Eryn, Aiden & I spent a few hours at Chris's Daycare this morning. I am very fortunate that I've a girlfriend who has already done all the 'groundwork' both here in our community and in North Vancouver. So Chris's Daycare is the first we've been too. Jenn , my girlfriend, was telling me it was too bad that I haven't seen other Daycares, because only then could I really appreciate Chris's Daycare. She is truely an inspiration for organization. Her Daycare room is more like a preschool, something I could really appreciate as a teacher. Eryn had a great time, and even sat and ate her lunch with the 4 other girls. I am confident that Eryn will have NO problem adjusting to 1 day a week daycare, especially at Chris's Daycare. It was clean, bright, a TON of toys, all well organized, structured day routine, lots of outdoor time, quiet nap room, lots of arts & craft activities, nice fenced yard with sandbox, water table, swing set, ride-em-toys, and it's only a 5 minute drive away.

 

2 big thumbs up from me! 

Unbeknownst to us.....we were apparently still contagious Sunday, at Eryn's lil Birthday Party, a week after we were actually sick...because ALL of our guests on Sunday have been puking their guts up this week.

Who knew we'd still be contagious a week later....

 

As of yesterday, Aiden's poo's are back to normal, he was the last one with a butt problem....

So, hopefully now that means were clear....GOD please don't let us get whatever it was...again!!!!!

 

The kids have had their check-ups now...that was on tuesday...Gosh, hope Doc didnt get it...

anyways, after giving them both a good 'going over' he said;

Sheesh, well you guys sure make healthy babies...aside from a bit of ear wax, these kids are 100%. Too bad you aren't having anymore...

 

HAHAHA

no thank you

not unless I was a good 5yrs. younger and a hellofalot wealthier.

 

I am very thankful for perfect babies. My brother was FAR from perfect, physically, when he was born. Needlesstosay, it was a real concern for me when I was pregnant. I saw what my mom & my brother had to go thru...doctors, operations, specialist, hospitals, waiting rooms, tests, tests, and more tests.....it was harsh. I really didn't want to have to repeat what my mom went thru.  So, I truely feel blessed. So many kids aren't 100% when born, or in their first year of life. Even I suffered from epileptic attacks from 9months to 3yrs. old. And Gary needed quite a bit of help the first year too, with leg braces and a premature birth. So perfect babies is a true blessing,  one I'm thankful for everyday.

 

 

It's been a slow week. Been stayiong close to home, fearful to venture out, in case we infect anyone else.

I did walk the kids and dog around the golfcourse yesterday morning, a good hour walk. I even ran into my Father-in-law walking his dog.  He was starting to feel ok again, recovering from the 'pukes'. When Aiden was napping, I was playing with Eryn in the backyard. I'd nearly venture to leave her in the yard by herself for a bit, but we have a cement basketball court in the yard, which is surrounded by a 3ft high cement retaining wall. Eryn's favourite thing to do in the yard is walk the circumfrence of the court, on top of the edge of the wall. EXACTLY something her father would do. So when she walks along the toop of the wall, I have to be next to her, incase she takes a bad step. She refuses to hold my hand when she walks on top of the wall. But, what's funny, is she'll be walking along, then get distracted by a bird or something, and she won't look where she's walking. So, if I left her to her own...she'd walk right off the wall...CRASH

 

The other reason I can't leave her unsupervised, in the backyard, is that our landlady is an avid gardener, and Eryn loves to pick flowers....so I'm sure in no time, she'd pluck all the flowers and trample all the new plants. I can't wait to get a little townhouse or something, with an enclosed garden or terrace, or soemthing, where she can be outside , safely, on her own...because she LOVES being outside. Nearly the first thing she asks for everymorning, is to go outside.  She's always asking to go outside, go outside, go outside. It doesn't help that the dog gets to go outsdie whenever he wants..but she doesn't.

 

 

The exciting news, is , Eryn gets to start Daycare next week. She'll go 1 day a week for the whole day. Gary can drop her off on his way to work, and I'll pick her up at 5. So, I'll have 1 day a week, with 1 baby. AND, maybe I can talk Mae into taking Aiden a few hours every other wednesday or so. THEN  I can finally have a day where I can schedule Chiro, Massage,  Gym, or whatever  else I need to do to preserve my sanity. Two of my girlfriends already use this Daycare, so Eryn will have some friends there. I will take her a couple times beforehand, to help her transition. But I feel she really needs some time away from Mommy, and with some toddlers her own age, where she'll have to 'fend for herself' when interacting with other kids. She gets too much time picking on her lil' brother. One day a week will be good for both of us...maybe even ALL of us, because then I'll have time to do things with JUST Aiden....like swimming, for example...or library story time. In anycase, it will still seem like a vacation to me, to have only one 'golden' baby for the day.

 

That's the news for now....

plans for the weekend?

Saturday morning we're all going in to get our portraits done. Saturday night, I'm supposed to go out with Gary's cousin Michelle and her friends....we'll see...  those are the only plans for now...

 

cheerios....

BIG difference from last year.

For one, I didn't hit the same depths of exhaustion

2:  I'm not pregnant this year! YAY!

3. we only had 6 guests, Gary's immediate family.

4. we could have balloons this year

 

We still had an ice cream cake from DQ ( my personal favourite)

 

Eryn wasn't terrified of the balloons this year, she had lots of fun with them.

 Thanks to her Papa Bill, she wanted to tie all her new farm animals to the helium balloons to see if they'd fly.  Aiden had no fear of balloons at all. He was having a grand time as well, dragging around about 4 balloons with him. 

 

Eryn LOVED her little plush Ikea farm collection, with the portable barn. She also loved her 'pet pal' doggy, slept with him Sunday night, as a matter of fact. And last night she refused dinner and ONLY wanted to play with her 'fairy lady' dress doll. Daddy read her , her new books at bedtime too.

This year she understands that presents are something good, she can open them, then demands a million times in a row  "mommy opey, mommy opey, mommy opey'  until i get it open for her.

All the cousins had a great time playing in the yard, with our dog, and on the basketball court. Luckily it wasn't pouring rain, like last year too.

 

I really miss my mom. I wish she was here to celebrate with us.

sigh

 

I put the b-day photo's in the photo album above.

but here are a couple photo's from her 1st b-day..for comparison

My girlfriend, Tia, inspired me this weekend. On her blog she showed pictures of her son,  who had climbed onto the door of the dishwasher, when it was 'down'.

Aiden is very curious when I'm busy with the dishwasher, and to avoid any 'mishaps' I always simply closed the door & dealt with it later, or removed him from the room. But, after seeing JD look so cute inside the dishwasher..I thought I'd 'let Aiden loose'

So, with dishwasher empty, I let him have his fun.

He took it to the extreme. Did not hesitate to climb right up....like a tank, that nothing could stop....nor hinder...

 

naturally, I had camera ready....

 

 

I also got to see Neil Diamond in concert this weekend...for free. He was playing at a local pub that some friends of Gary's bought. It was the 're-grand opening' of the pub. It was pretty packed. We were up in the rafters watching..and there was this  drunk guy right up close to the stage, he was SO into the performance he was nearly dueting with Neil...so we were taking photo's of their 'moment' when he looked up and saw. We were killin' our selves laughing.  Later, during the break, we went down to say HI to Neil and there was 'buddy'  again, getting his 'boobs' signed by Neil..so we got a pic of that too...it was sooo hilarious. It's a beautiful ol' pub, right in our own neighborhood. I didn'tstay too late cause I was already dead-dog-tired....

 

We had our 'dog training' appt this morning at 9am, so I knew it was going to be a busy day, also had to do the 'prep' for Eryn's birthday celebration this weekend...tomarrow.

Sirius was hilarious at the dog-training place. He was so 'sucky'. The trainer really liked Sirius, said he was a good dog and probably posed no threat to the kids. we just need to change our behaviour patterns so that we make him work for ANY reward, AND let the kids feed him treats and make the interactions playful and fun for him. She showed us how to 'correct' him, and he was very respionsive to it, so we don't need to use more forceful means. 

Eryn enjoyed pushing Aiden around in the stroller while Gary was working with Sirius. We got some pics of that to follow.

Everything was going well....until....

we were about to leave. I was changing Aiden's diaper. Gary was watchingEryn and Sirius was still loose in the room, when a fellow walked in with his big Rotweiler (complete with nasty inverted spike collar), on leash. The trainer, in my opinion, did a poor job managing the situation, but within a couple minutes, Sirius had jumped on the Rotti and not only drew blood, but had biten the whole end of the dogs nose and was doin' the 'death shake' with it...AURGH!

Why the trainer didn't step in when Sirius showed the first sign of aggression...I dunno...but the 'dude' was pretty upset..more upset than his dog, that had gotten over it..

So the whole session ended with a big drama.

 

WHEW

 

wonder what's in store for tomarrow.....

 

Some readers may have noticed...I've been able to switch out the audio on this site for VIDEO!!!!

I've chosen my selections with GREAT care and thought.

 

These are not only entertaining videos,

and splendid music for the soul,

but deep and satisfying lyrics as well.

ENJOY!

 

 

 

 

We aren't for certain it was Norwalk we had, but we sure had all the symptoms, and it came at us from outta nowhere, and there is a Norwalk 'outbreak' at the local hospital here.....

in my opinion, it shouldn't be called NorWALK though....more like NorRUNZ.

We both (GAry & I) spent a good 14 hours pukin' our guts up and dry heavin' til we were certain we were going to turn ourselves inside out.

THANK GOD for Mae & Bill who took the kids for us that day, because we were completely incapacitated. I made a hasty trip to the local grocer to get some gravol & gatoraide. Had to stop once on the way there & once on the way back, to get my bout of dry heavin done.  Thank goodness the Gravol helped too. I'm certainly not going to get into anymore detail than that.

we feel 100% better today compared to yesterday, but we're weakened and exhausted.

Tomarrow I'm going thru the whole house with disinfectant...just in case...don't want to contract the same thing again....

 

The kids had a mini bout of it themselves on saturday, poor lil baby dry heaving. He didn't know what the hell was happening to him. Poor lil guy.

 

On a brighter note:

I got some cute pics of the kids playing together. When Eryn removes the couch pillows, Aiden loves to climb up on them (Eryn does it to get a better 'bounce' outta her jumps). He's walking more & more each day. He sure does his best to keep up to his big sister...and he's the crown of bruises to prove it. As you can also see in the pics. I put them in the photo album above.

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness, concerning all acts of initiative (and creation). There is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans; that the moment one definately commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would have never otherwise occured. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in ones favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now."

 

 

That is the ultimate quote from Goethe, in my opinion.

Interesting thing is, I've had that quote, printed out on paper, with me for years. It's always held importance to me, because it spoke to a deep truth I could relate to.

BUT

Then I saw the 'Bleep' movie and this quote reveals the true genius of Goethe, because he understood the quantum world without even knowing it. He 'GOT IT'.  He truely understood the true nature of our world. He was a man ahead of his time.

 

 

(wave to Teh Mommeh  )

 

I hope you have a meaningful day!

remember, it's whatever you make of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today is my mom's birthday. I wish I could say she was another year older. It feels kinda funny celebrating the birthday of someone deceased....yet when I think about it, it's always the births we celebrate.....that's a good thing.

 

I was so pleased that the monument makers could carve, deliver, and 'set' the plaque in time for her birthday. I had made plans to first, visit with a couple close friends of my mom's, they haven't seen the kids in months, then we'd all go to the cemetary.

 

This morning when I created my day, I asked that my mom be present with us today, and that I would get some sort of unmistakable 'sign'  that she was indeed present with us.

I got that sign, in fact, all 3 of us got that sign, that she was there with us.

 

I can't begin to describe the how & the why....., but we all know my mom had a 'celtic heart' thru & thru. When we arrived at the cemetary (which is a very small one), our arrival coincided with the gathering & burial of another. It was obviously someone of celtic decent because many of those present we wearing tartan and there was a lone bagpipe player, bellowing out the tunes into the strong spring breeze. The person who was being buried was 2 graves away from my mom's. If they had been buried directly beside hers, we wouldn't have been able to see it, it would have been covered by the ground tarps they lay down.

We sat & waited, off to the side, while they held their short ceremony. Enjoying the sound of the pipes and commenting on the synchronicity of events, we all acknowledged that she was there and thanked her for coming.

 

After the gathering dispersed, we approached the gravesite and 'beheld' her gravestone. I had also brought a small amount of daffodils to plant there, so every spring, near her birthday, there will be some colour there. Ideally, I'll go back and add some krokus...she'd like that. 

 

The day had completely evolved, exactly as I had created it...minus the kids nap times....but HEY.... pretty good for starters.

 

 

I can't remember how many beer I drank last night..

I don't want to know

We both had a great time, it's vital to get out and 'let our hair down' so to speak.

We took the skytrain downtown last night, knowing we'd be drinking.

I hadn't been out on Granville street at night, since, ...

hang on, ...I'm thinking,....

 

...

...

well, I know I wasn't married yet...

it's been close to 4 yrs.

We were feeling a bit like ol' farts....hahaha

when we were getting off the skytrain downtown, we saw  a group of punker kids. You know , with the crazy spikey hair & mohawks, chains, tatoos, piercings etc...

well, we later saw them later inside the Commodore Lanes (which has been a bowling alley since the 1930's).

 I pointed them out to Gary & said, see, we're still 'hip' and know where the 'happening' places are, cause even the 'cool' punks come here, this is one of the places to be seen. HAHA

 

We bowled guys against the girls. We lost :( 

I was trying to get some bowling pointers from Gary, who was doing amazingly well.

But his bowling technique involved NOT putting down his beer. He bowled one handed. I couldn't do that.

I got a couple strikes, and some bruises on my knees  (don't ask)

I think we caught a ride home near midnight....  thanks Chuck & Dara. 

 

I'm happy to report that in the aftermath of last nights fun.....that we're not needing too much hair from the dog today....

we're tired but not hung0over...thank god

 

SO there are actually NO doggy stories in this blog entry..no hair of the dog, and no doggy tails

fooled ya   HA

 

but here's the pics:

In a matter of days, the schools will be closed for 'spring break', yet this morning we woke up to 6 cm of snow.

It's getting on in the morning now, so it's all melting and becoming slushy.

I got some good photo's yesterday, around the neighborhood.

We probably have more snow in our backyard than others, as we live at the base of a mountain.

 

 

Regarding our dog, Sirius...

We've got a training session scheduled on the 25th. A private lesson. We'll bring the kids too. I'm hoping I picked a good agency, they've been training dogs in Vancouver for 25yrs. I hope that's an indication of their sucess.

I'm looking forward to it. I'm determined to keep our dog.

I KNOW when the kids reach age 5 or so, Sirius will LOVE them, as they can play with him properly then. He'll also be an ol' fart by then.  We just gotta get thru a couple more years. If the training works, then we'll be singing...

Aiden is no worse for wear. Just a small bruise, like the many he accumulates around his head, from his various adventures. Often he'll gather a 'crown' of bruises around his head.  He's not at all shy around the dog, just the same as ever. Both kids are.

 

It's Friday night , tonight. and Gary & I actually have plans to go OUT!!!

Gee, we went out last month, now this month, it almost feels like it's a regular thing. What a refreshing feeling.

TOnight, we're meeting 'the gang' at the 'ol Commodore lanes, downtown. We'll be riding the skytrain in, so we'll both enjoy a few beer , I'm sure. It's SOOOooo nice having something to look forward to.\

Thanks Mae & Bill !!   (Mae will be sitting in for us, while we're out)

I'll be bringing my camera, so you'll be sure to see some pics,

 

have a meaningful weekend!!!!!

maybe even go out and rent the ; What the Bleep Do We Know    movie....expand your mind, broaden your horizons, challenge your perspective, awaken your mind!

 

cheerios!

 

My dog bit my baby boy this morning.

It was a very sad day.

He broke the skin.

Luckily, I guess, it was on the side of his head, so there was nothing for the teeth to sink into.

Now, he just has a mild swelling, bruises and scraped skin from Sirius' teeth.

 

How did it happen?

Wasn't I paying attention?

 

Indeed, I always pay attention.

 

I saw baby boy crawl over to where doggy was laying down. Once he got there, he sat beside the dog, who was laying on his side. Aiden was sitting between his front legs and back, beside his tuimmy.

I've watched the Dog Whisperer, so I know about the whole  'calm assertive' thing.  I've had dogs all my life, I'm familliar with the 'pack mentality', and 'doggy psychology'.

So I slowly, calmly walked over to them. I bent over, gave a  firm hand signal to the dog, for 'stay' and as I then reached to lift baby boy outta harms way, he quick as lightening, lunged/snapped at him as I was lifting him up.

He made contact with AIden's temple. Needlesstosay, baby boy was very upset. Needlesstosay, so was I.

He has done the same thing to Eryn, when she was rooting around in his food dish while he was trying to eat.

She also had small contact marks on her face.

 

I raised that dog from a wee pup. He is an absolutely awesome dog, EXCEPT that he's an Alpha,AND he was here first. He thinks he's still above the kids on the proverbial totem pole. I've given him countless lessons, anytime he attempts to upsurp my authority. I make him wait, so that I always enter/exit first, he's not allowed on our bed, he can be off leash in public and follow voice commands. He's a well trained dog. He's perfect in everyway, except that he lacks a mothering instinct.

 

NOW

I'm faced with my canine conundrum

keep him

find him a new home

 

I want to keep him, but we really can't afford extensive training. I don't want to take a chance that it may be worse next time. It's already draining enough watching him & the kids. Any interaction between kids & our dog is always supervised.

I'm anxious about giving him away cause I'd always fear & worry that his new home wouldn't be as happy.

 

sigh

anyone out there with training advice?  or suggestions?

though he is just a 'dog' , he's part of our family.

 

 

Sigh]

I lost my mom last year, I don't want to lose my dog too.He's been with me for 6 yrs. now.

WHEW, the end of the week went by in a flash!

Wednesday night, I went out late with Maddi, to see the new release of "What The Bleep.."

This one is called; " Down The Rabbit Hole."

It's basically the same movie, but with a bit more emphasis and explanation of the quantum nature and  new physics.

When we arrived at the theatre we were the only ones there. So I had to get a pic of Madison & I having the theatre to ourselves.  Right as the 20 minutes of previews and commercials began, several other couples walked in, so we all huddled together in the large empty theatre.

the movie?

WHEW

We really do have an old way of looking at the world around us.

This movie is the prefect 'fix' for someone with an open mind and a feeling like something is 'missing'

The movie 'The Matrix', is a perfect analogy, of the essence, of what 'the bleep' is trying to convey. We all live in our own 'matrix'  you could say.

 

A line from 'Spiderman" keeps ringing in my head; "With great power, comes great responsibility"

 

The whole end of the week passed by in a whirlwind. Eryn's been giving us toddler troubles at night again, so we've been pulling out 'the big guns' ....so our night sleep has been crappy, and when sleep deprivation starts to set in, you can't properly distinguish what happend one night, from what happend another night, let alone what day it currently is...:P    ....wait for it.....saturday...sigh

 

 

Aiden's a great lil' sleeper now.... Now that his stomach bug seems to have passed.

Now he just has a cold, and with a little cold medicine at night he sleeps like a log. And 'Kudos' to him for that, since his bed is right by Eryn's door , where she likes to stand and scream, because she doesn't want to go to bed. Lord knows I can't sleep through it.

 

Once we crack this habit of hers in the perverbial BUTT,  we''ll be all 4 of us happy campers!!!  Sleeping soundly thru the night! Just in time for daylight savings, which will Fook everything up again:P  That's the way it goes :)

 

I'm really looking forward to this evening. Thanks to my awesome husband :)

My girlfriend Nicole, is in town for the day, from The Island, for a Buddist New Years Festival, with her Lama friend.

So , not only do I get to go out and spend some time with her, I get to meet my first Lama AND I get to experience a cultural celebration. I have no idea what's going to happen. But I'll b sure to write up a full report. A dinner is included. I'll be sure to eat something before hand, because I'm not sure how much a vegan meal will fill me up.

hehehe... I grew up on the prairries, eating corn fed beef.Guess that makes me more a steak & potato kinda girl.

 

Our frined Jenn, dropped her daughter,  Julianna, off for a play-visit, while she waddled off to do some 'last minute' baby shopping. Jenn is due to have her second baby any day now..pretty near.  Eryn hadn't seen Julianna in a while, so they had a great time together. Well..., Julianna didn't really say if she was having a good time or a lame time, I think she was just a bit overwhelmed by ERYN, 'The force to be wreckond with'

At one point, when Julianna was standing up, Eryn was literally running in tight circles around her. It was so funny. Toddlers do the darndest things. Eryn was great at sharing her toys with Julianna. Aiden quite liked her too, probably because she didn't screm at him when her crawled over to her, or when he took the toys from her.  Guess he learns that from his sister...hehehe...uh ho'

 

Here's some pic's from the last few days.....

 

 

Eryn will be 2 years old this month.

They say, 'it (time) goes by so quickly' Their babyhood & toddlerhood..I've heard it a million times already, but it truely does.

It's such a blessing having a second baby, especially one as golden as Aiden, because I appreciated his babyhood more, I didn't hurry it away.

Time does go by so quickly, and babyhood/toddlerhood is such a short part of their lives. I remind myself of that each day.... it helps me get thru endless hours & days of whining, poopy diapers, food messes everywhere, constant boo-hoo's as Aiden learns to walk, not to mention the puke, and poop that leaks out of the diapers, ALL the laundry, or all the other countless 'accidents'....anyone with a toddler knows what I'm talking about. BUT, don't get me wrong, I do enjoy 'staying home' with them, I can't imagine being anywhere else. I'm not feeling nearly as overwhelmed, now, as I was 2 months ago. It's getting easier as my perspective changes.

 

So, my baby girl, that was in such a hurry to come into this world, she was 2 weeks early and literally 'popped' right out of me. hehe..that makes it sound so easy....:P

 

here's some newborn pic's of Eryn...boy does she ever look different...to her momma anyways. The only thing the same is her eyes. Here's a few pic's to show you what I mean.

 

 

 

For anybody who's having, even the slightest bit of a crappy day, to the worst day of your life, THIS video will be sure to release a giggle or 2.

I love to watch it everyday because it always makes me laugh.

So I have to share it here, THANKS Tia!!!

 

 

You got to check it out and pass it on!

ENJOY!