! You're doing plenty!"
We've also made some great friends in town, that happen to live right across the street! They have a little one that's 8mos younger than the boys so they've got a great buddy to play with! All in all, we're starting to feel a lot more at home in our new town. Anyway, this mama is going to sit in the tub for an hour or so. Hopefully the boys work with me today and decide to take their nap!
xoxo Morgan
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Sunday, December 11, 2011
pərˈsep-shən
per·cep·tion/pərˈsep-shən/
| Noun: |
| |
| Synonyms: | realization - understanding - comprehension | |
I've been struggling a lot with perception lately. It's definition makes it sound pretty simple, but in reality, it's not. C.S. Lewis said "what you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing; it also depends on what sort of person you are." This is where things get complicated. Every person sees things differently, and therefore perceives things differently. My struggle with perception stems from the vast changes I have encountered over the past two years. I have been off work since September 2009, became a parent in April 2010, left the city I grew up in in August 2010, and became officially unemployed (according to the government at least) in July 2011. I am still myself but my priorities, and thereby my perception has changed. I am a mother. I am a wife. I am a cook. I am a housekeeper. I am a daughter. I am a sister. I am an individual, however my individuality has taken a back burner to the other facets of my self. I still have thoughts, and feelings, and ideas, and plans. The thing is, that by the time I'm done doing all of the things that I NEED to do each and every day, there is no time left to do the things that I WANT to do. I am completely consumed by being a mother, wife, cook, housekeeper, daughter, and sister that there is no time or energy left to do anything for myself. I wouldn't even be writing this entry right now had my husband not handed me the laptop and banished me to our bedroom to take a break while he takes care of the kids. I feel guilty for wanting to take time for myself but as he continuously informs me, "he has to be at work all day so getting to spend time with the boys is a nice change of pace". This is yet another example of the fact that perceptions are as different as the people they belong to. Taking care of the boys feels like work to me. It's what I do all day (and sometimes all night), every day. I guess it's all in how you look at things. Contrary to what I might think, getting to take a shower is not sufficient "me time". I need to take time to paint, and write, and work out, and listen to music, and do all of the things that I used to do when I had more time than I knew what to do with.
Doing these things will likely solve the other issue I've been having with perception; that my self, as an individual doesn't matter. I had a boss once that didn't like to be disturbed. If you poked your head into her office for any reason you were greeted with "is there a fire?". She made it clear that unless you or some part of the building were burning, you didn't matter. Lately I've been feeling like the only thing anyone ever wants to know about is what the boys have been up to. Don't get me wrong, I love my boys to death, but sometimes it would be nice to have somebody ask how I am! If I'm not talking about the boys I might as well not be talking at all because I'm about as significant and relevant as acid washed jeans. I've tried changing the subject but it always seems to loop back around to the boys or just fizzle out all together. So, I've come to the conclusion that I need to start standing somewhere else and see what the view is like. If it's no good I need to keep trying new vantage points until things start to look better. As Tom Robbins said, "one has not only an ability to perceive the world but an ability to alter one's perception of it; more simply, one can change things by the manner in which one looks at them." I guess really, what it comes down to, is that people are not one dimensional, and they want to be validated in all aspects of themselves. So next time you talk to a friend or a relative don't just tell them all about yourself and call it a day, make sure you ask how they are, and really listen to what they have to say. They could be fighting a silent battle with their perceptions and need you to show them that they are significant and relevant.
xoxo Morgan
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Frenemies, and Mompetitors, and Bitches! Oh, My!
I've been thinking a lot lately about friendships, past and present. This got me thinking about the portrayal of friendships in the movies and on TV.
Exhibit A: Now & Then
This movie is wonderful. It teaches us that no matter how much people change, true friends will always be there for each other. Wouldn't it be nice if you could get back together with your best childhood friends every time one of you experienced a major life event. You could hang out in your old tree house, talk about that one magical summer when everything was perfect (or was it?), and get to feel like a kid again. I loved this movie when I was growing up, and still do. It gave me hope that I would always be friends with the girls I grew up with, promises would never be broken and friendships were forever. I have to say that my oldest friend would definitely fit into this category. She was born 1 month & 3 days after I was, our parents were friends, so by default, we were as well. We spent innumerable summers together, got into all kinds of shit and had the time of our lives! We grew apart slightly when my parents separated and we moved to the city. I still see this friend on occasion and we reminisce about the good old days on the "talking swing", the summer she fell off the slide, broke her arm and had to spend a good many days with a plastic bag tied around her cast while we lived in the sprinkler, countless popsicles, her amazing trunk full of dress up clothes, beating up chickens (Disclaimer: no chickens were harmed in the making of these memories) and so on. I still consider her my best friend, but I often wonder if she would consider me in the same category.
Exhibit B: Sex & the City
Look at how much fun they're having! This seems slightly more realistic to me, okay maybe not the shower of flowers (ha!), but as far as the friendships go it seems to hit the nail on the head. Yes, they are all friends, some are better than others, but at the end of the day they all love each other. They have their ups and downs. Sometimes they act like a complete C.U.Next.Tuesday, but they put their own shit aside and make the effort when the effort is needed. It's shows like this that make me wish that I didn't live so far away from my girlfriends so we could get fabulous, go out on the town and drink cosmos like there was no tomorrow. Or, you know, just make a batch of cookies, sit around in our PJs and watch chick flicks because we would all be so exhausted from working, parenting, cleaning, cooking etc. that the mere prospect of getting all dressed up would seem insurmountable, but it wouldn't matter as long as we were spending time together.
Exhibit C: Mean Girls
Now these are some nasty bitches women! I know this is a movie about highschool students, but it (unfortunately) holds true at all ages. A friend of mine recently asked in her Facebook status: "I'm almost 30. Why are there STILL mean girls?". The fact of the matter is that there will ALWAYS be mean girls. In highschool it's a constant battle to be a part of the in crowd, and as adults the frenemies trend continues. You are in constant competition; who has the best job, gets engaged first, gets married first, has kids first...it goes on and on. Women with kids are especially bad for this. I recently heard the term "mompetitors" and it couldn't be more true. God forbid you should let your kids watch TV, eat non-organic/processed foods, eat dirt...they must live in their plastic bubbles so that they are never exposed to anything that could hurt them! It seems like everybody has an opinion on what you should do, both for yourself and for your kids, and if you don't meet their criteria you don't get to be their friend, or worse yet, they'll pretend to be your friend but talk about you behind your back when you're not around.
When it's all said and done I can safely say that there are women in my life that fit into each of these three categories. Some I would die for, others I could take or leave. At the end of the day I try to be the best friend I can, when they need me to be. I just hope that when I need them they'll be there for me in the same way.
And so, I lift my glass to all of my girlfriends and say as Edward Norton's character did in 25th Hour, "champagne for my real friends, and real pain for my sham friends".
xoxo Morgan
Exhibit A: Now & Then
Exhibit B: Sex & the City
Exhibit C: Mean Girls
When it's all said and done I can safely say that there are women in my life that fit into each of these three categories. Some I would die for, others I could take or leave. At the end of the day I try to be the best friend I can, when they need me to be. I just hope that when I need them they'll be there for me in the same way.
And so, I lift my glass to all of my girlfriends and say as Edward Norton's character did in 25th Hour, "champagne for my real friends, and real pain for my sham friends".
xoxo Morgan
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Checking in...
1. Get driver's license - It's hard to believe I have had my learner's license for nearly 13 years and I have never gone for my road test! Better late than never I suppose.I haven't booked my test yet, but I have been driving! This one is a work in progress.
Still driving...still haven't booked the test...I really need to get my ass in gear on this one before the snow flies!
2. Reach goal weight - I plan to lose 40 lbs by the end of this year (curse you, baby weight!). I've already lost 18 lbs since I started mid-November so I guess I'm doing pretty well in this regard.
I've lost 30.6lbs to date. I've hit a bit of a plateau, but I'm hoping to get back on track and keep shedding the pounds!
Yeah...so about that plateau...I'm down 34.2lbs since my last post. Not much more, but I'm still plugging away! I've got another 10.8lbs to lose before I reach my (amended) goal! I CAN DOOO EEEEET!!!!!
3. Bake buns - I need to find a good recipe and bake buns from scratch! Time to start calling the grandmas & aunts!
My friend Tracy sent me a couple of recipes but I haven't tried them yet.
It's been too bloody hot to do much baking lately. The nights are getting cooler though so I'm sure it'll be fall in no time and I'll be baking buns and making soup like there's no tomorrow! Haha
4. Purge home of unneeded items - I'm not quite qualified to be on an episode of Hoarders but it is getting a bit out of hand. We've been moving boxes around that we continue to leave packed. Why waste the space?
We haven't really done anything about this yet. We may have a yard sale this summer...we'll see. Either way, the crap is outta here!
We've sorted through everything! There is a mountain of stuff downstairs that needs to be organized, priced and then we can have our yard sale! We should probably get on that...
5. Plant a garden - I've always wanted to plant a garden. Our yard at our previous home was quite large and daunting. I'm ready to bite the bullet! I even have a list of vegetables I want to plant on my cell (are you surprised? I didn't think so...lol)
My garden box has been built! I'm planning on picking up my dirt/compost this weekend and get to planting!
My garden is incredible!!! The only thing I didn't really plan on was cabbage worms. They decimated my broccoli! I had to pull it all out before it really got the chance to do anything! Oh well, live and learn!
6. Have a bountiful harvest from the garden - Here's hoping!
I need to plant the garden first! Lol
Other than my broccoli fiasco and the fact that my pepper plants got next to no sun because they were overshadowed by said broccoli & lettuce all summer, I've made a pretty good haul! We ate spinach for weeks in the early weeks of summer, tons of lettuce, I've got loads of parsley and basil to pick, more carrots than I'm sure we'll be able to eat, several tomatoes and a ridiculous amount of green onions! My asparagus hasn't done much but I'm hoping we'll have a bunch in the next growing season!
7. Throw a great 1st birthday party for the boys - 1st birthdays are kind of a big deal!
The boys' 1st birthday party was AWESOME! Uncle B & auntie E, auntie T & uncle D, grandpa P, grandma & grandpa B, great auntie T & both of the great-grandma's were here! After much testing I found the perfect cake recipe (this could have something to do with my weight loss plateau...!), we made a video montage of the boys' shenanigans to date and had an all around great day! I can't wait to start planning their 2nd birthday!
8. Have an amazing 7th anniversary - Our 6th anniversary wasn't so hot. This year is going to be better!
Our anniversary was celebrated over two separate days. The first was a Saturday spent in Edmonton. We ditched the little boys at grandma & grandpa B's house and went out for some lunch and retail therapy. The second day was our actual anniversary. I got some beautiful flowers and made Scott an amazing dinner!
9. Go out for dinner with the boys - We haven't attempted this one yet. It makes me a tad bit nervous to take them out. Evenings are always a bit scary for us since the boys aren't napping much during the day. Evenings usually end up in a full on meltdown by one, or both, of the boys.
We've done this a few times now, and really...it's not so scary after all! The first few times we went were with grandma & grandpa B, and then with our friends Cam & Chelsey when they were here for a weekend. We've since done it twice on our own, and like I said, totally painless so long as I don't run out of Cheerios to keep them busy! Hahaha
10. Go out for dinner without the boys - We've done this once, when the boys were about 2mos old. Our wonderful friend Chelsey spent a few hours with the boys while we went out to Moxies. It was great! Now that the boys are older, and we no longer live in the same city, things are slightly more complicated. We need to find a good babysitter (or two!)
Scott and I went out for lunch while we were in Edmonton. We would have gone out for dinner but time didn't really allow us to. An overnight trip is kind of out of the question as we have dogs. Lunch counts...right??
11. Go to a movie - This one also requires a babysitter (or a grandparent or two).
This one will have to wait until Scott's mom & dad come out for a weekend as there isn't enough time to go on a day trip to Edmonton.
Scott and I actually considered going to Harry Potter in shifts just so we could see it in theater! Hahaha. We've been trying to spend as much time as possible outside this summer (when it's not too hot, raining, windy or swarming with mosquitoes) so I guess this will have to wait until cooler weather sets in.
12. Become a full-time stay at home mom - It's very important to me to be able to raise our boys. If we are able to do it financially I would love to be able to be home with them.
So far, not sure. I'm working on setting up an extended leave of absence to keep my options open with my employer but it's (apparently) quite the process as I haven't heard anything back from them yet.
Well...I am officially unemployed, unless of course you count my unpaid stints as a housekeeper, chef and childcare professional, haha.
13. Read 5 books you've never read before - I used to read a lot! I've been having a hard time keeping up the momentum since the boys were born. This is mostly due to the fact that I'm so busy with them during the day, and so tired when they go to bed at night that I'm lucky if I make it through 2 pages!
1. Eat, Pray, Love (Elizabeth Gilbert) - It took me a while to get through this one. However, I'd definitely recommend reading the book over watching the movie...the way the character was portrayed made me wish I could reach through my TV screen and punch her in the throat!
2. Water For Elephants (Sara Gruen) - This book was incredible! I am almost nervous to see the movie because I don't know that they'll be able to do the story justice.
3. Sing You Home (Jodi Picoult) - I have a love/hate relationship with Jodi Picoult. Some of her previous novels have made me so angry I want to throw them across the room upon reading the final sentences. This one surprised me. Based on the subject matter I expected it to have her typical blindside ending, it did not.
4. The Gathering (Kelley Armstrong) - I have read (and LOVED) all of Kelley Armstrong's other novels. This is the first book released in a new trilogy. It was not as good as the "Otherworld" series, but I will definitely be reading the second and third books when they are released.
5. The Vampire Diaries - Awakening (L.J. Smith) - I have watched TVD series and was unsure about reading the books. I am currently reading this one (the first of four) and so far so good! The series took a fairly large departure from the novel but I'm enjoying the novel so far.
I've read several more books since my last update. I've at least doubled my goal of five so I'm happy with that!
14. Tell Scott and the boys that you love them every day, both in your words and your actions.
Check! :)
Check! :)
15. Send homemade items to Angela & Emma - This one is the result of a Facebook challenge. You were to send homemade items to the first 5 people that replied to your status & they in turn had to repost it as their status.
I'm working on this one! Angela's is in the works and I have wool picked out for Emma's. Grayson nearly ruined the scarf I'm knitting for Angela the other day but I saved it just in time!
*Note to self....DO NOT leave your knitting bag on the floor where little boys could find it and pull out the needles
Still working away on this one. Again, I'm finding it hard to sit with a pile of wool in my lap when it's 25+ degrees in my house! Waiting for cooler weather to really get going.
16. Knit scarves for the boys for next winter - This one could prove challenging as I never remember how to purl or cast off. I think I'll be spending a fair bit of time getting lessons from Scott's grandma.
Again, I have the wool picked out but have yet to start knitting.
See above.
17. Spend an entire day without turning on the TV - How am I going to go an entire day without using Planet 51 to prevent an impending meltdown?!? This could be interesting....
This one hasn't happened yet, and still frightens me as much as it did when I initially wrote it! Haha
DONE!!! I don't remember the date, but we did it, and lived to tell the tale! Hahaha
18. Make a new friend - Since we've moved I've found myself a bit starved for adult companionship. This has been made even more challenging by the fact that I don't drive, so getting out and meeting people is difficult. I can't wait for spring & summer so I can get out of the house more often. I'm going to be living at the park! Haha
I've been trying to get out as much as possible since the snow melted! It's been incredibly windy for about a week now so I haven't been out much. *SIGH*
We had our neighbours over for dinner on the 21st. It was nice to talk to grownups for a change! I don't know that I would call them friends yet, but we're working on it! :)
19. Get back in touch with an old friend - I want to make a meaningful (re-)connection with an old friend. Finding someone on Facebook doesn't count!
Work in progress.
My friend Minnie stopped in for a visit on the 19th with her sweet little boy, Kaeden! I hadn't seen her since 2005! It was really good to catch up, have our boys meet, and again have a little adult conversation!
20. Bake gingersnaps that AREN'T for Christmas - Gingersnaps are my all time favourite cookie! I make them every year for Christmas but then I find myself craving them throughout the year. They take a bit more work than your average cookie, so usually I let laziness win and don't make them...not this year!
I think this will happen in the fall when I start to crave the warm, spicy flavour of gingersnaps.
DONE!!! Yes, I made gingersnaps in the middle of summer! It was a cooler day than we'd had in a while and I was itching to try out the small ice cream scoop I had bought specifically for cookie baking! It made the whole process so much faster!
21. Make a conscious effort to drink 8 glasses of water per day - This might sound like a pretty lame goal but I've noticed since the boys were born that my water consumption has really decreased.
Check!
Check!
22. Pet the dogs every day - I'm committing to loving our dogs more. The cats on the other hand, can go eff themselves! Haha
Check!
Check!
23. Stop biting your lip - This is something that I have always done. It bothers me. I'm going to stop.
Working on it. It's gotten much better.
I still catch myself doing this on occasion, but much less often than I used to!
24. Do yoga - I've never practiced yoga before. It intrigues me, both in the sense that it is good physical activity, but a good mental activity as well.
Someday I will have time to work out again. When that day arrives I will attempt yoga!
Based on the fact that my weight loss has all but stalled out, it's pretty obvious I haven't been doing much working out. One of these days.....
25. Do something that scares you - I'm not sure what this will be, but I'll know it when I do it.
I still haven't figured out what this is.
My friend Tracy pointed out to me that our day trip to Edmonton, and leaving the boys home alone with dad could definitely count for this one. I'm inclined to agree with her! It's not that I don't trust my husband, he's an incredible father, I was just worried that being alone with the boys for that amount of time would be too much for him. Turns out, he was a rock star and my worries were totally unfounded! Way to go daddy!!! :)
26. Bake apple crisp completely from scratch. No pie filling! - I've never done this before. I figure it's time.
Like my gingersnaps, this will likely happen in the fall.
I have an entire grocery bag full of apples sitting in my pantry that one of the ladies Scott works with sent him home with. I really need to do something with them!
27. Take the boys swimming - I always loved the water but I didn't start taking swimming lessons until I was in my early teens. I want our boys to feel confident in the water from an early age.
Swim trunks? Check
Swim shirts? Check
Swim diapers? Check
Swimming? Not yet...but soon!
Done! We had gone out to play in the sprinkler one afternoon and D HATED it!!! He cried and clung to me the entire time. G, on the other hand, had a blast! I was a little worried D would react the same way at the pool, but he did great! G didn't enjoy it as much but he still did alright! We'll have to see if there is a Saturday swimming lesson we can enroll them in this fall/winter, after we hit the pool a few more times of course!
28. Spend more time at the lake - Scott's grandma Mil has a cabin that is only an hour away from us. It's too close for us not to go! She adores the boys and it's important for us to have her spend as much time with her (only) great-grandchildren as she can!
I'm thinking June, July & August will be good months to accomplish this one.
Scott has next week booked off! We're planning on heading out to the lake. It probably won't be an overnight trip because of the fact that the boys are too big to share a playpen and the dogs don't do very well anywhere but at home. We'll see...
29. Paint - I have an entire box of watercolour painting supplies in the basement. I used to paint a lot when I was younger and I don't do it anymore. I'd like to change that. I'd also like to experiment with oils as well.
Not yet...
Done! I painted a picture of a stargazer lily. Considering the fact that I haven't painted in years, it's not too shabby!
30. Start a blog - I guess I've done this one already!
Woohoo! One down...39 to go!
31. Write - Again, something that I used to do a lot when I was younger and have let slip away.
Blogging counts, right?
32. Re-upholster grandma's chair - I have an old chair that originally belonged to my grandma. It's been living in our basement for the last 5+ years since my aunt gave it to me. I'm looking forward to the day that the boys and I can snuggle up in it and read stories before bed, but first the awful yellow, orange & brown floral upholstery from the 70's needs to go!
This one is going to be tough. First off, it's going to be more expensive than I anticipated. Secondly, I'm having a hard time finding upholstery I like!
I vacuumed the chair off last weekend. The cats have really done a number on it. I'm not even sure it's salvageable. I'll have to take it in and get them to check it out.
33. Get your eyes checked - I haven't had my eyes checked for about 13 years. I have an appointment booked for February 25th. I'm a little nervous about this as I know my eyes aren't what they used to be.
Done. Got glasses (I only need them at night). And so begins the downward spiral of poor eyesight. FML.
34. Get a suntan...the real kind - I've been known to go to Fabutan to add a little extra to my summer colour. I want to spend more time outside this year and get one the natural way! The vitamin D will be a nice addition as well.
I've been spending as much time as possible out on the deck in the afternoon while the boys are down for their naps. So far, so good!
I'm happy to report that I've been maintaining my tan all summer!
35. Start a compost bin - I've been after Scott for the last 3 years or so to build something that I can use as a compost bin. I'm hoping with my garden this year that this might actually happen!
Fingers crossed for next weekend!
I still don't have a compost bin, or a rain barrel for that matter! Hoping to scoop one up in the fall sales.
36. Save more, spend less
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I shouldn't laugh....I spent a whole lotta $ in Edmonton a few weekends ago with my friends Tracy & Brienne. Gotta slow it down or I'm gonna have to get my ass back to work!
Work in progress.
37. Fly a kite - I'm pretty sure my age was a single digit the last time I did this.
Why haven't I done this yet?!?!? Goodness knows it's been windy enough!
Hopefully this one will happen when we go to the lake sometime next week!
38. Build a sandcastle - Again, I'm pretty sure the last time I did this dates back to the single digits.
This will happen at the lake this summer!
Again, when we hit the lake next week!
39. Spend an entire day outside
This one may be a bit tricky...I'll have to sneak in to make food for the boys!
It's impossible to spend the entire day outside, but I'm going to do my very best to spend as much time outside as we can at the lake! We've spent a lot of time outdoors this summer which I have been loving! The boys love to explore all of the strange new things they find outside. G had a lot of fun with some pinecones when we went to the park with grandpa J a few weekends ago! It wasn't as much fun when mum took them away because he was chewing them though...lol
40. Go on a picnic
Later this summer....
When we go to the lake next week, I'm planning on eating a meal or two outside/down on the beach. That should cover this one! :)
Still driving...still haven't booked the test...I really need to get my ass in gear on this one before the snow flies!
2. Reach goal weight - I plan to lose 40 lbs by the end of this year (curse you, baby weight!). I've already lost 18 lbs since I started mid-November so I guess I'm doing pretty well in this regard.
I've lost 30.6lbs to date. I've hit a bit of a plateau, but I'm hoping to get back on track and keep shedding the pounds!
Yeah...so about that plateau...I'm down 34.2lbs since my last post. Not much more, but I'm still plugging away! I've got another 10.8lbs to lose before I reach my (amended) goal! I CAN DOOO EEEEET!!!!!
3. Bake buns - I need to find a good recipe and bake buns from scratch! Time to start calling the grandmas & aunts!
My friend Tracy sent me a couple of recipes but I haven't tried them yet.
It's been too bloody hot to do much baking lately. The nights are getting cooler though so I'm sure it'll be fall in no time and I'll be baking buns and making soup like there's no tomorrow! Haha
4. Purge home of unneeded items - I'm not quite qualified to be on an episode of Hoarders but it is getting a bit out of hand. We've been moving boxes around that we continue to leave packed. Why waste the space?
We haven't really done anything about this yet. We may have a yard sale this summer...we'll see. Either way, the crap is outta here!
We've sorted through everything! There is a mountain of stuff downstairs that needs to be organized, priced and then we can have our yard sale! We should probably get on that...
5. Plant a garden - I've always wanted to plant a garden. Our yard at our previous home was quite large and daunting. I'm ready to bite the bullet! I even have a list of vegetables I want to plant on my cell (are you surprised? I didn't think so...lol)
My garden box has been built! I'm planning on picking up my dirt/compost this weekend and get to planting!
My garden is incredible!!! The only thing I didn't really plan on was cabbage worms. They decimated my broccoli! I had to pull it all out before it really got the chance to do anything! Oh well, live and learn!
I need to plant the garden first! Lol
Other than my broccoli fiasco and the fact that my pepper plants got next to no sun because they were overshadowed by said broccoli & lettuce all summer, I've made a pretty good haul! We ate spinach for weeks in the early weeks of summer, tons of lettuce, I've got loads of parsley and basil to pick, more carrots than I'm sure we'll be able to eat, several tomatoes and a ridiculous amount of green onions! My asparagus hasn't done much but I'm hoping we'll have a bunch in the next growing season!
The boys' 1st birthday party was AWESOME! Uncle B & auntie E, auntie T & uncle D, grandpa P, grandma & grandpa B, great auntie T & both of the great-grandma's were here! After much testing I found the perfect cake recipe (this could have something to do with my weight loss plateau...!), we made a video montage of the boys' shenanigans to date and had an all around great day! I can't wait to start planning their 2nd birthday!
Our anniversary was celebrated over two separate days. The first was a Saturday spent in Edmonton. We ditched the little boys at grandma & grandpa B's house and went out for some lunch and retail therapy. The second day was our actual anniversary. I got some beautiful flowers and made Scott an amazing dinner!
We've done this a few times now, and really...it's not so scary after all! The first few times we went were with grandma & grandpa B, and then with our friends Cam & Chelsey when they were here for a weekend. We've since done it twice on our own, and like I said, totally painless so long as I don't run out of Cheerios to keep them busy! Hahaha
Scott and I went out for lunch while we were in Edmonton. We would have gone out for dinner but time didn't really allow us to. An overnight trip is kind of out of the question as we have dogs. Lunch counts...right??
11. Go to a movie - This one also requires a babysitter (or a grandparent or two).
This one will have to wait until Scott's mom & dad come out for a weekend as there isn't enough time to go on a day trip to Edmonton.
Scott and I actually considered going to Harry Potter in shifts just so we could see it in theater! Hahaha. We've been trying to spend as much time as possible outside this summer (when it's not too hot, raining, windy or swarming with mosquitoes) so I guess this will have to wait until cooler weather sets in.
12. Become a full-time stay at home mom - It's very important to me to be able to raise our boys. If we are able to do it financially I would love to be able to be home with them.
So far, not sure. I'm working on setting up an extended leave of absence to keep my options open with my employer but it's (apparently) quite the process as I haven't heard anything back from them yet.
Well...I am officially unemployed, unless of course you count my unpaid stints as a housekeeper, chef and childcare professional, haha.
1. Eat, Pray, Love (Elizabeth Gilbert) - It took me a while to get through this one. However, I'd definitely recommend reading the book over watching the movie...the way the character was portrayed made me wish I could reach through my TV screen and punch her in the throat!
2. Water For Elephants (Sara Gruen) - This book was incredible! I am almost nervous to see the movie because I don't know that they'll be able to do the story justice.
3. Sing You Home (Jodi Picoult) - I have a love/hate relationship with Jodi Picoult. Some of her previous novels have made me so angry I want to throw them across the room upon reading the final sentences. This one surprised me. Based on the subject matter I expected it to have her typical blindside ending, it did not.
4. The Gathering (Kelley Armstrong) - I have read (and LOVED) all of Kelley Armstrong's other novels. This is the first book released in a new trilogy. It was not as good as the "Otherworld" series, but I will definitely be reading the second and third books when they are released.
5. The Vampire Diaries - Awakening (L.J. Smith) - I have watched TVD series and was unsure about reading the books. I am currently reading this one (the first of four) and so far so good! The series took a fairly large departure from the novel but I'm enjoying the novel so far.
I've read several more books since my last update. I've at least doubled my goal of five so I'm happy with that!
14. Tell Scott and the boys that you love them every day, both in your words and your actions.
Check! :)
Check! :)
15. Send homemade items to Angela & Emma - This one is the result of a Facebook challenge. You were to send homemade items to the first 5 people that replied to your status & they in turn had to repost it as their status.
I'm working on this one! Angela's is in the works and I have wool picked out for Emma's. Grayson nearly ruined the scarf I'm knitting for Angela the other day but I saved it just in time!
*Note to self....DO NOT leave your knitting bag on the floor where little boys could find it and pull out the needles
Still working away on this one. Again, I'm finding it hard to sit with a pile of wool in my lap when it's 25+ degrees in my house! Waiting for cooler weather to really get going.
16. Knit scarves for the boys for next winter - This one could prove challenging as I never remember how to purl or cast off. I think I'll be spending a fair bit of time getting lessons from Scott's grandma.
Again, I have the wool picked out but have yet to start knitting.
See above.
This one hasn't happened yet, and still frightens me as much as it did when I initially wrote it! Haha
DONE!!! I don't remember the date, but we did it, and lived to tell the tale! Hahaha
18. Make a new friend - Since we've moved I've found myself a bit starved for adult companionship. This has been made even more challenging by the fact that I don't drive, so getting out and meeting people is difficult. I can't wait for spring & summer so I can get out of the house more often. I'm going to be living at the park! Haha
I've been trying to get out as much as possible since the snow melted! It's been incredibly windy for about a week now so I haven't been out much. *SIGH*
We had our neighbours over for dinner on the 21st. It was nice to talk to grownups for a change! I don't know that I would call them friends yet, but we're working on it! :)
Work in progress.
My friend Minnie stopped in for a visit on the 19th with her sweet little boy, Kaeden! I hadn't seen her since 2005! It was really good to catch up, have our boys meet, and again have a little adult conversation!
I think this will happen in the fall when I start to crave the warm, spicy flavour of gingersnaps.
DONE!!! Yes, I made gingersnaps in the middle of summer! It was a cooler day than we'd had in a while and I was itching to try out the small ice cream scoop I had bought specifically for cookie baking! It made the whole process so much faster!
21. Make a conscious effort to drink 8 glasses of water per day - This might sound like a pretty lame goal but I've noticed since the boys were born that my water consumption has really decreased.
Check!
Check!
22. Pet the dogs every day - I'm committing to loving our dogs more. The cats on the other hand, can go eff themselves! Haha
Check!
Check!
23. Stop biting your lip - This is something that I have always done. It bothers me. I'm going to stop.
Working on it. It's gotten much better.
I still catch myself doing this on occasion, but much less often than I used to!
24. Do yoga - I've never practiced yoga before. It intrigues me, both in the sense that it is good physical activity, but a good mental activity as well.
Someday I will have time to work out again. When that day arrives I will attempt yoga!
Based on the fact that my weight loss has all but stalled out, it's pretty obvious I haven't been doing much working out. One of these days.....
I still haven't figured out what this is.
My friend Tracy pointed out to me that our day trip to Edmonton, and leaving the boys home alone with dad could definitely count for this one. I'm inclined to agree with her! It's not that I don't trust my husband, he's an incredible father, I was just worried that being alone with the boys for that amount of time would be too much for him. Turns out, he was a rock star and my worries were totally unfounded! Way to go daddy!!! :)
26. Bake apple crisp completely from scratch. No pie filling! - I've never done this before. I figure it's time.
Like my gingersnaps, this will likely happen in the fall.
I have an entire grocery bag full of apples sitting in my pantry that one of the ladies Scott works with sent him home with. I really need to do something with them!
Swim trunks? Check
Swim shirts? Check
Swim diapers? Check
Swimming? Not yet...but soon!
Done! We had gone out to play in the sprinkler one afternoon and D HATED it!!! He cried and clung to me the entire time. G, on the other hand, had a blast! I was a little worried D would react the same way at the pool, but he did great! G didn't enjoy it as much but he still did alright! We'll have to see if there is a Saturday swimming lesson we can enroll them in this fall/winter, after we hit the pool a few more times of course!
28. Spend more time at the lake - Scott's grandma Mil has a cabin that is only an hour away from us. It's too close for us not to go! She adores the boys and it's important for us to have her spend as much time with her (only) great-grandchildren as she can!
I'm thinking June, July & August will be good months to accomplish this one.
Scott has next week booked off! We're planning on heading out to the lake. It probably won't be an overnight trip because of the fact that the boys are too big to share a playpen and the dogs don't do very well anywhere but at home. We'll see...
Not yet...
Done! I painted a picture of a stargazer lily. Considering the fact that I haven't painted in years, it's not too shabby!
Woohoo! One down...39 to go!
Blogging counts, right?
32. Re-upholster grandma's chair - I have an old chair that originally belonged to my grandma. It's been living in our basement for the last 5+ years since my aunt gave it to me. I'm looking forward to the day that the boys and I can snuggle up in it and read stories before bed, but first the awful yellow, orange & brown floral upholstery from the 70's needs to go!
This one is going to be tough. First off, it's going to be more expensive than I anticipated. Secondly, I'm having a hard time finding upholstery I like!
I vacuumed the chair off last weekend. The cats have really done a number on it. I'm not even sure it's salvageable. I'll have to take it in and get them to check it out.
Done. Got glasses (I only need them at night). And so begins the downward spiral of poor eyesight. FML.
I've been spending as much time as possible out on the deck in the afternoon while the boys are down for their naps. So far, so good!
I'm happy to report that I've been maintaining my tan all summer!
35. Start a compost bin - I've been after Scott for the last 3 years or so to build something that I can use as a compost bin. I'm hoping with my garden this year that this might actually happen!
Fingers crossed for next weekend!
I still don't have a compost bin, or a rain barrel for that matter! Hoping to scoop one up in the fall sales.
36. Save more, spend less
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I shouldn't laugh....I spent a whole lotta $ in Edmonton a few weekends ago with my friends Tracy & Brienne. Gotta slow it down or I'm gonna have to get my ass back to work!
Work in progress.
37. Fly a kite - I'm pretty sure my age was a single digit the last time I did this.
Why haven't I done this yet?!?!? Goodness knows it's been windy enough!
Hopefully this one will happen when we go to the lake sometime next week!
38. Build a sandcastle - Again, I'm pretty sure the last time I did this dates back to the single digits.
This will happen at the lake this summer!
Again, when we hit the lake next week!
39. Spend an entire day outsideThis one may be a bit tricky...I'll have to sneak in to make food for the boys!
It's impossible to spend the entire day outside, but I'm going to do my very best to spend as much time outside as we can at the lake! We've spent a lot of time outdoors this summer which I have been loving! The boys love to explore all of the strange new things they find outside. G had a lot of fun with some pinecones when we went to the park with grandpa J a few weekends ago! It wasn't as much fun when mum took them away because he was chewing them though...lol
Later this summer....
When we go to the lake next week, I'm planning on eating a meal or two outside/down on the beach. That should cover this one! :)
Friday, July 8, 2011
Let's Go For a Walk (How to Leave the House With Twins)
2:00pm Decide you've had enough of trying to stay cool in the house, and you're going for a walk
2:01pm Grab SPF 60 sunscreen out of the bathroom cupboard and commence putting your best wrestling holds to good use to get the boys properly covered.
2:15pm Put on 2 pairs of shoes approximately 4 times each because you have once again been thwarted by children with the uncanny ability to scrunch their fat little feet up into even fatter little fists, making it next to impossible to get their shoes on in the first place.
2:25pm Go downstairs to get the wagon. Place it outside on the driveway. Chase down the cat that has decided she wants to come along on the walk. Go back inside to get the boys.
2:30pm Stuff your pockets with spare keys, cell phone, bugspray and two teething rings to distract the boys from pulling off their sunhats every 5 seconds.
2:35pm Upon going to get the boys, discover that they have both shit their pants, and have once again removed their GD shoes!!!
2:50pm Upon completion of two diaper changes, and putting shoes on for the....9th & 10th time....pick up a boy in each arm and attempt to open the baby gate and get downstairs without being tackled by three dogs who would also like to come along for the walk. Grab your sunglasses and the boys sunhats off of the bench. Place your sunglasses on your head where they are out of reach from grabby hands. Clench the sunhats between your knees as you walk out the door and down the front steps to the wagon.
2:55pm After getting both boys into their respective seats in the wagon, catch the effing cat AGAIN (I really should just leave her outside since she seems to think she is an outdoor cat) and throw her furry ass in the house. Spray both boys and yourself with bugspray to keep the hummingbird sized mosquitoes at bay. Toss the bugspray back in the house and lock the door.
3:00pm FINALLY leave for a walk.
3:15pm After walking around the lake to see the geese, arrive at the park. Take each boy out of the wagon, one at a time, placing them each in a baby swing. Push them several times until their giggles turn into cries because you're paying more attention to the other boy.
3:20pm Load up the wagon and head for home.
3:35pm Get home 5 minutes late for naptime with two hot, crabby babies. Give each of them their sippy cups, remove their sunhats and put them down for a nap.
3:45pm Realize you have forgotten the wagon outside and go out to get it. (At least the cat doesn't make a break for it this time). Take the wagon back downstairs.
3:50pm Grab an iced tea, sit down to blog about your afternoon walk and listen to the cat meowing at the door because she has tasted freedom today, and simply cannot shut-up about it!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
A Father's Day Mixed Bag
Today is Father's Day! A special day for all the dads out there, to acknowledge all they've done for us. Today was a great day with my little family. After a week of rain, and more today, there was no way we were leaving the house, so we snuggled up on the couch this afternoon to watch The Sound Of Music. An odd choice if you ask me! You'd think Scott would've chosen something with a little more action, but we haven't seen it for ages and wanted to see what the boys thought of it. They enjoyed the music, but there wasn't enough going on to keep them occupied so we decided to put the movie on hold until nap time. Once the boys were down for their nap we forged ahead. In the movie there is a song called "Edelweiss". It brought back memories of the musical production at my high school the year I was in grade 12, and more recently, the funeral of a classmate and friend. He had played Captain Von Trapp in the production, and the song was performed by his uncle at the funeral after he was killed by an IED in Afghanistan in October of 2009. I began to think about his family, spending another Father's Day without him, and how lucky we are to be together. This also brought back a conversation I had with my brother yesterday. He is currently completing a three month training exercise at CFB Gagetown. He was telling me about his experience on Friday night when him and some other guys from the course had gone out to a bar in Fredericton. For some reason, a large number of people in the surrounding area take issue with the military presence. Don't get me wrong, I don't speak for the entire population of New Brunswick. All I know is what my brother described to me, and let me just say that the details are appalling. They were told before leaving base to remove all military paraphernalia, dog tags included. Apparently if people see them, they will pick a fight with you. Military personnel are not welcome at many of the local hotels. If you call a cab and mention that you are returning to Gagetown, your cab will never arrive; you must flag one down on the street and hope that they will stop for you. My brother said he spent the evening, huddled up with his buddies in the bar, being accosted by anyone that passed by. I suppose even in street clothes, with no dog tags in sight, the haircuts are a dead giveaway.
I'm constantly irritated by the general attitude towards the military. There's a saying I've heard many times before that goes, "if you won't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them". This resonates deeply with me because while I personally would not join the military, I will stand behind each and every member 100% in their mission to "protect Canada, defend North America in co-operation with the U.S. and contribute to international peace and security" (http://www.forces.ca/en/page/mission-74).
To recap...This entire blog stemmed from watching The Sound Of Music with my husband and sons this afternoon. From there I was reminded of a high school musical (not that terrible movie of the same name), a friend's passing and then the general attitude towards the military, based on my brother's experience on a Friday night off base. Sorry for the meandering thought process, but if you know me, you know that that's how my brain works. Haha
So, to all the dads out there, have a fantastic day with your families, not just on Father's Day, but every day. And to the service men and women, in Canada and abroad, thank you for all that you do. This Canadian stands behind you in solidarity.
I'm constantly irritated by the general attitude towards the military. There's a saying I've heard many times before that goes, "if you won't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them". This resonates deeply with me because while I personally would not join the military, I will stand behind each and every member 100% in their mission to "protect Canada, defend North America in co-operation with the U.S. and contribute to international peace and security" (http://www.forces.ca/en/page/mission-74).
To recap...This entire blog stemmed from watching The Sound Of Music with my husband and sons this afternoon. From there I was reminded of a high school musical (not that terrible movie of the same name), a friend's passing and then the general attitude towards the military, based on my brother's experience on a Friday night off base. Sorry for the meandering thought process, but if you know me, you know that that's how my brain works. HahaSo, to all the dads out there, have a fantastic day with your families, not just on Father's Day, but every day. And to the service men and women, in Canada and abroad, thank you for all that you do. This Canadian stands behind you in solidarity.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Judge, Jury and Executioner
I haven't been feeling good about myself lately - I've been in a very negative head space and I think it's time for a change. I've noticed lately that I've been very "Judgy McJudgerson"...I don't really know how else to explain it. As an example, I stood in our kitchen for a good 10 minutes on Sunday watching our neighbours two doors down work on their backyard. They've been laying sod for the last few days and have also been building garden boxes. I found myself judging them because they were laying the sod over top of the weeds that have overtaken their yard since their topsoil was delivered last fall, because they hadn't leveled their garden boxes, because the garden boxes themselves were poorly built.....the list goes on. I feel as though I've turned into one of those people who think their "shit don't stink" and I'm not really enjoying being such a Negative Nancy! Looking at my own yard there are projects needing to be started and projects desperately needing to be finished. My yard is no different than theirs, and really, what difference does it make? So, I figured it was time for a reality check. Clear out the negative air and focus instead, on the positive. It will be 3 months tomorrow since I posted about my list of goals for the year. Let's check in, see where things are at and focus on the accomplishments rather than what my neighbours are up to.
1. Get driver's license - It's hard to believe I have had my learner's license for nearly 13 years and I have never gone for my road test! Better late than never I suppose.
I haven't booked my test yet, but I have been driving! This one is a work in progress.
2. Reach goal weight - I plan to lose 40 lbs by the end of this year (curse you, baby weight!). I've already lost 18 lbs since I started mid-November so I guess I'm doing pretty well in this regard.
I've lost 30.6lbs to date. I've hit a bit of a plateau, but I'm hoping to get back on track and keep shedding the pounds!
3. Bake buns - I need to find a good recipe and bake buns from scratch! Time to start calling the grandmas & aunts!
My friend Tracy sent me a couple of recipes but I haven't tried them yet.
4. Purge home of unneeded items - I'm not quite qualified to be on an episode of Hoarders but it is getting a bit out of hand. We've been moving boxes around that we continue to leave packed. Why waste the space?
We haven't really done anything about this yet. We may have a yard sale this summer...we'll see. Either way, the crap is outta here!
5. Plant a garden - I've always wanted to plant a garden. Our yard at our previous home was quite large and daunting. I'm ready to bite the bullet! I even have a list of vegetables I want to plant on my cell (are you surprised? I didn't think so...lol)
My garden box has been built! I'm planning on picking up my dirt/compost this weekend and get to planting!
6. Have a bountiful harvest from the garden - Here's hoping!
I need to plant the garden first! Lol
7. Throw a great 1st birthday party for the boys - 1st birthdays are kind of a big deal!
The boys' 1st birthday party was AWESOME! Uncle B & auntie E, auntie T & uncle D, grandpa P, grandma & grandpa B, great auntie T & both of the great-grandma's were here! After much testing I found the perfect cake recipe (this could have something to do with my weight loss plateau...!), we made a video montage of the boys' shenanigans to date and had an all around great day! I can't wait to start planning their 2nd birthday!
8. Have an amazing 7th anniversary - Our 6th anniversary wasn't so hot. This year is going to be better!
Our anniversary was celebrated over two separate days. The first was a Saturday spent in Edmonton. We ditched the little boys at grandma & grandpa B's house and went out for some lunch and retail therapy. The second day was our actual anniversary. I got some beautiful flowers and made Scott an amazing dinner!
9. Go out for dinner with the boys - We haven't attempted this one yet. It makes me a tad bit nervous to take them out. Evenings are always a bit scary for us since the boys aren't napping much during the day. Evenings usually end up in a full on meltdown by one, or both, of the boys.
We've done this a few times now, and really...it's not so scary after all! The first few times we went were with grandma & grandpa B, and then with our friends Cam & Chelsey when they were here for a weekend. We've since done it twice on our own, and like I said, totally painless so long as I don't run out of Cheerios to keep them busy! Hahaha
10. Go out for dinner without the boys - We've done this once, when the boys were about 2mos old. Our wonderful friend Chelsey spent a few hours with the boys while we went out to Moxies. It was great! Now that the boys are older, and we no longer live in the same city, things are slightly more complicated. We need to find a good babysitter (or two!)
Scott and I went out for lunch while we were in Edmonton. We would have gone out for dinner but time didn't really allow us to. An overnight trip is kind of out of the question as we have dogs. Lunch counts...right??
11. Go to a movie - This one also requires a babysitter (or a grandparent or two).
This one will have to wait until Scott's mom & dad come out for a weekend as there isn't enough time to go on a day trip to Edmonton.
12. Become a full-time stay at home mom - It's very important to me to be able to raise our boys. If we are able to do it financially I would love to be able to be home with them.
So far, not sure. I'm working on setting up an extended leave of absence to keep my options open with my employer but it's (apparently) quite the process as I haven't heard anything back from them yet.
13. Read 5 books you've never read before - I used to read a lot! I've been having a hard time keeping up the momentum since the boys were born. This is mostly due to the fact that I'm so busy with them during the day, and so tired when they go to bed at night that I'm lucky if I make it through 2 pages!
1. Eat, Pray, Love (Elizabeth Gilbert) - It took me a while to get through this one. However, I'd definitely recommend reading the book over watching the movie...the way the character was portrayed made me wish I could reach through my TV screen and punch her in the throat!
2. Water For Elephants (Sara Gruen) - This book was incredible! I am almost nervous to see the movie because I don't know that they'll be able to do the story justice.
3. Sing You Home (Jodi Picoult) - I have a love/hate relationship with Jodi Picoult. Some of her previous novels have made me so angry I want to throw them across the room upon reading the final sentences. This one surprised me. Based on the subject matter I expected it to have her typical blindside ending, it did not.
4. The Gathering (Kelley Armstrong) - I have read (and LOVED) all of Kelley Armstrong's other novels. This is the first book released in a new trilogy. It was not as good as the "Otherworld" series, but I will definitely be reading the second and third books when they are released.
5. The Vampire Diaries - Awakening (L.J. Smith) - I have watched TVD series and was unsure about reading the books. I am currently reading this one (the first of four) and so far so good! The series took a fairly large departure from the novel but I'm enjoying the novel so far.
14. Tell Scott and the boys that you love them every day, both in your words and your actions.
Check! :)
15. Send homemade items to Angela & Emma - This one is the result of a Facebook challenge. You were to send homemade items to the first 5 people that replied to your status & they in turn had to repost it as their status.
I'm working on this one! Angela's is in the works and I have wool picked out for Emma's. Grayson nearly ruined the scarf I'm knitting for Angela the other day but I saved it just in time!
*Note to self....DO NOT leave your knitting bag on the floor where little boys could find it and pull out the needles
16. Knit scarves for the boys for next winter - This one could prove challenging as I never remember how to purl or cast off. I think I'll be spending a fair bit of time getting lessons from Scott's grandma.
Again, I have the wool picked out but have yet to start knitting.
17. Spend an entire day without turning on the TV - How am I going to go an entire day without using Planet 51 to prevent an impending meltdown?!? This could be interesting....
This one hasn't happened yet, and still frightens me as much as it did when I initially wrote it! Haha
18. Make a new friend - Since we've moved I've found myself a bit starved for adult companionship. This has been made even more challenging by the fact that I don't drive, so getting out and meeting people is difficult. I can't wait for spring & summer so I can get out of the house more often. I'm going to be living at the park! Haha
I've been trying to get out as much as possible since the snow melted! It's been incredibly windy for about a week now so I haven't been out much. *SIGH*
19. Get back in touch with an old friend - I want to make a meaningful (re-)connection with an old friend. Finding someone on Facebook doesn't count!
Work in progress.
20. Bake gingersnaps that AREN'T for Christmas - Gingersnaps are my all time favourite cookie! I make them every year for Christmas but then I find myself craving them throughout the year. They take a bit more work than your average cookie, so usually I let laziness win and don't make them...not this year!
I think this will happen in the fall when I start to crave the warm, spicy flavour of gingersnaps.
21. Make a conscious effort to drink 8 glasses of water per day - This might sound like a pretty lame goal but I've noticed since the boys were born that my water consumption has really decreased.
Check!
22. Pet the dogs every day - I'm committing to loving our dogs more. The cats on the other hand, can go eff themselves! Haha
Check!
23. Stop biting your lip - This is something that I have always done. It bothers me. I'm going to stop.
Working on it. It's gotten much better.
24. Do yoga - I've never practiced yoga before. It intrigues me, both in the sense that it is good physical activity, but a good mental activity as well.
Someday I will have time to work out again. When that day arrives I will attempt yoga!
25. Do something that scares you - I'm not sure what this will be, but I'll know it when I do it.
I still haven't figured out what this is.
26. Bake apple crisp completely from scratch. No pie filling! - I've never done this before. I figure it's time.
Like my gingersnaps, this will likely happen in the fall.
27. Take the boys swimming - I always loved the water but I didn't start taking swimming lessons until I was in my early teens. I want our boys to feel confident in the water from an early age.
Swim trunks? Check
Swim shirts? Check
Swim diapers? Check
Swimming? Not yet...but soon!
28. Spend more time at the lake - Scott's grandma Mil has a cabin that is only an hour away from us. It's too close for us not to go! She adores the boys and it's important for us to have her spend as much time with her (only) great-grandchildren as she can!
I'm thinking June, July & August will be good months to accomplish this one.
29. Paint - I have an entire box of watercolour painting supplies in the basement. I used to paint a lot when I was younger and I don't do it anymore. I'd like to change that. I'd also like to experiment with oils as well.
Not yet...
30. Start a blog - I guess I've done this one already!
Woohoo! One down...39 to go!
31. Write - Again, something that I used to do a lot when I was younger and have let slip away.
Blogging counts, right?
32. Re-upholster grandma's chair - I have an old chair that originally belonged to my grandma. It's been living in our basement for the last 5+ years since my aunt gave it to me. I'm looking forward to the day that the boys and I can snuggle up in it and read stories before bed, but first the awful yellow, orange & brown floral upholstery from the 70's needs to go!
This one is going to be tough. First off, it's going to be more expensive than I anticipated. Secondly, I'm having a hard time finding upholstery I like!
33. Get your eyes checked - I haven't had my eyes checked for about 13 years. I have an appointment booked for February 25th. I'm a little nervous about this as I know my eyes aren't what they used to be.
Done. Got glasses (I only need them at night). And so begins the downward spiral of poor eyesight. FML.
34. Get a suntan...the real kind - I've been known to go to Fabutan to add a little extra to my summer colour. I want to spend more time outside this year and get one the natural way! The vitamin D will be a nice addition as well.
I've been spending as much time as possible out on the deck in the afternoon while the boys are down for their naps. So far, so good!
35. Start a compost bin - I've been after Scott for the last 3 years or so to build something that I can use as a compost bin. I'm hoping with my garden this year that this might actually happen!
Fingers crossed for next weekend!
36. Save more, spend less
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I shouldn't laugh....I spent a whole lotta $ in Edmonton a few weekends ago with my friends Tracy & Brienne. Gotta slow it down or I'm gonna have to get my ass back to work!
37. Fly a kite - I'm pretty sure my age was a single digit the last time I did this.
Why haven't I done this yet?!?!? Goodness knows it's been windy enough!
38. Build a sandcastle - Again, I'm pretty sure the last time I did this dates back to the single digits.
This will happen at the lake this summer!
39. Spend an entire day outside
This one may be a bit tricky...I'll have to sneak in to make food for the boys!
40. Go on a picnic
Later this summer....
Well! Not too shabby! I've accomplished quite a few things on my list so far. Most importantly, I'm kicking Negative Nancy to the curb! As they say on Sesame Street..."sunny day, chasing the clouds away. On my way to where the air is sweet!" Oh boy....I really need to finish #17! Hahaha
1. Get driver's license - It's hard to believe I have had my learner's license for nearly 13 years and I have never gone for my road test! Better late than never I suppose.
I haven't booked my test yet, but I have been driving! This one is a work in progress.
2. Reach goal weight - I plan to lose 40 lbs by the end of this year (curse you, baby weight!). I've already lost 18 lbs since I started mid-November so I guess I'm doing pretty well in this regard.
I've lost 30.6lbs to date. I've hit a bit of a plateau, but I'm hoping to get back on track and keep shedding the pounds!
3. Bake buns - I need to find a good recipe and bake buns from scratch! Time to start calling the grandmas & aunts!
My friend Tracy sent me a couple of recipes but I haven't tried them yet.
4. Purge home of unneeded items - I'm not quite qualified to be on an episode of Hoarders but it is getting a bit out of hand. We've been moving boxes around that we continue to leave packed. Why waste the space?
We haven't really done anything about this yet. We may have a yard sale this summer...we'll see. Either way, the crap is outta here!
5. Plant a garden - I've always wanted to plant a garden. Our yard at our previous home was quite large and daunting. I'm ready to bite the bullet! I even have a list of vegetables I want to plant on my cell (are you surprised? I didn't think so...lol)
My garden box has been built! I'm planning on picking up my dirt/compost this weekend and get to planting!
6. Have a bountiful harvest from the garden - Here's hoping!
I need to plant the garden first! Lol
The boys' 1st birthday party was AWESOME! Uncle B & auntie E, auntie T & uncle D, grandpa P, grandma & grandpa B, great auntie T & both of the great-grandma's were here! After much testing I found the perfect cake recipe (this could have something to do with my weight loss plateau...!), we made a video montage of the boys' shenanigans to date and had an all around great day! I can't wait to start planning their 2nd birthday!
Our anniversary was celebrated over two separate days. The first was a Saturday spent in Edmonton. We ditched the little boys at grandma & grandpa B's house and went out for some lunch and retail therapy. The second day was our actual anniversary. I got some beautiful flowers and made Scott an amazing dinner!
We've done this a few times now, and really...it's not so scary after all! The first few times we went were with grandma & grandpa B, and then with our friends Cam & Chelsey when they were here for a weekend. We've since done it twice on our own, and like I said, totally painless so long as I don't run out of Cheerios to keep them busy! Hahaha
Scott and I went out for lunch while we were in Edmonton. We would have gone out for dinner but time didn't really allow us to. An overnight trip is kind of out of the question as we have dogs. Lunch counts...right??
11. Go to a movie - This one also requires a babysitter (or a grandparent or two).
This one will have to wait until Scott's mom & dad come out for a weekend as there isn't enough time to go on a day trip to Edmonton.
12. Become a full-time stay at home mom - It's very important to me to be able to raise our boys. If we are able to do it financially I would love to be able to be home with them.
So far, not sure. I'm working on setting up an extended leave of absence to keep my options open with my employer but it's (apparently) quite the process as I haven't heard anything back from them yet.
13. Read 5 books you've never read before - I used to read a lot! I've been having a hard time keeping up the momentum since the boys were born. This is mostly due to the fact that I'm so busy with them during the day, and so tired when they go to bed at night that I'm lucky if I make it through 2 pages!
1. Eat, Pray, Love (Elizabeth Gilbert) - It took me a while to get through this one. However, I'd definitely recommend reading the book over watching the movie...the way the character was portrayed made me wish I could reach through my TV screen and punch her in the throat!
2. Water For Elephants (Sara Gruen) - This book was incredible! I am almost nervous to see the movie because I don't know that they'll be able to do the story justice.
3. Sing You Home (Jodi Picoult) - I have a love/hate relationship with Jodi Picoult. Some of her previous novels have made me so angry I want to throw them across the room upon reading the final sentences. This one surprised me. Based on the subject matter I expected it to have her typical blindside ending, it did not.
4. The Gathering (Kelley Armstrong) - I have read (and LOVED) all of Kelley Armstrong's other novels. This is the first book released in a new trilogy. It was not as good as the "Otherworld" series, but I will definitely be reading the second and third books when they are released.
5. The Vampire Diaries - Awakening (L.J. Smith) - I have watched TVD series and was unsure about reading the books. I am currently reading this one (the first of four) and so far so good! The series took a fairly large departure from the novel but I'm enjoying the novel so far.
14. Tell Scott and the boys that you love them every day, both in your words and your actions.
Check! :)
15. Send homemade items to Angela & Emma - This one is the result of a Facebook challenge. You were to send homemade items to the first 5 people that replied to your status & they in turn had to repost it as their status.
I'm working on this one! Angela's is in the works and I have wool picked out for Emma's. Grayson nearly ruined the scarf I'm knitting for Angela the other day but I saved it just in time!
*Note to self....DO NOT leave your knitting bag on the floor where little boys could find it and pull out the needles
16. Knit scarves for the boys for next winter - This one could prove challenging as I never remember how to purl or cast off. I think I'll be spending a fair bit of time getting lessons from Scott's grandma.
Again, I have the wool picked out but have yet to start knitting.
17. Spend an entire day without turning on the TV - How am I going to go an entire day without using Planet 51 to prevent an impending meltdown?!? This could be interesting....
This one hasn't happened yet, and still frightens me as much as it did when I initially wrote it! Haha
18. Make a new friend - Since we've moved I've found myself a bit starved for adult companionship. This has been made even more challenging by the fact that I don't drive, so getting out and meeting people is difficult. I can't wait for spring & summer so I can get out of the house more often. I'm going to be living at the park! Haha
I've been trying to get out as much as possible since the snow melted! It's been incredibly windy for about a week now so I haven't been out much. *SIGH*
19. Get back in touch with an old friend - I want to make a meaningful (re-)connection with an old friend. Finding someone on Facebook doesn't count!
Work in progress.
20. Bake gingersnaps that AREN'T for Christmas - Gingersnaps are my all time favourite cookie! I make them every year for Christmas but then I find myself craving them throughout the year. They take a bit more work than your average cookie, so usually I let laziness win and don't make them...not this year!
I think this will happen in the fall when I start to crave the warm, spicy flavour of gingersnaps.
21. Make a conscious effort to drink 8 glasses of water per day - This might sound like a pretty lame goal but I've noticed since the boys were born that my water consumption has really decreased.
Check!
22. Pet the dogs every day - I'm committing to loving our dogs more. The cats on the other hand, can go eff themselves! Haha
Check!
23. Stop biting your lip - This is something that I have always done. It bothers me. I'm going to stop.
Working on it. It's gotten much better.
24. Do yoga - I've never practiced yoga before. It intrigues me, both in the sense that it is good physical activity, but a good mental activity as well.
Someday I will have time to work out again. When that day arrives I will attempt yoga!
25. Do something that scares you - I'm not sure what this will be, but I'll know it when I do it.
I still haven't figured out what this is.
26. Bake apple crisp completely from scratch. No pie filling! - I've never done this before. I figure it's time.
Like my gingersnaps, this will likely happen in the fall.
27. Take the boys swimming - I always loved the water but I didn't start taking swimming lessons until I was in my early teens. I want our boys to feel confident in the water from an early age.
Swim trunks? Check
Swim shirts? Check
Swim diapers? Check
Swimming? Not yet...but soon!
28. Spend more time at the lake - Scott's grandma Mil has a cabin that is only an hour away from us. It's too close for us not to go! She adores the boys and it's important for us to have her spend as much time with her (only) great-grandchildren as she can!
I'm thinking June, July & August will be good months to accomplish this one.
29. Paint - I have an entire box of watercolour painting supplies in the basement. I used to paint a lot when I was younger and I don't do it anymore. I'd like to change that. I'd also like to experiment with oils as well.
Not yet...
Woohoo! One down...39 to go!
Blogging counts, right?
32. Re-upholster grandma's chair - I have an old chair that originally belonged to my grandma. It's been living in our basement for the last 5+ years since my aunt gave it to me. I'm looking forward to the day that the boys and I can snuggle up in it and read stories before bed, but first the awful yellow, orange & brown floral upholstery from the 70's needs to go!
This one is going to be tough. First off, it's going to be more expensive than I anticipated. Secondly, I'm having a hard time finding upholstery I like!
Done. Got glasses (I only need them at night). And so begins the downward spiral of poor eyesight. FML.
34. Get a suntan...the real kind - I've been known to go to Fabutan to add a little extra to my summer colour. I want to spend more time outside this year and get one the natural way! The vitamin D will be a nice addition as well.
I've been spending as much time as possible out on the deck in the afternoon while the boys are down for their naps. So far, so good!
35. Start a compost bin - I've been after Scott for the last 3 years or so to build something that I can use as a compost bin. I'm hoping with my garden this year that this might actually happen!
Fingers crossed for next weekend!
36. Save more, spend less
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I shouldn't laugh....I spent a whole lotta $ in Edmonton a few weekends ago with my friends Tracy & Brienne. Gotta slow it down or I'm gonna have to get my ass back to work!
37. Fly a kite - I'm pretty sure my age was a single digit the last time I did this.
Why haven't I done this yet?!?!? Goodness knows it's been windy enough!
38. Build a sandcastle - Again, I'm pretty sure the last time I did this dates back to the single digits.
This will happen at the lake this summer!
39. Spend an entire day outside
This one may be a bit tricky...I'll have to sneak in to make food for the boys!
40. Go on a picnic
Later this summer....
Well! Not too shabby! I've accomplished quite a few things on my list so far. Most importantly, I'm kicking Negative Nancy to the curb! As they say on Sesame Street..."sunny day, chasing the clouds away. On my way to where the air is sweet!" Oh boy....I really need to finish #17! Hahaha
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