Well that was completely different....

I guess following your instincts can be a good thing. The boys have been moved to a new school and I am beyond happy. It was a bit of a busy day though...

8:30 at the school - stay with the boys for orientation (So sad hubby couldn't come.. couldn't get a babysitter in that short of notice and grandparents thought it was a good idea to leave the country 2 days before the kids started school... they have only know about it for 5ish years, anyway I digress!)
10:30 done orientation (kids tired and hungry... add mom to the list. Loving the Kindergarten teacher very professional and very skilled at her job... Jumping for JOY at this point wanting to hug teacher). She even provided the snack for the kids on the first day and had a story to go with it. Other parents friendly too... wow. Felt like the right place the minute I walked in and met the admin staff and the Principal.

Picked up paper work and headed home

2:45 (after child meltdown) back to school for appt with Teacher (staying after school to meet with boys). Sat down with each child individually and went through a pre-assessment to see where they were at. Had info for the parent to fill out.. questions about the kids so she can get to know them. So kind to the kids I was impressed! Talked to the principal on the way out again very impressed! (Watch as weight lifts off shoulders)

Because today wasn't busy enough it also happened to be Meet the Teacher night (or meet the creature as my hubby says). So back to the school at 7pm... The principal came up and said hello and took time to chat. Then before the meeting started the Vice Principal came up and introduced himself and we had a conversation. (I came home and said to my hubby... I have never seen a HOT Vice Principal before! LOL). I did think it was nice of him to introduce himself and ask about my kiddos. (Note to self if kids ever cause trouble meet with Vice Principal... at least he won't be hard to look at! HA HA!)

Anyway I think I can sleep well tonight... well maybe tomorrow night... I still have to call and pull them out of the other school... and frankly they scare the crap out of me! :)

P.S. Any thoughts on how I can explain to the teacher that the dirty old ho.okers that their father is keeping in the garage are actually trailer hitches. (Well you hook a trailer up, so the kids decided the trailer hitch should be called a ho.oker... now we have been trying to get them to use the appropriate terminology but when adults laugh at them it's really hard to convince them otherwise... now remember they are in catholic school, I don't want to get kicked out next week)

Oh ya and I am finally getting of my arce and trying to get stubborn girl potty trained (I thought it just happened with the third one). Looks like I have another Ip.hone kid... Is there an app for that? Yes Yes there is! LOL

#307 - It's a rough week but with some humor!

Well my work week has just started (well my work out of the house part of the week anyway! LOL) I am teaching my first course of the semester. One day down and one day to go! I am trying to just enjoy what I do, but I always worry about the students that are in the class that should be in the more advanced classes. Oh well I guess they are warned at the beginning of the course what is actually in the class and they do have the option to transfer. I always seem to get a few challenging ones in every class. I have a lady that I am not sure if she can read or even understand English for that matter. I can point to a cell on a screen, tell her to click on it and she will do EVERYTHING else but. I am not really sure what the deal is, but at least it gives me something interesting to try to figure out! So tomorrow is the 2nd and last day of the class. After the class I have to head to my other part time job and work until close at 9pm. Then on Saturday... Job2 again. Sunday = Me passing out I think! :) Actually I have to finish off one of the other courses I am working on, not to mention the ecommerce site I am trying to setup and some fixes to another application that I support.

Why does everything have to happen in the same month? LOL

THINGS THAT BUG ME
- stupid drivers (It never ceases to amaze me at the stupidity of the drivers on the road. I sure am glad I don't have to drive in rush hour traffic every day) There was an older gentleman that was cruising to get run over. He got out onto the freeway drove directly into the 'fast lane' and was doing about 20kms lower than the speed limit. Not to mention that everyone drives about 20kms over the speed limit. So what the heck he needed to be out in the fast lane for (besides to cause a traffic jam) is anybody's guess. We went for miles and he never turned left (not that you can really turn left on that road anyway!)
- my mother (she actually showed up to look after the kids today... one never knows with her) and she is such a joy to be around in the morning that I could just Throw UP!

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- coming home after a long day at work! :)

KIDDO NOTES
It's so great to come home and the kids actually want me instead of Dad for a change. I even manage to get some hugs and kisses out of Baby... usually she only gives those to Dad when he gets home from work!

So here is a bit on Potty Training... When all else fails turn to technology to help out. If you have been following for a while you will know that we have been having some issues getting Boy1 to use the potty. I have tried everything and could not find anything to bribe the monkey. Toys, new toys, gummy bears, bran bites (ya I know weird, but with twins you are doing a lot of 'bribing' so I wanted something a little more healthy than candy.) Well anyway months later Boy1 is still not using the potty for the solids. Little did I know the answer to my problems was in my back pocket the entire time. (Now you are probably thinking what the heck is she talking about). Well he is my kid and I am TOTALLY technology addicted. Makes sense that one of my kids might be that way. Low and behold my IPHONE is the trick to potty training, haven't even had an accident since.

I have a free bubble app that I downloaded from the internet and a 99cent "PhonyPhone" app that I downloaded as well. When Boy1 has to go potty now he only wants Mom and he will sit and play on the IPHONE until his "job" is done!

I may have to send this one to apple as new way to use your iphone/ipod touch! HA HA!

I guess I will have to call it the Poopy Phone from now one! (And make sure to disinfect it with those nice antibacterial wipes too!:)

Hope you had a laugh over this one... good night!

#228 - Ouch!

Well I made it through another class. About half way through my day I started getting a migraine starting. I was lucky that it held off and didn't get too bad. It was just off in the distance so I knew it was coming! (Of course I couldn't find anything to take in my bag... silly me!)

I was so tired at the end of the day I almost forgot to review my comments! LOL. I never really know how it 'really' went until I review those. I suck what can I say, I just can't read people that well! Pretty much all was good, phew. There was a couple of comments that were more on the negative side but nothing really to bad. I figure that I can always improve anyway and that I will never be able to make everyone happy so I am just going to try to continue to do my best. I have always said that experience counts for something and I think it applies here too!

THINGS THAT BUG ME
-being a 'newbie' in the teaching world. Oh when will I feel more comfortable?
-people who drive 80kms an hour in a 110km hour zone! Get the heck out of the way dude. Take that cell phone outta your ear and pay attention will ya! :)
-snow, yup it snowed today! Brrrrrr

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
-making it through another course
-coming home
-see below! :)

KIDDO NOTES
I came through the door today and Boy2 came running to tell me he pooped in the potty (who know poop could actually be such an exciting thing... I suppose it depends where it is! LOL). Hubby went on to tell me that he actually asked to go, then hubby and boy2 thought they should share with me that it was stinky. (Thanks guys but I didn't really need to know that one!) He did have an accident this evening but we are moving forward! Yey!

Boy1 was really sad. I think he felt left out by all the hoolpa with Boy2's whole Potty 'thing'. I was very careful not to say anything to Boy1 about it, I had to go find him. Usually he is standing at the door to greet me too. :( So I went and made a big deal out of his day. I think that cheered him up a little. Poor fella, but I had to celebrate with Boy2... Boy1 will get his turn too (soon I hope!)

Baby was in much better cheer tonight (hmmm so was hubby... ) It was nice to come home to a mostly cheery group tonight.

I am trying for an early night tonight... wish me luck and have a good night!

#213 - Stress is...

... the desire to choke the sh*t out of some idiot who desperately deserves it! (nope not the hubby today)

So I am starting my quest to find a part-time in home sitter for my kiddos (good luck with that one!) I am so done with the SH*T that my mother seems to have following around her. She calls me today to tell me that she may not be able to look after the kids on Thursday (hmm... sounds EXACTLY like last week!) There is always an excuse with her, she has to have drama with everything. WTF does she think my Hubby can walk out of work whenever SHE feels like it! Like last week, some close relative died and the funeral might be on thursday. If they are so effing close why the eff have I never heard of this person in my entire life? She lies so much she forgets that I used to live in that god forsaken house and I would know if this relative was ever mentioned OR not!

Well they were supposed to come see the kids this weekend, but they decided to go to a "good" friends funeral. Which is fine other than the part that I have never heard of this person, ever. So don't effin lie to me about how well you know this person. Then they went and got groceries to help someone out who NEEDS help. (Oh ya what about when my hubby went to see his father after his father's heart attack. Home alone for 2 weeks with 4 month old twins, they lived 5 mins away, where the eff were you then). What about your effin family you miserable mean b*tch. (No I am not Angry at all! LOL) Then she asked what WE got done this weekend. Well let me see I worked on Saturday, so that means hubby got nothing done, and well I was home sunday but we didn't get much done then either (I didn't mention Hubbys mood to her!). I said we just need some help a few days to get a few things around here done. (Like the program that I am trying to write, 2 hrs at a time. If I had two bloody days I could finish the effing thing!) Sure glad she is retired and LOVES to help OUT! Well everyone but me that is. Not like she is any help when she comes over anyway! It's like she has done to me all my life... THROW things in my FACE. Then if I was to say anything she would just yell at me anyway! Then she told me we shouldn't be doing any reno's anyway as we are supposed to spend time with the kids. WTF do you think we are doing, we only work when they are sleeping so that's why we don't get anything effing done!

I am so done with her sh*t. I have decided that I am going to find other child care then I never have to ask for anything and I will also reduce the stress in my life! Strange that someone who spent 11 years saying "I am NEVER going to have any grandchildren" can't even be bothered to take some time out of her weekend to see her own grandkids!

OK that feels better! Now if only gravity would stop holding that woman on the planet! She thinks she hates me now, just wait until I don't actually need her help. Then I won't have to be nice even after she doles out all her sh*t. Now I am being nice as I need the work.

p.s. at least hubby was out of his mood today! phew!

THINGS THAT BUG ME
- ya I think you figured that one out today... if not see above! LOL

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- knowing that I am not going to take this crap anymore. I am going to do something about it

KIDDO NOTES
It was pretty quite around here today. Boy1 was sick all day. He is such a good kid when he is sick, he even makes sure to have a bucket to get sick in. My little sweetie pie. He must have been feeling much better at supper as he was really eating a lot (yikes) and he was barking orders to his siblings.

I was sad today, then Baby spent most of her day at the back door crying Daddy. Then she fell off the couch and banged her head (more of a scare than anything, not even a bump, phew). So I pick her up to cuddle her, what does she do? Yell Daaaadddy. OK so now mom really feels like crap!

We had a breakthrough today. I caught Boy2 making the POOPY face! So I did the Grab and Run to the 'big boy potty'. Well of course the poopy face was gone. So we sat, and sat, and sat, the phone rang and I had to take it, so dad sat and sat. Well then, from the other room I heard a splash. We had lift off. I figured if we could get him to sit there long enough it would eventually have to come out! Theory worked tonight! He is the one who usually does all the liquids in the potty, so maybe solids now too? Wooohooo Do the Potty Dance! (We put this on and Hubby and I joined in. Baby looked at us like we had totally lost it. I think the boys were trying to ignore us! LOL

I must be off to bed. Trying to have somewhat better hours since I am teaching this week.... Good night

#201 - Bloody wireless!

My freaking wireless connection is driving me crazy! It keeps dropping then coming back, only it's not really dropping, just acting that way. Three tech support agents later.. still having issues! Ugg! I am beyond irritated! The company even sent me a new modem and now I just have new issues! It may work all day, then all of a sudden start flaking out at any given time, then it's fine again! It's bloody annoying! Ugg!

THINGS THAT BUG ME
- see above

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- finally feeling awake after about 2 weeks of feeling like I am asleep. Not sure why today after only 2 or 3 hours sleep last night? Maybe I have been getting too much sleep! HA HA

KIDDO NOTES
Well it was pretty status quo around here today. Potty Training is not going anywhere, Boy1 still thinks that everything he wants should be his.

Baby has learned NoNoNo... it's one word to her. She has learned to run when she doesn't want to do something, and scream like a wild woman when she is pissed off. Thanks bros for teaching her all this wonderful stuff! :) Heaven help me now... she has a 'tude ! :)

We took the change table out of the boys room and moved it into Baby's room. I am trying everything to move this potty training thing along. Boy2 cried and cried, I don't think he likes change! One day they will be trained I am sure of it... right?

Good night

#195 - Internet connection Working Again!

Well my connection is up and running again today! Hope everyone had a great St. Pattie's day yesterday!

I am still having issues with my wireless connection 'dropping' every now and again, but they are supposed to be sending me a new modem so we will see what happens!

Since I missed yesterday due to my Internet woes I will update with my latest over the last two days!

Scrapbook related
-6 pages done (well almost done, the photos and embellishments are done, I just have to add my journaling!)
-Scrapbooking area almost cleaned up! Getting ready for my Saturday with friends scrapbooking!

Other stuff
-Storage room empty, shelving removed... demolition to start soon!
-I am in desperate need of some house cleaning!
-Started working on my contract work (finally, I was supposed to start on Monday!)

THINGS THAT BUG ME
- The fact that my hubby refuses to go into work later and instead we get to put up with his grumpiness due to tiredness
- being grumpy myself, the last two days I have been sooo tired, even with the extra sleep
- being at the start of a Reno project (I like being close to the end MUCH better!)
- listening to my mother tell me that they are going to the Home Renovation show, then telling me they need to go worse than we do. (I felt like saying f*ck off. She REFUSES to babysit for anything but when I teach. Four whole days is just too much of an inconvenience for her I guess! I really need to find a babysitter!)
- Watching Private Practice... I just can't deal with the infertility story lines. I am glad that TV is starting to add infertility to the main stream. Hopefully, even if it isn't totally realistic, it will bring some more info to the general public. (I think of Will and Grace... it seems to have assisted in making their issues more main stream???)

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- knowing that my storage room will be better, eventually!
- bed time

KIDDO NOTES
Well yesterday was interesting. I must say my kids do have an imagination. I told the boys we had to wear green so the leprechauns don't pinch them. Well they took it one step further. They were talking to them and 'chasing' them around the house. Boy2 even asked me to take the Leprechaun that he put in his milk out of the glass. I was afraid that they wouldn't go to bed last night as they would be afraid the Leprechauns would be under their bed, but luckily they were OK with them. I did tell them they only visit for one day a year and then they go home. I have a little decoration hanging on the wall, it has a Shamrock and a Leprechaun on it. The boys went and got the stool to climb up and kiss it! There was Leprechauns all over the place yesterday, in their trucks, swimming in their breakfast, hiding under the bed, etc. The funny thing is they just get an idea and way they go coming up with their own 'stuff'. Well at least I got them all dressed up in green for the St. Patties pic! Baby was just wandering around attempting to say Leprechaun all day! She was probably wondering what the heck the boys were doing! Did I mention my kids are weird? I think they take after their parents!

Today was yet another busy day. The kids were getting on my nerves for just the normal stuff. I was trying to hold my cool. I just need more sleep I think.

Well the Potty Training seems to have taken a step backward, so today I put real underwear on Boy2. He was none to impressed, at first! Well he played for a while, then I heard crying. He was standing in a puddle of Pee. Not happy, he wouldn't move until I cleaned him up. (Lovely!) So I got him a new pair (actually Boy1 went and got him a new pair) He had another Pee episode again, almost the same spot on the floor. He was not happy. So I went and got him Pair #3 of underwear. Well by this point I wasn't having much fun cleaning the floor. So what did I do? Put a pull-up over them! Well let me tell you the next time he had to PEE he RAN to the bathroom! I think he wasn't enjoying the wet leg thing! So I am going to try again tomorrow. Real underwear, then the pull up. (I am sure glad we have mostly laminate in the house and not carpet, that would be gross!) We will see how it goes tomorrow.

Baby has been really crabby (I think there is a crabby bug going around this house, I need to find the darn thing and stomp on it!). I am assuming it is her teeth. Although she is getting close to 2... God help me! :)

At night we sit in the chair. We put the boys to bed first, then baby and I rock. She can say the entire alphabet and count to 10 when she repeats after me. I am not sure if that is normal for a 20 month old or not, but I am a proud momma!

She is really getting into stuff. With disciplining the boys all day sometimes I just ignore her. I was trying to let a few things slide, but I think it's time she learned about NO meaning NO in this house. Great 3 of them screaming when they don't get their own way! Hang on it's going to be loud around here!

Off to bed I go... it's almost midnight!

Good Night

#179 - I want to scrapbook!

I am still wanting to do some scrapbooking! Unfortunately I have to get ready for my next class next Mon/Tue. It's another new one so I have some work to do! I did manage to get some of my paper sorted out today so I am ready to go when/if I get some time!

I am a little tired after my late night and early mornings on the weekend, but I hope tomorrow I am 'good to go'.

THINGS THAT BUG ME
- organizing and re-organzing and then trying to find stuff!
- potty training

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- spending time at home with my kiddos

KIDDO NOTES

I am so hating potty training! One day at a time, right!

Boy2 sang the ABC's today when we were playing. He just started and way he went from the start to the finish with NO mistakes! I was so proud!

The kids were really winy today, must be because Mom is home!

Off I go to watch the rest of last weeks ER then to bed!

#167 - Stuff... and where did my Phone go?

Today was a pretty quite day. Hubby had the day off for Family Day. He was in one of his 'moods' today. It is so hard to get work done when he is like that. I feel like I have to keep the kids from being bad and try to work. I am sick to death of feeling guilty when I try to get work done. I have to teach a class this week and I need to be ready. Sometimes I wonder about that man. I am just feeling like I need a rest. Between trying to give him time to himself, and trying to keep the kiddos entertained and trying to prepare for a course and doing some contract work. When the heck does he expect me to do my work between 8pm and 1am every night? I think we are heading for another 'discussion'. Which of course goes no where. He just gets mad and leaves the room and won't talk to me. I generally enjoy his company when he is not in his moods. But I just never know how long and when.

I did manage to get through most of Level II today. Now I just have to review some things for the class that I am teaching this week. Level I. I have never taught this class before so it should be interesting. I am usually so over prepared that I don't really worry much about getting through it. The tone of the class usually just depends on the people in it. I have 19 folks registered though, that is big. I am not looking forward to that part. Oh well it's not until Thursday.

THINGS THAT BUG ME
- a pissy man (that would be the husband)
- feeling guilty for working during the day

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- A good friend came over for supper
- Bed time!

KIDDO NOTES
Well the monkeys were in pretty good cheer today.

Baby has been a little grumpy since yesterday as we cut her off the bottle cold turkey. (We cut the boys off at 1 year but it was a pain in the but, so I decided to wait a little longer with Baby and I am glad I did). With the boys we went through several sippy cups before we found one that they would use. With the girl, we just gave her one and that was that. I think she was less impressed by the milk. I ran out of frozen breast milk. (if I ever see a breast pump again I think I will run for the hills! LOL). I meant to kind of wean her off of it, by mixing with more milk, but I forgot! Duh! Well anyway she was a little annoyed at first but she seems to be OK with it today. Yet another step towards old age! :)

We are still struggling with bed time with the boys, but the struggles seem to be getting shorter most of the time. Thank goodness. I am glad that it is getting easier and hope the trend continues!

Oh and the POTTY BLOG. I think we may have had a breakthrough with Boy2 this weekend. He actually asked to go twice today and he actually went. So maybe he is on his way with Liquids now too. Boy1 is doing fairly well with Liquids too. I am trying to get them to use the big potty as much as possible so that I don't have to 'clean out' the little ones. YUCK! So I guess our next hurdle is the solids! We are on our way now, some day we may actually not have to buy diapers/pull-ups around here. What a concept! Something to look forward to!
SUNDAY
I was busy trying to get ready for my course and keep the peace around the house. Hubby and a friend were gone most of the day to go cut firewood. Lucky for me the folks never did show up!

KIDDO NOTES
Baby decided that today was a good day to steal moms phone... Where did I find it? In the 'downspout' of her House toy. I had to call it to find it as I had no idea where to look! I had the ringer turned off so I sent the boys on a mission to find my vibrating Iphone! My hubby was out cutting fire wood and I missed his call. I am surprised one of the kids didn't answer it! LOL (I have a passcode on my phone for a reason... Baby thinks it's a toy! Sheesh)

Rotten Kiddo day! It was a challenge keeping my calm today let me tell you! I know that they have been bad before but when all three of them were screaming at the top of their lungs for different things I really wanted to A) Join IN B) Bang my Head on a hard surface or C) Run very far away. Instead I just spent a lot of time breathing deeply.

Now I need to go to bed!
Good Night!

#163 - A new look

Well I was bored (ha ha) so I decided to create a new template. Actually I just wanted to work on learning something new for a change. It all started with an obsession to learn Adobe Photoshop, and look what it lead to! I still have some "tweaking" that I want to do but it's a start anyway!

The funny thing is that I hate when people change the look of their blogs. It kind of becomes a 'picture' of them and when it changes I get confused sometimes! Let me know what you think!

Today was a busy day, I was trying out a few new blog things and I had to work this evening. Funny thing was I had to do some Adobe stuff at work too! I think I have irritated my arm though, freaking tennis elbow! Oh well this to will pass! :)

On the Mom front, still no calls! I wish I could just cut her out of my life because I am a lot more relaxed and less stress since I haven't been talking to her. She is such a drama queen that always has to stir sh*t up. It's nice to have a break from the drama!

THINGS THAT BUG ME
- my sore arm
- cold weather... it's getting nasty again!
- when my remote start doesn't work!

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- the cool thing that happens to lights when Horror Frost is on it's way. If you have never seen it it's when the light goes straight up into the heavens. It's very cool and that means we will have some lovely frost on the trees tomorrow!
- long weekends

KIDDO NOTES

Well things are pretty much the same on the Potty Training front. Boy2 mostly goes in the potty, except for the solids. Boy1 goes in the morning and sometimes at lunch, but he is still in accident mode.

All of the kids were super good today. I always enjoy them so much on these days. I try to absorb as much of their goodness as possible as they are so enjoyable on the good days. It's kind of strange to have a day were all three kids are awesome all day. It makes me marvel in the wonder of my kiddos!

We go to play with train tracks today. Boy1 is quite the track builder, he is amazing at problem solving. I think he it's great that his mind works they way it does, he is outside the box, something I wish I could be. One thing I learned from my Mother is not to 'stifle' creativity, like she did and still does. I just let him go and help him when he asks. I don't tell him what to do or the way it should be according to me.

Boy2 is into his cars right now. He likes to ride them up and down the road. He seems like a linear thinker right now. Things have to be in order and he likes to work at things in the order he likes. (Kind of like mom, everything has a place and has to be in order :)). He does have a bit of a creative side, but is more of a follower when it comes to new things.

Baby is so different in a lot of ways. She likes to go off on her own and discover new things and she likes to follow her brothers. She was busy today playing with the furniture in her doll house (I really need to get her a doll that fits on the furniture! It came with all the furniture but no dolls?) I love to just watch her when she is on her 'discovery' walk. She will sit and play for a long time, then she wanders off to her room to get a new toy and back she comes. I just love to kiss her little cheeks, she still likes it when I do that (the boys not so much, but I kiss them as much as I can too).

With that I am off to bed, good night!

Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities.
Aldous Huxley

#162 - I suck at awards!

My dear Martha gave me two awards so I thought I better do something about them!

The first one is the Honest Scrap Award:


The rules:
Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Show the 7 winners names and links on your blog, and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with "Honest Scrap." Well, there's no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon. Then, list at least 10 honest things about yourself.


As for the 10 Things:
1. My very first day of High School I barfed on my desk. (Can you say humiliation?)
2. I am sad that I had my tubes tied and angry that my Husband doesn't understand
3. I love to bake
4. I lived in Atlanta for 6 months
5. I wish I had more energy to share with my kids
6. I am terrified of spiders, no matter how tiny they are
7. I have 'issues' with all things public bathroom related
9. I have way to much craft stuff
10. I am a TV junkie (only I have had to cut back as I only watch after the kiddos go to bed!)

I would like to invite Sky Girl, Infertility Licks, My New Reality, Mothering My Multiple Miracles to play along in the Honest Scrap pile.



The next delightful Award is from The Jason Show, a warm and witty blogger who always brings a smile. Thank you, Jason for The Lemonade Stand Award. (Does this mean I make lemonade out of lemons?)



Here are the rules for The Lemonade Stand Award:
1. You must link back to the person you received the award from.
2. You have to nominate 10 bloggers who are deserving of this award!

All of the folks that read me, you are the "pause that refreshes", please consider yourself tagged! :)

THE REGULAR STUFF
I started working on my inventory today, so I can get my taxes done on time this year. Usually I don't worry about it but I am afraid that I may have to pay this year. (I make almost nothing and I may have to pay... great! Gotta love Canada!) I usually don't worry about getting them done on time unless I may have to pay! :)

I was talking to my high maintenance friend today (the one that wants me to redo a birth announcement, again, for her 1 year old!). Well man does she have hubby issues, granted she is high maintenance, but this guy is a real *ss! Why is it that people think that having a baby will 'fix' their marriage? She really has issues and she is passing them all onto that poor sweet girl of hers. *sigh* (and it only took them about 3 cycles to get pregnant... sheesh! What is up with Mother Nature??)

THINGS THAT BUG ME
- I forgot to tape lost 2 weeks in a row
- Finding time to find out what's happening next on Hero's (I am still looking at Novembers episodes!)

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- clean teeth
- being nominated for awards from blogger buddies :)

KIDDO NOTES

Baby was busy climbing on stuff again today! She was up on the boys train table when I walked into the living room. Boy1 was 'ratting' her out! She likes to climb up on the little stool the boys have to turn on their lights or pretty much anything she can get onto.

Boy1 just loves to tattle on anyone. I was in the bathroom and he came running to the door saying "Daddy bad". I am not sure what hubby was doing but Boy1 thought he was being bad!

As for the Potty Training, it is still going better for Boy2. If only we could get him pooping in the potty too. Hubby keeps getting mad when he poops in the potty, what an idiot! Arg! I keep trying to tune hubby in! I can't imagine what his house was like when he grew up?

Good Night

"Shun idleness. It is a rust that attaches itself to the most brilliant metals." - Voltaire

#161 - A visitor today!

We had a visitor today, my cousin's eldest daughter. I was a nice visit and I am so glad that she came by.

I was exhausted today for some reason, probably because I was up to late last night. I am not sticking to my times that I was hoping to go to bed! I will have to work harder at that.

The problem is that I have to get the course prep done (for MS Excel Level 1 and 2) and I am addicted to learning Adobe Photoshop. So you see the problem. One hour a night to update my blog, read blogs, learn Photoshop and start redesigning my blog just isn't enough time. I really want to add tabs to my blog plus update the templates so I am trying to learn xml as well as Photoshop. Oh while I am doing all that I am trying to catch up on my TV watching. As you can imagine it's not all going that well and I am staying up way to late! But I am having fun!

I was happy that the fella I was supposed to meet up with this week had to postpone until next week for the contract work that I am doing. It give me more time to play with my blog template! :)

THINGS THAT BUG ME
- my brain doesn't seem to soak in a lot at midnight!
- potty training

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- visitors
- bananas, yes I like bananas and they make me happy because they smell so good!

KIDDO NOTES/POTTY BLOG
The kids went WILD this morning when my visitor came. I suppose they need to get out more. They usually don't get quite that hyper, so it was kind of driving me a bit crazy. Although I knew secretly in the back of my mind that they would nap well!

I got Baby all dressed up in a cute outfit and put little pig tails in. Poor kid starts screaming the minute I come near her with the elastics. When I am done all she does is cry... 'daaaadddy'. Poor thing, but she looks so darn cute. If anyone has any tricks to putting in Pig Tails in fine hair that is all over the place please let me know! :) I should have taken a pic first thing as the pig tails didn't last long (even though I glued them in with hair spray). I just kept looking at my little Baby who is no longer a Baby. *sigh* (I also wonder how the heck she got so cute?)

The Boys finally did calm down, which was nice! They even managed to get most of their liquids out into the potty instead of their pull ups. By the way why do they have to scent those things? As if anything can mask the smell of solids anyway. My boys are worse than women though, they even pee at the same time. Thank goodness we have 2 potties! I am getting sick of emptying them. Mornings are the worst, I almost hurl every morning (just like being PG with them all over again! LOL). I hate dumping them, yuck. I was gagging this morning, so Baby decided to join in too!

They still don't want to do the solids in the potty, they tell us they are afraid to poop in the potty? My husband says it's because when Boy1 was little he rode his car down two stairs at the back entrance way and landed head first in the potty! (We were working on the house before we moved in and had to move the baby gate from the old house) Hmmm maybe that is why it has taken him longer to try to go in the potty?? *grin*

Baby was showing our guest all the usual tricks today, Fall down, dance, etc!

The boys never stopped talking the entire time she was here, I am sure they will sleep well tonight!

Good Night!

"Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow." - Swedish proverb

#160 - It was a good day!

Well typically I don't like Mondays, but now that the hubby comes home early it is so much better.

I was able to get more course prep done today since the hubby was home early. I am over half done this one so I am hoping I can take some time off on Sunday. I teach my first class next week. It will be nice to put some cash into my bank account again! I hate it when it just keeps getting smaller!

THINGS THAT BUG ME
- the fact that windshield wipers wear out (can't they make those things last longer?)
- not being a morning person
- stupid train operators that don't toot their horn, they hold it on and you can hear it for 5 minutes straight! Ya I think we hear ya buddy!

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- having some ambition to work on my course prep
- finding out we are going to have a visitor tomorrow

KIDDO NOTES/POTTY BLOG

Well today was an OK day on the potty front. Boy2 is still doing really well with the liquids, now if only we could get him going on the solids! Boy1 has his moments with liquids. I am glad that we seem to be at least getting places with the training. I am happy if we stay the same at least, going backwards drives me crazy! It must be hard to learn about that 'stuff' for a young fella. I am sure glad we waited to start as I think that they are catching on somewhat better now then they may have a while ago. I suppose if I had of listened to my pediatrician and thrown out their diapers when they turned 2 and put them into real underwear we would have been done by now. But I don't think I would have been too happy! :)

Baby loves to climb, she was standing on the kids picnic table in the basement today. I can't take my eyes off that kid for a minute! I suppose we will find her up a tree this summer out in the yard! I am worried that kid is going to break something. We finally got her to say her actual name. Usually when we try to get her to say it she points to herself and says "Baby".

Boy2 has so many fears, the poor kid. Today a light bulb broke and it scared the crap out of him. So I tried to take him into another room and he walked right into the corner of the counter top. Nice shiner he is going to have, the poor fella. His father ticks me off, he gets angry when Boy2 is afraid. I told the hubby that that doesn't help and proceeded to take Boy2 out of the room. For cripes sake he is 3 1/2. It's a good thing the hubby is really good to them otherwise or I may have to kick his arce out! Hmmm, there is a furnace in our garage?

Boy1 is in the don't touch me phase or I will cry! He is also being really good to Baby right now (I guess after the doll to the lip incident on Saturday he thinks he better be good!). I love to see him play with her and bring her toys. I might as well enjoy it now as I am sure there will be some 'disagreements' as time goes by!

It looks like hubby can adjust some work hours to come home early so that I can teach next week. I am teaching Thurs/Fri next week. The mother was supposed to look after the kids but since I haven't heard from her in over 3 weeks I don't imagine she will show up. (So much for making much extra money, since hubby will have to take two half days off).

Well that's my story and I am sticking to it!
Good night!


"Sometimes success is due less to ability than to zeal." - Charles Buxton

#159 - Another weekend DONE!

I just can't believe how fast the weekends have been flying by. I spent some time outside in the morning, then the afternoon was spent working on more course prep. We had a friend come over for a visit in the afternoon and he stayed for supper. It was a good day!

THINGS THAT BUG ME
- how fast time is flying by before my eyes!

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- A day at home with my family

KIDDO NOTES
I got up this morning (kind of late, hubby let me sleep in a bit). Well I looked out the kids window I saw hubby. I never noticed the deafening quiet in the house! LOL. I wondered where the kids were. Then I realized they were outside. All of them, and my sweet baby she was walking around in the snow. I was almost in tears to see how much she has grown up. (happy/sad tears!) She looked like a big pink poof. Her snow suit is a little big for her so her boots were holding the pants up off the ground and she was all puffy. I am not really sure how she was moving! She was walking in the funniest way, little steps, kind of like a penguin. She fell over once and instead of putting her hands up near her head they were down low. In slow motion she would kind of teeter onto her face, getting snow on her face and hat. It was so cute. I grabbed the video camera, threw my boots on (no socks on yet), and coat and headed outside. It's hard to believe she is getting so big. She is just at such a great stage right now that I wish she could stay this way for a while longer than they usually do!

Watching Baby grow makes me a little sad, with the boys it seems that we missed so much as we were just trying to keep up when they were little. It just seems that it's easier to absorb everything that just one little person is doing. I feel as though the boys kind of got jipped of their baby time, having to share Mom and Dad. (Although it was nice to always have a baby to hold!)

The boys were funny outside, they both had the hoods on their jackets on and one of the boys had sunglasses on. They just wandered about, played with the snow, and their shovels. They are very good at amusing themselves, when they want to.

Well you know I have to talk about the Potty! LOL. We now have 2 boys working on the potty training. They were both dry when they got up this morning and directly headed to the potty and did their business. I just cross my fingers that it continues on the good side. I do not like having two potties to empty though, yuck!

The kids and the hubby were all very good today, I guess they all need that fresh air!

I am thinking that I should really post some photos of the kiddos on my blog. I think I may password protect them though. I still am mulling it over as I want to stay somewhat private.

Good night

"Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks." -Doug Larson

#158 - Oh No I missed a day!

I have been keeping out of trouble the last couple of days. I had to work last night and today (I think someone different was doing the scheduling this month... usually it's Thursday and Saturday or Friday and Sunday). It's a pain working Friday night then Saturday. There was a mix up on Friday night, there was a late night crop, only the lady that was working it forget. She did show up which was good, but we were a bit late getting out of there. Today was busy and we were training a new gal so that kept me out of trouble. Then we had the nice people that just kept shopping and shopping and shopping after we were closed. Like hello people have some respect for other people's time. I never do that. If I come in close to closing I am always out at least 5mins before any store closes. This one women kept looking for more stuff and her friend kept trying to get her out, that part was at least somewhat humorous!

Friday I didn't get much work done on my course prep, but I am back in the swing of things so I am going to get back at it tomorrow. I would much rather do something fun with the kids, but I have to take advantage of hubby being home. I also have to get ready for a meeting next week for one of my contracts, so I think Sunday will be a busy day.

THINGS THAT BUG ME
- people who don't understand what Closing time means

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- meeting new people at work (we have a new staff member and I really like her) Aaaannd she may be a candidate for looking after my kiddos when I work Fridays (now I just have to find someone for when I work any of the other days of the week.. uggg)

KIDDO NOTES/POTTY BLOG

Huston we have lift-off! Are you sitting down? Boy1 got up this morning and peed on the potty! Yey. Boy2 did the same! Finally Boy1 seems to be getting on the 'train'. Hubby tells me it was a pretty good day for potty training today. I am hoping we are on a roll now! We just have to get the #2 thing going next!

Last night when I was at work Hubby tells me that Boy1 gave baby a fat lip. He wasn't in the room, but it looks like Boy1 bonked baby on the lip with her dolly. (It has a hard plastic head). He said he hit baby when hubby walked in the room. He is usually really good with her so I am not sure what actually happened.

We had visitors this evening so the Boy2 and Baby had their screaming fits. Boy1 was Mr. Social for a change. Hubby gets so mad a Boy2 when he is scared, it really pisses me off. I told him that doesn't help and walked out of the room, sometimes he is such an idiot with the kids! (he is usually really great, but I guess we all have our moments. I am certainly no Mother of the year, I screw up all the time!) I don't like to see hubby getting mad at him though as that is not going to help at all.

They did eventually calm down (hubby included) and we had a nice visit. Poor hubby was all flustered we had visitors as we needed to bath the kids. Holly crap that guy is un-friendly when he has other plans. Like sit down and enjoy a visit you goof ball! Men... uggg!

I am amazed at all the Baby is learning these days, she is so busy walking around and repeating everything it's just happening so fast. I am trying to soak in every moment as I know it will fly by so fast. Her latest obsession is to 'fall down', off the couch, off the bed, off the stool, off whatever she can get up on. I really have to watch her right now as who knows what she is going to climb up on and fall off. She isn't quite like the boys in that she does it very gently and carefully. I am glad to see she is somewhat cautious. I am however worried that she may try it off something to high one of these days. We try all sorts of words with her and she will pretty much try to repeat anything! Some she is better at then others.

On Friday our house pest stopped by, and no he's not staying. He needed to pick some of his stuff up. (We are storing a bunch of his belongings). Anyway he had gotten a hold of some second hand train set pieces for the kids and he dropped them off. He definitely has a kind heart. He also thanked us again for all that we have done for him. It does look like he may have a really good full time job now too, he finds out next week. I am crossing my fingers for him. Then we will only have a weekend guest every 2 or 3 months instead as it's in another city. I can deal with that.

Anyway after he dropped the stuff off for the kids, they waved good bye. The Boy1 said " Good Man", then Boy2 repeated it of course. I am not sure where they got it from but I thought it was pretty cute!

Good night!

To measure the man, measure his heart." - Malcolm Stevenson Forbes

#157 - The weekend is almost here!

Well I got back to work today on my course prep. I wasn't feeling it, but once I got going it wasn't so bad. According to my calculations I am 15% complete! LOL I need to know these things. I could have done a little more tonight but I wanted to try to stick to my 10pm stop time for all things work related. I am having trouble keeping to my 11pm bed time though, as I can't seem to get through my blog list and post updates to my blog in one hour!

Speaking of blogs. I am glad to see that MaryEllen and Steve are 10 weeks pregnant I am so hoping her PG is uneventful. More good news in the IF blog sphere, Sky has a cute little baby boy. I love to hear good news! When I first started my blog list there were little or no mothers but as each month goes by it seems as if my Mother's list is growing. I am always happy to see this. I can't wait until one day all of the gals that I read find their way to motherhood.

So I see IVF is in the news AGAIN, A 60 year old gave birth to twins here in Canada. Man I had my boys in my early 30's and it is quite enough work for me. I can't imagine trying to have twins at that age. Now I don't begrudge anyone trying to have a family but there just seems to be something wrong with this? I guess no clinics in Canada would treat her, so she had to go overseas. I am glad my tax dollars are hard at work paying for her hospital stay and her babies hospital stay. Isn't Pregnancy hard enough on your body without being 60? Maybe I am wrong? I just hate to see all this craziness these days cause a bunch of rules to be instituted that maybe don't apply to everyone. What a crazy world we live in. (Crap my husband is in his 40's and he says he's to old to try to have another one! LOL)

THINGS THAT BUG ME
- MS OFFICE, it crashes when my default printer is set to an HP printer. Apparently Microsoft says I have to set a different default, but I can still print to the HP. That's a great fix people! So glad I spend most of my time on the MAC OS!
- grumpy hubby
- I can't figure out why my slice won't cut today? Arg!

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- finding some ambition where I thought there was none!
- getting a tiny bit of scrapbooking done each day!


KIDDO NOTES/POTTY BLOG!

So as for my potty blog, well Boy2 was doing a little better today. He at least is using the potty a bit. Boy1, I am not sure about this fella, will sit and sit and sit, but nothing usually happens. At least he is sitting on it! One time something will happen I suppose. I just can't wait until my life is not revolving around the potty!

In the morning the kiddos want to go downstairs to play. So we usually go down around 10:30ish and come up before lunch. They all have their reasons, Baby likes to climb up and down the stairs, Boy2 wants to watch Bob the Builder, and Boy1 who knows? It depends on the day I suppose.

The boys each take a toy down with them and Boy2 takes his blanket (I am not sure what the toy thing is about as there is a much downstairs as up? But whatever keeps them from screaming!) Boy1 does whatever, builds a 'fake fire', colors, and other stuff. Boy1 is glued to the TV (as long as Miss Spider isn't on. I can't even switch to another kids channel as he is afraid of half the commercials, sheesh). Baby wanders from Toy to stairs to Toy to stairs. They also get a little snack when we go down (I am sure they are starved since they just finished breakfast?). Anyway I give them a little bowl with a few goldfish each. (Baby spills her's almost every day so today I decided to put the bowl on the floor and save a few steps!)

Baby is funny. One or two goldfish, then off to play, then back for another, then off to play again! The boys wanted to color today so I gave them their crayons and they sat at their little picnic table to color. Baby decided she wanted to join in. She doesn't like paper though so I have a nicely colored table. I have to take a picture of her first art work piece! (Thank goodness for washable crayons). The little turkey would just scream if I even tried to get her to color on paper. Hmm I wonder who thinks she is the boss of the house?

We always clean up the toys before we go upstairs. Baby was even helping today, hopefully this trend will continue! Boy2 is kind of getting lazy in the clean up department these days so I am not sure what to do to get him motivated?

All in all it was a pretty good day.... then comes bed time. I think the hubby actually makes it worse, I am not sure. All I know is I dread putting the boys to bed. It's just all chaos. Probably doesn't help that we are in a hurry to 'put them away' for the night so we can get other stuff done. I hope we improve on the night time routine soon. I can't stand when my hubby gets so mad at them. I think it has been good that we have actually been together a bit as he sees how I deal with them when they are bad, and I THINK he is actually paying attention! Maybe there is a little light at the end of the tunnel with that guy! LOL

Anyway off I go to bed! Only 45mins late!

"Never doubt the benefit of giving others the benefit of the doubt." -Joe Wilken

#156 - It feels like Thurdsay and it's only Wednesday?

I am bad. I took an entire day off working on my course prep! I had a nap instead *tehehehe*, then I went to the basement and worked on my Scrapbook! At least I was being productive! I will get back at it tomorrow though! I promise! I really want to be done with the prep so I can just do the quick review before I actually teach a class. That will be sooo nice! I am happy that I will actually have three done instead of two though. That will be great for in the future! Less work and I am ready to go go go!

The hubby is still coming home early and I am really enjoying that! (Hence the afternoon nap!). He finally when for a Medical. He has never had one (and he complained about providing a 'sample' for the Sperm Analysis... come on!) I didn't know until recently that he hadn't had one. Back in 2001 he had to get some major work done on his jaw. They sent him for a Medical before his surgery, at least that's what I thought. Apparently he didn't have one, it was just a review of his history. Remind me to kick his arce again! Well anyway he finally went and I think he will go again. Ever since his dad had his heart attack he has been thinking more of his health (probably cause he knows I would kill him again if something happened to him! LOL). I am glad to see that he is thinking about this stuff anyway. It sounds like she checked him out good to so I am glad that he went (now it's my turn I suppose, I am taking a respite this year though, I need a break after all the IVF crap. But Next year I will go back for my yearly appointments I promise!)

I am happy to report I am almost done up to Feb 2008 in one of my scrapbooks. This is making me very happy. Maybe there is hope that one day I will actually get caught up! It is driving me crazy that I was caught up before we moved and it has taken me so long to get where I am! Sheesh!

Well I figured I had to ring in on the Californian with the octuplets. I just don't get it. I am hoping that her 'reasons' become more clear when they talk to her. I am not about to tell someone they can't have more children, but you would think that she would realize that she already had a lot to deal with. The biggest thing that is driving me crazy is the articles and the news coverage. If you read or write the news please read this. THEY DON'T IMPLANT embryo's, they TRANSFER them! Arggg. I almost sent an email to the radio station that I listen to as they were talking about IMPLANTING again! Sheesh people, know your stuff before you report on it will ya!

House Pest update
Well I can't remember if I mentioned that he didn't come last weekend. I was ignoring the phone, bad me. Well it turns out that he was trying to get a hold of us to let us know that he dropped off something for the kids and the hubby, not to stay the weekend. The latest is he has a place to stay for 3 weeks while he takes some training and he may have a job lined up too. I really hope it works out for him, the guy deserves a break. (I am still feeling guilty for not answering the phone last week...) I will give him credit though as he has thanked us and told us how much he appreciates everything we have done for him. I will let him come on the weekends every now and again (and I will still complain no doubt! LOL), but I just hope it's not for a while.

Mother update
Still nothing. No calls, nothing. I have finally stopped getting tense when the phone rings. Although our phone doesn't ring very often anyway. (Talk to me about email and texting though that's a whole other story! LOL) Woot woot there goes the Nerd alarm again! I must admit I have enjoyed not talking to her, not having to listen to her b*tch and complain. I do have to go on a scrapbooking retreat with her soon though, so I am thinking I should bite the bullet and call... nah I am just to effing stubborn for that!

THINGS THAT BUG ME
- still mornings, that will never change
- my new 'friend' Ringo - The hemorrhoid (I can't believe in the Younger years we used to make jokes about these things, they are SO NOT funny! :) ) No I still haven't gotten anything yet! (I know not to bright!)

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- an afternoon nap
- not having an actual job that I have to go to every day (although I think I am working harder with all the part time things I have going on!)

KIDDO NOTES - POTTY BLOG *grin*
We had some small successes today in the Potty department! Boy1 actually sat on the potty 3 times today and we even had a small poop. Boy2 managed to pee 3 times, once he actually asked to go before bed. Things that warm my heart. Lets hope the trend continues again. I think if it's not interesting for them they just don't want any part of it. How do you keep the Potty interesting I ask? (I am not enjoying spending quite so much time in the bathroom though... not my idea of a good place to hang out!)

I am thinking that having hubby around more is helping with the training. Sometimes it's hard to go all three ways at once. At least this way one can make lunch and the other can run to the potty! Like everything else when we are done the details won't matter anyway!

Oh yes and the quiet bed time we had last night, no we were back to the usual tonight.. *sigh*

Baby is totally obsessed with brushing her teeth. I swear I could brush that kids teeth for 3 hours and she would just sit there. Tonight I brushed and brushed and brushed. She is just great, she lays on my lap and way I go. She doesn't even have a full set of teeth yet so there isn't much to brush anyway! When I am done then she does her part. She actually does a really good job, she is much better than the boys and she doesn't chew on the brush. But let me tell you what a racket when you take that brush away. It's like the wild boars have been let loose! She screams and chases after the tooth brush! It is actually kind of funny (except the loud noise part).

Good Night

"Leap and the net will appear." - Julie Cameron
(If it doesn't I supposed you are screwed though! *evil grin*)

#155 - It's official I am old!

OK it's not my birthday.  I just got what I used to think was a pregnant lady/old people ailment.  I have a nasty Hemorrhoid!  Well I am definitely not pregnant (sadly) so I guess that means I am old.  Hmmph!  It is killing me but I refuse to do anything about it because that would mean it's really there!  Sheesh! 

What a way to start my daily post!  Makes you wish ya missed today doesn't it?  :)

Today I finished all the prep for my first course!  I also printed out the materials to start on my second course tomorrow!  (I would have started on #2 today but I decided to have a shower instead!  My hubby thought it was a good idea! LOL)  One down and 1 and 1/2 to go!  I also got a call regarding my second contract, I will be meeting with him next week to go over some details (so that means I have to do some work on that one too... when it rains it pours!)  The thing is I really need the money.  February is kind of a brutal month, between car insurance and having to pay for the car I ran into it is going to be an expensive month so I need some cash coming in to cover things like the mortgage payment! (minor detail! :) )  I am happy to say we don't have credit card debt and I hope to keep it that way!  I am a bit on the cheap side when it comes to interest payments.  I have 3 courses pretty much 3 weeks in a row so that will help the old bank account.  I will be beat no doubt, but at least I will have some money coming in.

I also got one more layout done this morning.  I think I am caught up with all the photos that I had.  I need to get more printed for the retreat I am going on at the end of February (between teach classes... yikes).  I have no idea what I will need to take with me? Or how much I will get done.  I am not sure if trying to get up to date in album is doable or not!  I guess time will tell!  I need to start collecting stuff soon so that I will be ready to go. 

THINGS THAT BUG ME
- afflictions that are associated with old people (LOL)
- grumpy hubby

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- getting one course prep done, and knowing that I can reuse some of my old stuff for the next one!
- my new sleep schedule.  I almost got to bed on time last night and I should be pretty close tonight

KIDDO NOTES

Yup potty training is still going in the direction of South!  The first kid (or in my case twins) are the ones you make all the stupid mistakes with, I guess I will know what to do with the next one.  I sure wish they came with instruction manuals!  It's probably a lot of my fault, I try to keep on top of the potty thing, but I get as sidetracked as they do it seems.

My kiddos are still loving the stick vaccum.  Oh no I am passing my floor cleaning obsession on to them (my hubby just looks at me and shakes his head).  We need this nasty ice to melt so we can get the boys out to run.  They are full of energy today and I think they need to let off some steam (either that or my hubby may blow the gasket) 

Baby was really mad as she wanted to go downstairs today.  I have to watch how I say that to the boys now, because if she hears 'stairs' she wants to GO now. I think she may be the climber.  She is happy downstairs as long as she can sit on the first step.  I put the baby gate on the second step, just for her!  God help you if you say 'stairs' while you are downstairs as she thinks it's time to go up NOW!  My little creature! :)

The boys spent the morning colouring (I am not a fan of markers, unfortunately they are).  I finally got them to use the crayons instead for a while.  I was trying to teach them how to write their names.  Boy1 was trying so hard.  He was so mad that he couldn't do it the same as Mom.  I told him he just had to practice.  Boy2 didn't give a hoot.  He kind of tried then went back to scribbling!  Baby didn't try to eat the crayons today so it was all good.  She did have fun with the hockey stick that is in the  basement.  Maybe a female hockey player in the family? (personally I would prefer one of the boys, then he could take care of Mom and Dad in their old age... oh wait we are already old, it's too late! :) )  I am just waiting until Baby learns how to 'take out a bro' with the hockey stick!

Afternoon naps aren't going so well, but mom is persistant to say the least.  Today Boy1 was mad so he cried and cried, woke everyonelse up of course (rotten light sleepers in this house).  I snagged him out of the room and put him in our bed.  (I was trying to work while dad was sitting on the couch doing nothing and for some reason he was going to let him scream?  So I had to do something about it, arg! <-insert whiney complainy voice here! )  Dad finally got up and went to the room so I left Boy1 with Dad and went back to work.  Boy1 and Baby ended up getting up first.  Boy1 went and got two piles of toys, one for him and one for Baby then after telling her what to do and where to sit they played for quite some time.  Boy2 was in bed 'waking up' (i.e. getting the crankies out, at least mom hopes so anyway)

The boys were wild tonight running around the house.  Dad was cranky so it was pissing him off???  They weren't being bad just getting some 'energy' out.  Needless to say I quit my working 'stuff' and went to wrangle the monsters.  Pretty much I was just trying to make sure Dad wasn't being an ass!

OK I need to write this one on the Calendar.  The boys went to sleep tonight with no Yelling or Screaming!  (At least when the lights were shut off anyway).  THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED since we took them out of their cribs.  Lets hope we are entering a new phase! Please please please!

Good night!

#154 - The usual stuff

I made it through another Monday!  I love to get Monday over with, then I can enjoy the rest of the week!

I was going to go out today, but I would have had to get the kids up 2 hours early and that just didn't seem like any fun, especially on a Monday and by myself.  I suck at doing much of anything but the basics in the morning.  It takes me about 2 hours to get to the fully awake and 'cheery' stage and get all the parts moving in the correct fashion! (I really need to find some joint oil for this old body, mornings are kind of ugly!)

I managed to get one page done in my scrapbook this morning (only because hubby came home early!)  After lunch it was back to working on my course prep.  I think I only have a couple of hours left on the first one!  Yey!  Then I can start on the next one (ugg).  Hopefully I can have the first couple done by about Wednesday next week.

I am trying to set some new evening time management goals.  I have been staying up way to late.  Since I am making pretty good time on my course prep I have decided that I am only going to work until 10pm at the latest.  Then I want to be on my way to bed by 11pm, so that gives me an hour to read blogs and update my blog.  I think it's doable and hopefully I can get a better sleep pattern going!

Oh yes and my floor washing craziness continues!  I am pretty much washing it every day.  I have gone nuts haven't I?  Well it is getting cleaner, the more I wash it the cleaner it seems to be when I check out the swiffer pad after.  Imagine that huh! LOL

THINGS THAT BUG ME
- the sore ear that I have
- not being able to find cotton baton to put in my sore ear! :)  (This drives my hubby and friends crazy... I know where it was in my old house! LOL)

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- getting closer to completing the prep for one of my courses
- making it through another Monday!

KIDDO NOTES
OK so potty training is still going nowhere.  I did get Boy1 to sit on the potty for a while this morning (he figured because he sat there he should get a treat, good luck little dude.  Yup this boy is already trying to 'beat the system')

Boy2 is not going in the potty anymore at all, I have no idea what to do with this kid?  He gets foul when you ask him if he wants to go.  (I am going to have to change the name of this blog to "Potty Training - that's all I talk about"  LOL)  Hubby is not helping with the training as he gets so annoyed with them when they mess in their pull-ups.  I have to train him too I guess! Ugg!

Baby is a little crazy, heck all my kids are a bit nuts (it's genetic I think!).  Today she was 'diving' off the couch then saying 'fall down' (actually it sounds like fall dow without the N)

It was a good afternoon, the boys let me play with their train set again! :)  We have so much fun.  Baby was even joining in today.  Boy1 was sitting on the lazy boy chair telling me what to do.  What a little turkey!  Well he was only telling me what to do when he wasn't talking on his cell phone.  What a kid.  The laughing is the funniest thing, I wonder what is going through his little brain?

Good night.... I am only 20 mins over my bed time so I am at least improving!

#145 - Course status DONE, Me status DONE!

Well that wasn't fun, I am so glad it's over with.  Well I am glad the course is done, and it's the last one that I need!  Thank goodness for that.  I did meet some great people that I hope to keep in touch with.

My practice teaching didn't go as well as I hoped.  I was to tired, I wasn't inspired by the course and I just wanted to be done.  I got 19 out of 20 in the practice... which really isn't bad, but I got 20/20 on the last two so I was somewhat disappointed in myself.  More importantly I actually learned something from the practice this time, I missed something, that sort of accidentally happened in the last two.  I just wish I would have picked up on it sooner! :)  Oh well I am done!

My house pest (formerly know as the house guest) also left this am so I was happy.  I hope he doesn't come back on the weekend.  I am needing our space back!  It was so nice to have Sunday supper with the family!


THINGS THAT BUG ME
- instructors that do not following the outline
- not doing my best

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- knowing that I learned something from a screw up
- the house pest left the building
- hubby is still in a good mood after spending the entire weekend with the kiddos

KIDDO NOTES

It was a break through day!  Hubby was doing dishes, I was in the 'biffy', I heard boy2 say he had to go potty.  Then Boy1 yelled "Boy2 pooped, Boy2 Stinky".  Then Boy2 yelled "Boy2 pooped".  All by himself, no help from anyone.  We were not even in the room.  So I was disappointed I "missed" the big event.  Hubby went running when Boy1 went and told him the news!  Boy2 was excited!  Lets hope this leads to more of the same!  (Although the thought of cleaning poop out of those little potties seriously makes me want to gag!)  The weird thing is that Boy2 did not do anything in the potty today.  It was a bad day my hubby said, and he usually always does the #1 stuff in the potty.  Strange?  Oh well at least we got the first one done!

This evening I learned that I must be on the computer WAY to much.  The boys pulled out their 'computers' tonight.  (They each have a coil ring book, one  of the pages is blue)  They open their 'computers', the blue page is the screen and they prop it up against a toy or the couch.  They have their own laptops apparently?  Well it started with Boy1 and his computer had a dead battery so he had to plug it in.  Then Boy2 decided that he was going to check his email.  The Boy1 decided to send Mom and email.  Then Boy2 decided to type on his 'computer'.  I was amazed at how he was moving both hands on his 'keyboard'. Then they had a video conference with our friend, then it was time for a picture slide show.  They would bring their 'computers' over to 'show' us the picture.  They would tell us who was in the picture, then back to their spots to do something else.  It was quite comical.  They definately watch what we do that's for sure!

We also had dance night at our house.  We like to keep the TV off, if the kids want to watch TV we say lets put some music on!  So tonight I had my laptop so I got my itunes going and way they went.  BoneyM - Rasputin! 80s music here we come (I am not sure if that was from the 80s persay but that's when I listened to it! ha ha).  Well baby was doing the, I am new to walking thing, wiggling to the music and moving her arms around.  Boy1 was walking around and kind of jerking to the music, weird kid! :)  Boy2 was going crazy, like kids at a Rave I suppose?  They had a blast, we had a giggle, then it was off to bed!

I definately have 3 unique individuals here and I am loving every minute of it!

Good night!

"You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair."-Chinese Proverb

#144 - If I hear another quote I am going to barf!

Well only one more day of my course to go!  Thank goodness.   I am really not sure what I am getting out of this one.  The group has gotten together and tried to be more interactive so that we can get more out of it.  No doubt that this guy is a great speaker.  But enough of your quotes, half the time they don't even relate to the topic, If they do I am not sure how?  He finally let up on talking about the book he wrote.  I was going to start counting the times he referenced it but then I got sidetracked!  I think by lunch he finally dropped hints about his book and moved on to the book he is researching (about hope, not really related to what we were discussing).  I think we are driving him just as crazy by interrupting his flow with questions.  At one point he told us to take a half hour and read one of the modules so that we could discuss it.  A) I am taking the class to learn something from YOU.  B) I can read at home (not that I ever find time).  I just found the whole exercise pointless?   Most of the time I don't even know what his topic is. Really good instructor for a train the trainer type of class?  I have no doubt that he knows his stuff, but I sure am not absorbing it.   On another note I have learned some things about me personally,  I will share when I am a little less pressed for time (I need to finish my lesson plan for my practice teaching tomorrow AND I need to get to bed)

Last night was bad!  I was going to bed early then a friend IM'd me.  Well we ended up online until 1am (stupid me, as if I wasn't tired enough already).  I tell you I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.  I think I was so overtired it was almost like being drunk!  I was just silly!  We were laughing at each other so hard we were both crying.  We were using the mac app IChat and there is an option to add effects to your video.  Well when you are in a silly mood you can sure have fun with that.  We weren't using the audio, just the video and we were still typing.  I told my friend after that this is what nerds do for fun (well this nerd anyway!)   What I should have been doing is trying to figure out something for my lesson plan, but instead I was making funny faces on my computer!  I am truly losing it!

Well I think I have commented on all the blogs on the ICLW list now, exhale!  If I missed anyone please slap me! (over the computer of course!)  I may have to try to go through the entire list twice just to make sure I didn't miss anyone!


THINGS THAT BUG ME
- paying a lot of money for a course and feeling like I am getting very little practical knowledge out of it
- getting up 3 hours earlier than usual on a Saturday
- not having a 'down' day this week

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY
- I am almost done my last course that I am required to take!
- Not hearing from my mother for a week (I must really be in the dog house)
- Hugs from Baby (the boys wouldn't hug me when I got home today :( )  complete with the pat on the back

KIDDO NOTES

I hate being away from them all day.  I do miss them, not the noise, but them! :)   I find it much easier to be with them all day then to come home to the craziness at the end of a long tiring day.  They were really good tonight so that is helpful!  I felt kind of bad as I couldn't spend much time with them as I had to get ready for my course tomorrow.  It does make me happy that I was able to quit my full time job as it always seemed to include overtime, I just can't imagine being away that much from the kiddos.  I really don't know how working family's manage everything, my hat's off to you!  I imagine the dynamic will change again when they are in school.  Change ugg, it seems like with kids, just when you get used to the way things are the little monkeys change all the rules on you!  (I suppose that's where it's handy to be able to have kids when you are young as you aren't quite so set in your ways and you can change things up quicker!! LOL OK so I feel like I am 80! HA HA)

So if anything interesting happened today with the kiddos the hubby will tell me in a couple of days when he remembers it! :)  I know how he feels.

We did have Boy1 actually do some #2 'business' on the potty tonight.  I wasn't much but hopefully it's a start.  So I gave him is truck, but I said he has to at least try to do some #1 on the potty tomorrow.  (Boy2 is the one that has been doing all the #1 business so far.  He said he is going to do some 'business tomorrow, time will tell!)  Then there is Baby, apparently someone else's 'business' stink is ok, it's just her 'business' stink that makes her cry.  She was 'inspecting' the buisness tonight (and it wasn't sweet smelling trust me) and there was no tears.  She screams when she is done her 'buisness' and wants off the potty right now!  I guess she already thinks she should smell like a rose, oh great!

Oh why can't they come pre-trained?  (Welcome ICLW'ers my blog is about Potties!  It seems like that's all I talk about these days! :) )

With that, good night!