never remember Halloween being so EXHAUSTING!

(except when I was teaching ..ugh)

but

WHEW
I'm pooped

This morning I took the kids to a nearby 'family place' in the community.

they played and played  (me shadowing Aiden who is naturally prone to mischief)

they got to eat some healthy food, then some cupcakes, donuts, candy, juice, and special halloween cookies.

Then home to nap

then aside from a trip to get some groceries..

back out in the community, to the mall for inside 'trick or treats'  (pure insanity, the likes of which I won't repeat)

when we returned home,

GAry stayed home with Aiden, and I took Eryn around the neighborhood a bit.

she had 4 lolipops this evening!!

She mastered knocking on the door, saying trick or treat, and saying thank you. The only part she needed coaching with, is holdig out her bag. She'd just take the candy in her hand, HAHAHA

the inevitable sugar rush ensued.

Eventually , though, a nice hot bath helped calm them both down for bed.

 

whew

no wonder I'm tired.

 

here's the pictures:  (mostly of halloween, also a few of our playdate at Jenn's this week)

 

 

 

Halloween is nearly here.

I've always loved this particular 'holiday'

for various reasons,

and

like other holidays

as I get older

the meaning an importance of holidays

changes too,

evolves.

SO

This year,

Halloween, is a fun celebration for my kids.

They've enjoyed carving pumpkins.

Eryn loves running thru the house 'wearing' dracula teeth

Aiden loves chasing her, (wearing a wizard hat)

We'll ge to take them out 'trick-or-treating' this year too.

fun times  (and one of the few extra perks of being a parent, is getting to take the candy 'haul' right?)

Aside from that , though

Halloween

or Hallow's Eve

marks the transition from summer/harvest time, to winter

from life, to death

 a time we commemorate the passing of loved ones  (All Souls Day)

and, folklore-ishly, it is believed, that it is on Hallow's Eve that departed souls return to visit, (which is why many cultures leave out food offerings etc..)

Wish my mom could/would come 'visit'

I will certainly be reminded that my mom isn't here, to enjoy my children experienceing all the 'halloweeny' things.

I sure miss her,  in so many ways.

 

 

 

Mommy, I poop'ded.

No, I AM poop'ded!!!!!

 

OK

I've been 'tagged'

so now it's my turn to write a list of 50 things that bring me happiness & joy

whew

That's asking alot

from someone who's lost soo much the past couple of years.

not sure if I can make it to 50, but here it goes:

 

1.  My children's laughter

2.  My daughter telling me she loves me, (without prompting)(my son can't really speak yet)

3.  Seeing my husband happy

4.  when my dog digs his head into my lap, looking for affection

5.  hearing birds singing, or ocean waves lapping on a shore

6.  contact with far away friends

7.  my son running to me, to be scooped up in my arms

8.  getting 'down time'  away from the kids

9.  going mtn. biking

10. going horseback riding WOULD make me happy, if it was a possibility

11. sleeping in, NOT getting woken up by children, husband, alarm clocks, or other loud noises

12. hearing my daughter singing  (my son cant sing yet)

13. finding/recieving unexpected $$$$$$$$$$

14.  being in the mountains, LOVE the smells, and the stillness

15.  silence!!!!

16.  a gooood cuppa 'joe'

17  anything chocolately and/or ice-creamy

18. having the time to read a really good book.

19. being able to express my creativity

20. being able to help out a friend, in any way

 

 

how about 20 things...

50 is just too daunting

20 I can do...see!

 

TA   DA

 

done

 

omg

what a busy busy saturday gone by.

It all began at it's usual time,

BUT 

around 10am

Gary took the kids to his folks' house where he was also 'servicing' our vehicles  (with his dad who's a backyard mechanic)

That left me with an empty house

and a room to finish priming and painting.

My girlfriend Shawnna  came over to help  (THANK YOU!!!)

so we managed to complete the room by the afternoon.

We musta been painting from about 10am to 3-ish.

but

we got it done!

Eryn's new bedroom is now fully operational, minus the carpet..which we plan to 'try' to lay tomarrow.

The fun part of it all is yet to come.....the decorating!

I was going to use the same calming blueish lavender colour we have in our bedroom..

but our landlords said they'd pay for the paint and supplies...

soooo...

I decided to go ahead and go 'girly'

so I picked a pinky-purple colour  (highland heather)  instead.

Cant wait to add a kitch chandelier, and lots of accents and shiny things.

Eryn is VERY excited about her room nearing completion.

She isnt the only one!!!!

 

Once the painting was finished, the clean-up began.

as well as all the other tedious chores....

but at least I could get them done without having to drop what I'm doing, to go 'referee' or listen to any whining...so tedious though they may be..it was QUIET  in the house.

Gary returned with the children after 4pm

He had to quickly shower and dress as he was off to his buddy's stag,

and I had to get the kids ready to go to Steph's, where all the 'wives' and kids were going to hang out for the night, while all the daddies and hubbies were out 'stagging'

Steph set up 4 different fondue's ...... OOOOH  so yummy

Cant remember how many mommies were there, but there were over 10 kidlets, from 2 months old...all the way up to Eryn..who's the oldest.

Needlesstosay, the kids had a great time too.

the food was awesome!

and the time flew.

Before I knew it , it was 7:45, and WAY past the kids bedtime.

I got them changed for bed...bit more playtime..  (gotta get 'em nice and tired)

then finally had to pack it in around 8:30, and head home.

It was funny because from one minute to the next..the kids were all fine...

then the whining began..the accidents from being tired, etc...

so I think nearly all the moms and kids departed about the same time.

Luckily it was a VERY quick, short drive home, and straight into bed.

 

I got some really cute pics of the kids.

We tried to get them all on the couch together, for a photo..

HAHAHAHA

We managed to get them all on the couch except the 2 little babies, and Julia, who refused to leave the play room, for a photo 'opp', AND they only sat still on the couch for maybe 8 seconds.

I got a cute pic of JD  teaching Aiden how to get into trouble by opening the multi  CD tray on the stereo.

Aiden is quickly catching up to JD who is 5 months older than him.

I swear by next summer, Aiden will  be as big as Eryn, and people will think I've got twins..

only they'll think one is 'slower' than the other, as Aiden will probably still be using 'manspeak'  (grunt grunt, ugh ugh, & point) and Eryn will be speaking in clear eloquent sentences... (heeheehee)

 

 

I posted some new photo's of Eryn's room in progress (see 'eryn's room' photo album above)

and the party pics, I'll post below:

enjoy

 

 

Sad day in North America

the Bush is a HUGE step closer to his dictatorship.

I cannot believe that the American people have willingly given up their democratic rights to the pychotic whims of a pre senile dementia president

 

If you're not sure what I'm talking about then;

a.)  you are completely ignorant of current affairs    OR

b.)  you are too hypnotised by 'Dancing with the Stars'

 

check out these video clips:

 

 

to enlighten yourself about george's dictatorship

 

and then watch THIS clip

to see how close to  senile dementia ...the Bush is...

 

 

 

 

I planned a 'suprise' date night for Gary last night,

seeing how his birthday is coming up this weekend, thought instead of 'presents'

I'd take him out somewhere...

somewhere FUN and unusual.

SO

I got us tickets for Fright Night, at playland.

It was my first time, I was very impressed.

Our timing was great, it wasnt busy at all on monday night,

the weather was perfect

and Fright Night was awesome

the decorations and theme throughout were impressive.

They even had 'psycho' crazy circus music playing throughout, and everywhere you looked were scarey scenes, smoke, glowing lights, and maybe more 'spooks' walking round the place than actual 'visitors'

The admission also included unlimited ride pass.

They had all the scariest rides open and when your 'on' them they have the smoke going and strobe lights, or darkness and NO lights.

Playlands famous ol' wooden rollercoaster was the best.

DAMN it was scarey.

I thought for SURE I was gonna die.

Definately got my share of screams out.

There's also at least 5 'haunted houses'. I made Gary go first thru all of them.

We had a great night.

I definately recommend a trip to Fright Night.

So much to see, so much screaming to do.

I put a few pics in the photo album ABOVE..

Thanks Bill, for coming over and sitting the kids while we were out!

AND

the best part was,

the kids slept ALL night, til 7:20am

(they've been waking each other up ALOT lately... doesnt make for good nights sleep...cant WAIT for the 3rd room to be done, 'buddy' is returning this evening to hopefully finish up!)

enjoy the pics..I got kids to go feed.

 

 

 

 

I got to spend alot of time with Jenn this weekend.

I had to inquire about the 'raisin incident' from last week

She was able to fill me in .

SO, here it is:

where I had left off, was:

we were going to the park, and little Julianna was complaining about a raisin she had put up her nose.

Both Jenn & I looked, but couldn't see anything, so we continued on...

that was about 11am

 

so

 

later that NIGHT

before bedtime,

Jenn said Julianna sounded unusually stuffed up.

upon investigating, she could sure as shit see the raisin.

Would be hard to miss, 9 hours later

it was HUGE

it was a GRAPE again

now she's got a GRAPE stuck up her nose.

Jenn informed julianna that she would have to get the tweezers.

Julianna FREAKED out.

Jenn had to strattle Ju-ju, pinning her down, in order to attempt extraction of the GRAPE.

finally, she said, she had to bribe Ju-ju with a piece of chocolate.

Even then, a battle ensued. Ju-ju got herself so worked up, that in a bout of screaming/crying

out shot the raisin

hitting Jenn square in the chest

She said they both broke into a gut wrenching laugh about it

and the second they'd stopped laughing, Julianna says:

chocolate?

 

 

I hope to the gods that my children never attempt such 'experiments'

but

kids will be kids

 

gotta get going, off to Adrienne's for a visit, and  a 'romp' for the kids....

 

 

 

Congradulations to Edie & David on the safe arrival (ABOUT TIME)

of Everett (cant remember all the other names he gets) 

he was FINALLY born, a few days past his 'due date'

this morning , just before 7am

and as Edie feared, he was a BIG baby

10lbs 1 oz

but she had a great natural delivery (heck-uv-alot quicker than the first baby), not even requiring stiches of any kind,

and though painful, as always, esp when your baby is the size of a watermelon,  it went without a 'hitch'

I cant wait to stop by and take some pictures, to show the world, little Everetts' face

(I kept teasing Edie that he'd look like her brother, but with blondish hair...  heheh)

I'm hoping today to stop by and congradulate her in person.

now YOU know too!

 

 

 

 

I met up with Jenn yesterday,

another gorgeous day, here in Paradise.

We wanted to run the kids outside, wear 'em down.

She met me here, at my house, then the plan was to walk, with kids in strollers, to a nearby playground, where I felt comfortable letting both my kids out  (simply because they're so familliar with the playground, I seem to manage them better)

We were at about the half way point, when

Julianna, who is strapped into the dble jogger stroller beside her infant sister,

began complaining about her nose.

She claimed to have put a raisin up her nose.

Now, she'd just been snacking on raisins, so it was entirely possible.

AND, Jenn said it had happend before, where they had to pull something outta her nose.

We both tried looking into her nose. Niether of us could see anything.

but SOMETHING was upsetting her nose.

It began to dawn on me, that I'd never encountered that problem before.

So far, touch wood, my kids havent found amusement in putting things into their noses, ears, or anywhere else.

but it could happen, and quite easily.

what do ya do?

stick tweezers up there?

I'd be so scared she'd move or twitch while I was busy, that she'd labotomize herself with the tweezers.

 

We carried on.

we couldnt see anything up there..

what do ya do?

ah...the joys of having kids.....

 

not 2 minutes after the 'raisin incident'

Ju-ju decided to bite her lil'sis

I could hear baby Gaby wailing, the THAT-Effin HURT wail

Jenn said that was only the second time she's ever bitten Gaby.

I've lost count how many times my kids have biten each other.

sometimes it even happens without my knowing, and later I'll find the tell-tale circular bruise, with teeth divets and all...

on one child or the other....

ah...the joys of having multiple kids.....

 

we did manage to get a bit of playground time in.

I got some pics of that below:

how could our autumn weather GET any better?

I'll have to ask Jenn, if they ever found a raisin in Julianna's nose.

Cant imagine that would feel very nice.

can you?

 

 

Eryn's room is nearing completion.

The dry wall is up, the first day/ layer of 'putty' is on too, the first bit of 'sanding' has commenced,

and it seems, no matter what you do, god help us, you can't contain dry wall dust.

We've kept the door closed, stuffed damp towels under the door,

swept, mopped...you name it...but it still gets everywhere...

least it's minimally everywhere..c.ould be worse indeed...

but I admit defeat, there is no 'controlling' it.

HAHA

I've been adding photos of the room, in "eryn's room' photo album , abive..

 

I'm hoping by the end of this week, we'll be painting it.

 

Was a busy weekend, even though we had no 'turkey plans' to speak of. We saw no realatives ('cpet Mae, friday evening), we had no 'get togethers', no turkey either..

our home is a bit upside down currently, with the construction and all..so I knew better than to ADD to the current stress.

But,  American Thanksgiving is in November, and as I'm American and all, I think I'll cook a turkey for  that thanksgiving, in November.

Maybe even invite a couple friends over, or relatives, and do it all then.

 

Friday night, Gary and I got out for a brief 'date night'

We just went down to our local 'catus club' and enjoyed the outdoor terrace , (YES in october, was a gorgeous evening, full moon and all!).

We indulged ourselves in appetizers, our favourite is the Thai chicken wings, and  beer.

We had to stick to our budget, because I already have a special night planned later this month for Gary's Birthday.

Either way it was still a special treat to be out together, without kids.

 

Saturday night, was Dara's stag party. I joined the 'party' for dinner, but had to pass on the dancing, as poor Gary was now sick with what the kids had this week. UGH

The food was awesome, never had such delicious curried cocnut chicken, as that, it just melted in my mouth!

We went to 'Simba's' an east african cuisine restaurant , right in the heart of 'gaydom' in vancouver. I havent been on Denman Street, at night, for years... was nice to stroll around.

 

Here's a few pics I took of 9 of us at dinner, at Simba's

I added a few playground pics to the photo album above, from our long weekend.

we had picture perfect weather here ALL weekend. So we HAD to get the kids outside everyday.

 

enjoy the pics:

 

 

 

 

 

Eryn is SICK, again!!!!

not sure what she's got, but she's snotty, feverish, pullin at her ears and LAYING down on the couch all day

she wont eat, and drinks little

She's beyond listless, almost unresponsive.

Lord knows Aiden tried to trigger her, playing with her favourite toys, right in front of her.

I even tried to get a reaction from her, when she refused her favourite food, banana tofu,

I offered to feed it to Aiden right infront of her, which would normally send her to fits of hysteria

but she didnt even blink

Aiden still enjoyed himself playing with all the toys he wanted, without any competition.

Eryn laid on the couch and wanted to watch her lil' pony movie, about the princess unicorn magical pony.

It's soo sappy sweet, makes me ill..

but she watched it over, and over again

finally fell asleep, I put her in her lil bed, and she napped for nearly 3 hours.

 

Today

It's Aiden's turn

He was lil listless boy today

protesting with cries, that he wanted to play too, but ill enough not to want to move off my lap.

So, Eryn, got to 'run the show' this morning..

while Aiden lay on the couch in a wee little ball, curled up ontop of his favourite blanky.

Now he's napping, for who knows how long, and Eryns watching the bloody princess unicorn show again

 

I'll be taking them both to see Doc today

just to rule out an ear infection...

otherwise he'll just tell me to ride it out..

 

His office location is in chaos these days, as the new underground transit line to the airport is being constructed at his front door.

so, need to give myself lots of extra time to park.

Hopefully they'll be over it , whatever illness this is, by the long weekend.

YUP

It's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada.

Have I made any plans?

nope

just going to be working on the new bedroom.

I got to finish clearing out all the storage stuff

and emptying the room, because the adjoining wall is coming down in 2 days

then there's all the rest of the finishing, and priming and painting

AND

we got to reverse the door 'swing' and have it open to the outside, instead of in.

I can just imagine Eryn falling asleep on the floor, at the door, and us not able to get in...

this is while she'll be learning to sleep in her big girl bed

 

We've tried the big girl bed before....

but after a month of perfect bedtime behaviour...she choose, asked for and opted to return to her crib.

no skin off our back, so why not..if that makes her happy..

but now she's 2 1/2.....

time to try again

but this time there'll be no ging back

the crib is in such a state right now, that once it's disassebled ONE more time, that will be  IT

 

wish me luck at the Doc's office

outta be a real zoo

 

 

 

here's a link to one of Jon Stewarts brilliant bits of witicism on Bush and his idiocy

please, do yourself a favour, give yourself a good laugh and watch it!!!

 

Jon Stewart rocks!

 

 

from: You Tube

 

 

 

 

OMG

Saturday went by in a flash

In the morning, we had a birthday party to go to.

My friend, Shawna, 's son, Joel, turned 3.

Eryn LOVES birthday parties now,

she thinks everyone is for her.

We practiced singing 'happy birthday' on the short drive to the party,

but instead of saying; 'dear Joel'

she substituted' Eryn'

Was a great morning,

Shawna had put out some awesome snacks for all kids, even the 'adult' ones

and though there were 12 toddlers there, it was amazingly quiet!

the party location was so awesome, the kids had so many new toys to play with, no one was competing.

So the 'adults' all got to relax and eat and chat

usually I find kids' birthday parties fun initially, but near the end the noise always wears me down,

that and the constant shadowing of Aiden (which was also unnecessary here)

We took both vehicles to the party, because I had to leave a bit early

to go to my monthly appt at Sensational Suppers.

This was my first time for September,

and I really wanted to try some of the Sept. menu items, so I squeezed in on the last day of the month.

After spending a couple enjoyable hours 'cooking'

I headed home with a cooler FULL of gourmet meals again.

Kids were napping when I arrived.

Gary & I enjoyed our 1 1/2 hour quiet time,

then it was time to get ready for the evening party

Saturday night is when we celebrated my father-in-laws' 60th birthday.

It was at his new second home, the boat docks.

Gary's folks just recently bought a 30+ft sailboat.

So, Bill has been working like crazy on it, practically living at/in the boat.

So, naturally, the party had to be at the boat house, where he moors.

Eryn & Aiden wore themselves out trying to keep up with their bigger cousins, running inside, outside, and all over the place.

And all the kids wore out their folks...

being: me & Gary, His Sister & her husband, and Gary's brother and his wife.

I posted the pics from Bill's Birthday party in the photo album above.

I ate too much chinese food

We finally had to head home from the boat house around 9pm,

Aiden was beyond meltdown stage, and he was just sobbing from exhaustion.

We managed to keep them awake for the drive home, but literally, within 5 minutes of being put in their beds, they were asleep

 

OH

and this weekend

our landlord has followed thru and began work on the new 3rd BEDROOM for us.

Actually it'll be for Eryn.

the room is already enclosed on three sides.

Next weekend is when the ajoining wall will come down, on our side, which is where our storage room is.

So, needlesstosay, I'll be spending some time sorting thru the dreaded storage room

The new room will also have access to the LARGE crawl space under the stairs.

It'll be a walk in space for Eryn though, and it'll make a great play area..once I'm done making it alll cutesy.

So, I'm imaging, perhaps by Halloween, the room will be completed, painted and decorated.

I'll take some pictures this week to show the before and after.

Outta be interesting.

 

Here's the pics from Joel's birthday party!

theres a funny one of Eryn trying to carry as many little animals in her hands as she can.

AIden loved climbing UP the slide, then going back down head first.

Half the time we were there, Eryn was the only little girl playing toys, surrounded by little boys...she probably didnt even notice.

got a pic of that too.

One other little toddler girl was there, and Lori's little baby Amy :)

 

I'm gonna go 'put my feet up now'