with Eryn in daycare again today, it's just me and Boo-Boo.

I decided to take him along while revisiting 'ol worksites.

I went back to the school I was teaching at, and though most of the staff have changed (it's an inner-city school and so turn-over rate is high) there were still lots of familliar faces, especially the student faces.

The staff I knew, were so excited to see Aiden. The vice-principal I used to teach with, is now principal. The old school building is going to be replaced with the new one they are building right behind it.

 

I know I'm going to need to work this summer/fall, so it's time to start networking again. Aiden is a huge help, cause everybody loves babies, especially blonde, bald, dimpled cutie pie babies, like Aiden. It's a huge ice-breaker, even the new staff were all chatting with me and my 'celebrity' baby.  All mom's love to brag about their kids. And all 'veteran' parents LOVE seeing new babies.

 

 

After the recess break was over, I headed back to the other school I used to teach in, at night. It's an ESL school for Korean students. They were super happy to see me too. As a matter of fact, the owner said as soon as I move back to N. Van, he'd hire me back for as many hours as I wanted.

THAT will be the preferred job, even if it's nights. At least then I won't have to pay for daycare,  and I'll still get to raise my babies myself. The pay is only slightly less than teaching for the school district, and as we already have extended health benefits thru Gary's work, this should be perfect.

 

The only thing I used to dislike about the job, was working nights, because several hours before it's time to work, my mind is already preoccupied.  I''ll think, ooo, can't do that cause I gotta go work soon.

BUT

the difference now is, I have 2 babies to raise,

and I already look forward to 5pm cause that means Gary will be home soon, and I'll get relief.

So, when I start back at ESL teaching, going to work will actaully be a break. Gary will have to do the dinner-bath-bed routine by himself with the 2 babes.

Even if I work 10-15 hours a week, that should be all we need, assuming my wage is the same as before.

SO, now, the plan is,  find a NICE liveable place in N. Van and move in!

the extra money Steven Harper is giving us will be great too..... that's $2400 a year, for the 2 kidlets. It WON'T be enough to pay for child care by ANY means, but the extra $ will pay off the bed we still owe.  (good quality full-time childcare for 2 youngsters like mine, would cost WELL over $1500 a month...so the $1200 alloted per year is really nothing....well, one free month of full-time care...WHOOPIE...but like I said, I'll take the money..pay off our bed)

 

 

what's the 'ol saying?

I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.....

 

 

SO, everybody & any readers who stumble upon my space, PLEASE keep fingers crossed for us, that we find a NICE, LIVEABLE place in N. Van where pets are welcome.................. NO MORE BASEMENT SUITES!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I want my own address,  my own front door, my own mailbox,

 

"Thanks for helping....I couldn't have done it without you...............  "   (-Dora)

Took  lots of photo's this weekend

 

There's one of Eryn on daddy's lap  'killin some bad guys' before bedtime

 

Aiden draggin' around his favourite 'blankie', we have our own 'Linus' , he drags that 'ol blanket everywhere.

 

The kids at the park today. Aiden is NOT a ghost, he's just very WHITE.

I'm already searching for a sunhat and sunglasses, for the summer.

 

and some of the kids playin' in the house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This weekend was the first weekend I indulged myself, as a parent, in stuffing my kid with chocolate.

I got a bag of easter coloured m&m's, the small ones, and hid them throughout the living room (had to keep Aiden in his playpen, poor Boo-Boo).

Eryn delighted in discovering the 'stashes' of chocolate, and found nearly all of them with absolutely no help from me. Naturally, when they were all gone she wanted more, more, more  bubby, more...

She sure LOVES her chocolate. Papa Bill Bunny, also stopped by with a few goodies. Eryn found the chocolate bunny, and ran away with it as soon as I unwrapped it, and she got her grubby little fingers around it. Gary & I both played a great game of; Share some with mommy & daddy.

NO, no,no and she'd run away and shove as much of it as she could into her mouth. We were killing ourselves laughing. She had chocolate all over her face, hands, arms, clothes, hair.  Nana bought her some little Dora socks, with mini 'backpacks' on them (you'd have to be a mom to understand what the HeCK I'm talking about...'cept for the Poopster, he knows all about Dora!!!!) As soon as she got them, she was looking for scissors, to cut the 'backpacks' off. There were literally 2 little mini stuffed backpacks, and she wanted them cut off so she could play with them. I obliged her, naturally.She has a rather insistant and repetative way to her... I attribute it to toddlerhood, and the fact that she's an Aries  (sorry, Jenn, you're gonna have your hands full with your Aries baby girl too!) , or her father's daughter....

 

Yesterday I put her in a dress, to go to Nana & Papa Bill's for Easter dinner. With some selective guidance from me, she picked out the dress she wanted to wear. Only problem was, she didn't want to take it off. She bawled & bawled that night, at bedtime because she coldn't sleep in her dress. Daddy told her she could wear it the next day. When she woke up and saw it the next morning, Sho, enough...I want blue dress Daddy, I want blue dress, Daddy, I want blue Dress on, daddy......

 

So, she likes dresses, she HATES getting her hands dirty. When she falls and tumbles on the sidewalk, she will often try to land on her forearms, rather then her hands. And if she does lands with her hands, she won't push herself up, of do anything until she can get help to brush her hands off. It's hilarious, it's like a true princess syndrome. But she's such a tank, and SO much her father's daughter. I can see her now, climbing trees like a tomboy, but wearing a Tu-tu and have manicured nails!

 

She's finally starting to tell me, or at least admit, when she's poo-ed in her diaper.

Mae says they magically seem to 'get it all' at 27months......that's only 2 more months away....I sure hope so, cause she's barely fitting into the size 4 diapers, and I don't want to have to buy 2 different sizes again!!!!

It used to be:

Eryn, did you poopy in your diaper? cause something sure smells funny....

No, bubby

Did you poopy Eryn?

No, bubby

 

Now it's more;

Eryn , did you poo-poo?

<nods head>  yes, bubby

 

OR:

bubby, I poopy diaper.

OR:

Bubby, I dirty diaper.

 

Here's some pic's of Eryn on her chocolate rampage;

and some extra's

 

 

 

We took the kids to the pool this afternoon.

It was Eryn's second time ever, at the swimming pool.

Aiden's first time.

Eryn was SO excited about going, even before we left the house.

I go swimming, bubby, i go swimming, bubby, I go swimming, bubby, I go swimming, bubby...you get the idea.

Our lil' girl has NO fear. She didn't hesitate, went and walked right into the water up to her chin. She went under a few times and just came up sputtering and wiping her face, that was all.

She'd also get out of the shallow end, walk over the the DEEP end, put herlil' toes right on the edge and stand there (made my heart jump everytime).

 

My mom told me stories of when I was little. I was the same. She took me too a fancy 'pool/garden party, when I was about Eryn's age. I walked right up to the edge of the pool, in my smocked dress, tights, and ringlets curls, and I dove right in like 'superman' , she said. I also sank straight to the bottom. Naturally someone had to jump in after me.

 

Aiden is still a bit too young, in my opinion, to really enjoy the experience. He found it a bit chilly, he was also quickly tired out and just clung to my neck the rest of the time. We'll try it with him, again, when he's freshly 'napped'.

 

When it was time to leave...we literally had to DRAG Eryn out of the pool. She began to cry and though her jaw had begun to 'chatter' she still wanted to go swim. When we were in the change rooms, she repeated, non-stop, until we left the locker room...bubby, I go swimming, bubby I go swimming, bubby I go swimming.  I think she liked it....what do you think??

 

We met Rick there , with his kids Eric & Eva. The guys tried to take the little girls down the water slide, but apparently, they have to be at least 3, to go with an adult. I got to go down the slide twice. THAT was the highlight of my afternoon. It's a great one, sends you into the pitch dark for a few seconds, and lots of speed at the end. I could see why they wouldn't let wee ones on it.  I had to hold onto my top.

Eryn was falling asleep in her seat on the way home. They both fell right into bed when we did get there.

Here's the pics of Gary & Eryn, Rick, Eric & Eva;

 

 

 

Aiden is definately feeling himself again.

Yesterday afternoon, he was unstoppable.

He was into everything, leaving a trail of distruction & chaos behind him.

He was climbing & walking, babbling and squealing away. He found the phone, and showed me he knew what to do with it.

 

I remember Eryn, when she was doing the same thing.

so cute.

Gary's way of dealing with him is different than mine.

He will follow behind him, neatly rearranging the disorder left in his wake.

I, on the otherhand, would rather not do the same chore 15 times a day.

So I will only clean up after him once...after he's napping.

 

Here's some pic's of Aiden, on his scarlet crusade..... to bring drool & disruction to all corners of this humble abode.

 

Sheesh!

This was one TOUGH week!

I'm sure that's for a multitude of reasons.

Eryn has decided she's mommy's little girl now.

It's cute, but I can't even go to the bathroom without her following or looking for me through the house, calling out in her lil' toddler voice:

bubby?,  bubby?, bubby?, Where are you , Bubby?

(she calls me 'bubby' cause she can't say 'm' very well yet)

I go to the bedroom to change or get dressed and she's RIGHT there. She'll follow me everywhere...thru the house. (wish that were true when we're out in public, but that's when she gets 'a mind of her own')

It's also becoming difficult when I need to do something with Aiden, when she's demanding my attention. That's usually when the crying & whining begin.

 

I'm not sure why, but this week the kids have been soooooo whiney.

It seems 60% of my day I'm listening to whining & crying kids. If it's not one, its the other, and sometimes both at the same time.

THAT's when I really start to loose it.

It gets soooo frustrating.

I've tried to spend as much time as possible with them outside, in the parks, and on hikes ( I've hiked a total of 10km over Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, pushing the 2 kids in the stroller, that's about 60lbs at least.)

They don't seem to whine too much then, and it's a good stress release for me.

The warm, sunny, balmy west coast weather here has sure been a bonus.

Too bad it's gonna piss-pour the whole weekend long.

 

Eryn loves going to the park (what kid doesn't) So, no whining to listen there.

We've been exploring central park this week. It sure has a huge awesome playground. Too bad Aiden is still too little to enjoy it. I still have to tow him around, after Eryn.

I got some photo's of us there yesterday.

 

Today, Eryn is in Daycare! YAY I get a short break this morning, then just 1 baby boy all afternoon. A welcome silence has filled the house.

I ALMOST don't know what to do with myself.......almost

;P

 

So, Eryn's little cousin, Justin, had his 4th Birthday party at  Macdonalds, this past Sunday.

Personally, I don't want to have such a thing for my kids, unless they absolutely beg for it and won't be dissuaded.

 

Needlesstosay, it was LOUD, chaotic and a very intense 2 hours.  Aiden wanted to walk around, but with all the kids screaming & tearing, it wasn't very safe for him, so he was restricted to the high chair...poor Boo-Boo  (his nickname...I don't know why). Eryn had a great time, playing and following the other kids. She only sat down to eat for like 2 minutes, before she was off again, that is, until the cake came out. She sat long enough to eat her whole piece.

Aiden got to try a couple french fries, and that was it for him.

 

I got some cute pic's of the kids though......

 

plus a couple extra's of Aiden in 'da house'

After a harrowing day stuck inside with both kids for 12 hours. Gary's arrival home released me from my doldrums.

Last night I went to my first meeting of the 'What the Bleep?' study group.

The movie so inspired me, that after looking thru their website (I have a link to it in my 'useful sites' list), I found that they've organized study groups, and there was a local one.

They meet once a month at a favourite 'ol 'haunt' of mine, The Grind cafe.

 

I enjoy meeting new people, but I was especially excited about meeting this new group of strangers because we're all pursuing the same thing.

The meetings usually last 2 hours, but we were there for 3.

My head was just spinning afterwards, on the way home.

So much information and others experiences to process.

It was an amazingly diverse group of people, and I was one of the youngest there. Interestingly, there were more teachers there than any other profession, but also a comp. tech guy, a baker, an arbor-er,  a student,  and a lady who works in a psy. ward. 

We spent a lot of time discussing destiny -vs- self determination   were one ends and the other starts.

As well , we discussed at great length where ones intent to do something breaks down before it's manifested. And all the steps  in between an intent and it's manifestation.  This lead to a lengthy discourse into what Karma is and how one 'cleans' their karma, so as to better manifest ones intention.

 

It was SUCH a welcome break from 'mommy-hood' yesterday. All I listened to all day was whining babies.

We couldn't go anywhere yesterday, because we're beyond flat broke.

So, need to conserve gas in the car AND it was bloody PISS pouring rain all day long.

Today is much the same, but it isn't pissing, so at least we'll get outside.

 

I hate living pay cheque to pay cheque.

I'm going to look into working nights.

Maybe some tutoring, that pays at least $20/hour...now if only I could get that UNDER the table.....

 

SO

If you haven't seen the Movie  What the BLEEP Do We KNow'...

you REALLY should go rent it.

We look at the world around us with the WRONG set of glasses on.

Our way of seeing the world, is not only WRONG (scientifically) but it's also quite archaic and antiquated.

THIS is the shift in consciousness we all need to make, for our world to survive!

I kid you NOT

go rent it and see what I mean.

We are ALL connected.

 

Eryn & I were out for a walk this weekend.

She loved this new little park. Especially the winding path downhill. She'd march up to the top, then follow it down at a full run.

 

Here's a few cute pics of that.

 

 

Also one of us at the Mall, were they're getting ready for Easter. I sure love my Joovy Stroller. It's perfect for 2 kids close in age like mine.

 

As a new parent, I've been warned many-a-times by 'veteran' parents, who say that they are not at all suprised anymore, by what kids get into, and the strange things they sometimes do.

SO, now that I've seen THIS, I don't think anymore baby poops will gross me out, or make me gag.

Eryn had a 'playdough' poop.

THAT's right

it was BRIGHT neon blue, in between the gross green smelly stuff.

It's a good thing to know that when toddlers EAT playdough, it's actually crapped out by their little bodies  quite quickly.

Eryn was playing with playdough this morning, and was unsupervised for about 5-10 minutes, and that's when she ate her blue playdough. Bout 4 hours later, it's in her diaper.

I was taking her to a playground, and could smell something REALLLLY FUNKY

Did you poopy, Eryn?

no

Did you poopy in your diaper , Eryn?

no <shakes head>

OK, then, I think you did, but if you say no, then I guess you can sit in it .

 

We get to the playground, and I peek inside the back of her diaper, and all I see is blue playdough.

I knew it was something Gary could truely appreciate, so I wanted to leave the 'diapering' to him.

So I got o photo of her playdough diaper, it's not for the squimish.

But I found it hilarious!

WARNING!

 

 

 

Since Aiden is progressively more mobile, I've been venturing to take him places where he's never been before, least not on his own 2 feet.

So I had the kids out on the basketball court, drawing with chalk, and ride'em-push'em toys etc..

Aiden only did one face plant into the cement, and it's oh so mild of a scratch. Guess he was able to 'save himself' to a degree. He took an IMMEDIATE interest in the tricycle. It was funny when he began pushing it around, and it would only go in circle. Hope this is a good sign..his interest in pedal 'vehicles'

 

It's going to take some getting used to, keeping an eye on each mischievous/investigative kidlet. So I may as well start 'practicing' now, so we can venture out to bigger more exciting things.

Here's the pics,

It was a lot warmer than it looks. I was only wearing a t-shirt.

YES

I over dressed my kids, but I figured it was extra padding if they crash on the cement.