Another busy week's gone by.
This is the end of week 3 of kidlet ko-habitation  (hehe) 
The 'routine' is getting better at night, meaning they're not up for 2 hours 'goofing around'. Aiden is still usually the first to fall asleep.

Over the long weekend, I'm going to try  Edies' suggestion of a curtain between the cribs, if they can't SEE each other, perhaps that will decrease the interaction.  Should be easy enough for me to 'whip up'.

 

Nap time together is still problematic. Frustrating for me, because I know if Eryn doesn't nap, then I have a VERY cranky girl to deal with the rest of the afternoon & evening....not so fun at this age...I'm all FOR naps....

 

In other news;

Aiden had his specialists' appt. this week, at Children's Hospital. We saw an Orthopedic specialist. I stripped Aiden down for him, let him run around, then up onto the exam table, where he did his usual 'death rolls'  (like a crocodile) and steer wrestling moves) He's SO squirmy. Finally I got him distracted enough for the Doc to exam the problem. Turns out his leg bone is still twisted from his knee to his ankle, from sitting cross-legged in the womb. Guess he comes by the nickname 'Boo-boo'  for good reason, his feet keep tripping him up. Both Aiden's daddy & uncles had the same problem that required wearing the dreaded; boots & bar. Ironically enough, Mae told me that this DOC (he was an ol' fart) was the SAME Doc that treated Gary & Chris all those decades ago...funny hey? What are the chances? 
Doc  predicted that Aiden would just grow out of it, ... I have my doubts, based on the family history, including my brother too... 
but we are to return in 6 months and have a look again.

Glad I already got the appt. booked...WHEW, the Canadian Medic System...used to be a source of pride for Canadians...now, it's getting shameful.

 

 

Eryn's been talking up a storm..I think she's liking the sound of her own voice, because even with nobody around, she's talking away, playing with her toys, even trying to SING..it's soooo cute to hear.

She'll find any excuse to talk, or engage in conversation. She's enjoying talking to Daddy & Edie on the phone as well. She's ALWAYS asking me....Momma, what's this doing? Which I take to mean..what is this? what does it do? She finds endless things to enquire about..and won't stop repeating the question until I answer her.

She has a hard time with this 'game' when I'm driving...as you can imagine. She's easily using 7-9 word sentences. Blooming into a real chatter box.

Did I mention she's a  'flirt' too? It's so strange to see at such a young age, must be an inherent female trait, as Daddy puts it.

There are definitely some men she will 'flirt' with  in her sweet baby girl way.

She loves  the attention, but if he looks back at her too long, she gets shy and hides behind my hair, or legs, then looks again, just to be sure he's still looking at her....smiling and giggling the whole while. Makes us wonder what we have in store in about 11 years......

No worries, that's a lifetime away from where I'm standing....on THIS side of toddler hood.

 

We've had a blissful week of weather,

and every  morning  my routine includes 'prepping' the kiddie pool with fresh water, and straightening the patio for the afternoon. Eryn usually 'helps' me with this when Aiden's having his morning nap.........yes,

he still enjoying his morning naps....

 

5-6 hours later under the heat of the sun,  the pool water is lukewarm...nearly bath temperature...so this week's routine has been....after pm naps & lunch, hit the pool patio/yard  until Daddy gets home. Then he manages  'poolside' while I return to the kitchen to cook dinner.  So Gary does the bathing in the kiddie pool these evenings...the kids LOVE it   (may as well, they're already nude) then dinner,  then bed.

 

It's a LONG weekend here this weekend, as we celebrate CANADA DAY on July the 1st. This year Canada is  139 yrs old..... While it is something to celebrate, it's not an impressive number....considering so many people in other parts of the world live in  HOUSES that are older than 100 years. 

 

Growing up in America, we celebrated 'independence' (independence/confederation....alll the same) day much differently.

I don't mean to sound like a whiner, but I've always been disappointed in 'Canada day' as compared to America's  '4th of July' 

Which was always a much more patriotic celebration and a REALLY  BIG DEAL, every year...next to Christmas, this was often the favourite holiday. But here in Canada, it's a more modest, even subdued,  celebration, much like everything else in Canada. But, I'm determined as my children grow older , I will teach them to celebrate the anniversary of the independence of their country, the way I was taught to....like it's a REALLY BIG DEAL...because it is!    (whew..that was a really wordy sentence...)

 

Here's a few pool pics from the week, plus some extra stuff......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I remember, even 30 yrs. ago, when we'd be in a certain area of town, my mom would  drive us past this man's house. He was THAT well known to the locals. Now he is WORLD famous, and will be in the history books. He's been world famous for a while, but for different reasons (being the second richest man in the world, for like the past 20 yrs. or so).  I've known about Warren Buffett since childhood. I grew up in 'his' city, Omaha, Nebraska.  My parents would drive us by his house, it was the biggest and most beautiful house I'd ever seen...ok, exaggeration. It was a nice house, but very modest, considering his fortune.  This was back in the day, before security, camera's, terrorists,  and anti-theft devices of all sorts. We could drive right by and see in the windows. His Christmas display was AMAZING.  But what I found MOST amazing...was hearing my parents tell me that HERE was the richest man in the world, and he lived RIGHT here in our town, in THAT house. A child might think that the richest man in the world would live in a Palace or Castle...but not this kid..I saw with my own eyes that the richest man in the world  lived in a house just like mine...well, lil' nicer and bigger, but definitely NOT a palace or castle. It sure gave me a different perspective on money's worth as a child. Interesting to reflect on it now...  Wish I hod the foresight to start investing and saving in my 'teens' like Mr. Buffett did, but I'll sure be teaching my kids to.

 

Anyways, I was SO impressed when I read the news yesterday, about his decision to give the bulk of his wealth to charity...because , really , who needs THAT much money? right?  it gets ridiculous after awhile, doesn't it?

So, Warren Buffett gave his money to the Gates foundation, which I think is an awesome choice because the Gates Foundations' main goal is improving the state of education. Bill Gates believes that America is headed for a crisis more devastating than terrorism...a generation or two or three, maybe even four.. of UNeducated, under educated, sub-educated population. Who will 'run' America then?  At least SOMEBODY is looking out for the interests of the country and this continent, because the bush Administration certainly isn't.

Mr. Buffet is setting an excellent example. He's always been a modest man.

 I applaud Mr. Buffet, and name him my; Hero Of The Month!!!

 

Here's a clip I copied from Google news, describing the     'Oracle of Omaha'

 

 

The headline-grabbing initiative by the billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who has given away a staggering fortune of $37 billion for charity, is testament to the strong notion of philanthropy in the west.

This donation has created, along with Bill Gate's earlier endowment of $ 30 billion, the world’s largest charity. To get a perspective on the size of the endowment, consider this--it is more than the Indian defence budget and the market capitalisation of Reliance Industries put together.

But the money is going to what is the world’s biggest charity, which too was formed by the richest man in the world, Bill Gates, and his wife Melinda. All of them are believers in the idea that it is best to leave large fortunes to philanthropy and charity rather than to one’s children, though of course even the shrunken fortunes are very big indeed.

Known as the "Oracle of Omaha", Buffett has made his fortune on the stock market and millions of investors have tried to follow his market philosophy. But his donation comes from a deep understanding that capitalism has not been fair to the poor. His thoughts may make him unpopular at his country club, but he expresses them nonetheless.

 

 

 

and finally,

here's a link to the Gates Foundation, if your interested in finding out more..

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/default.htm

 

cheers, gonna keep cool today, supposed to reach 34 degrees today...that's getting close to HOT  (38 would be HOT)

This weekend rolled in with 30+ degrees Celsius weather...

that's 90+ for your Fahrenheit freaks

Sunny, muggy & hot

I'm supposin' the 'weather gods' heard me 'complain' and decided to bless us with unseasonably warm start to the summer...either that or there really IS Something to the global warming warning...either way, it's damn NEAR hot!

I wouldn't quite say it's HOT, since you can still seek the pleasant breezy shade of a tree.

I'm lovin it though. The kids have used the kiddie pool everyday. I've stopped taking pool pics because there will just be too many.

I dream of buying one of those nice garden gazebo's a 10'x10' at least..that'd be sweet!

 

I took Eryn to a baby party on Sunday. It was baby Jade's shower. Eryn got to play with lots of new toys and see all her lil' friends...I did too !

Baby Jade took the whole thing like a 'pro' she just slept thru it all. She's sure a 'jewel' that's for sure..a real cutie.

I got a few pics of 'everyone' there and Eryn enjoying herself. Aiden stayed home napping while daddy got to nap too....

 

I'm off to take Aiden to his specialist appt today. Eryn gets to stay with Nana & Papa Bill, she'll love that.

Then some more grocery gathering..try to make it the last time this week...HA   we'll see.  Least the last time before the end of the month.

 

Cheerios, here's some pics from Sunday;

 

 

 

With a title like that,

you might think we found our 'home',

but

helas

After finding yet another 'suitable ' ad, and placing phone calls for appt's...

as I arrived in the neighborhood, at the specified time, for the open house...

I was walking up the driveway with Eryn in hand, and saw that a family before me, also with 2 small kids,  were signing the lease papers.

This place sounded great, the location was awesome, nice neighborhood, but I didn't even get to see inside the duplex, cause it was GONE,

a big fat waste of my time.

It's hard not to feel frustrated and bitter.

I keep doing all the right things, searching the Internet everyday,  for months now, and we still haven't found our new 'home'. 

This one was THIS close.

 

I keep trying to tell myself, when I feel frustrated, that each time I'm getting closer to finding the perfect place....so NEXT time must be the ONE..how much CLOSER can you get?

So, I'm keeping fingers crossed, next week is the end of the month again, so fresh real estate becoming available...hopefully..

we just want a   HOME SWEET HOME,

with 3 bdrms,

5 appliances,

a fireplace,

laundry,

parking,

 storage,

and a fenced garden, with ground lvl access, for the kids to play in.

and the dog too.

 

keep your fingers crossed for us!!!!

 

grrrrrrrr...

 

 

 

 

I've learned the importance of adapting.

So I decided to try letting Eryn fall asleep first, then put Aiden in,

but this time, though exhausted, Aiden woke up Eryn..grrr....

So, no nap for Eryn, but finally Aiden decided to nap, since he was alone in the room.

I took some pictures of the kids outside yesterday, in the yard. Least we have that. Even if it requires intense supervision, I need only step outside, for the kids to play. And thank god for Kiddie Pools. That has provided hours of entertainment already. Aiden is nearly independent getting in & out of it. But still requires supervision otherwise he tries to walk down the slide & up it....which isn't so bad, cause he falls on his tummy & slides in.

 

Next week is the end of the month again, so I will be furiously scouring the Internet looking for our home. Eryn is ALWAYS asking to be outside now, from the minute she wakes up, literally, and even when we put her to bed, she'll still ask.... I go outside? I want go outside!

SO, I'm asking & hoping that we'll find our home soon...remember it has a ground level walk out garden from the living room, to the deck, then to the garden. So I can remain inside, cooking, cleaning, laundering, sorting, chatting, Internet surfing, tidying, choring away, while still keeping an eye on the kids playing safely right outside the door...how wonderful that would be for all of us

 Keep your fingers crossed for us.

 

 In other news..

We're planning on having a 'fire pit' session in the yard this weekend.

When we tried it last year, the fire dept. arrived (after neighbor complaints)...found us and our smoke, saw what we were up to, and asked..so where's the hot dogs? We said, stupidly..what hot dogs? they said..you know..your hot dogs...they must be here...still not cluing in we said, no we already ate.. then they responded,, well next time, be sure to bring your franks, but now you'll have to put it out, as it's not used for cooking. So, this time I got salmon burgers! and we'll call the fire dept to inform them ahead of our whining neighbors.

It's the closest we can get to 'camping'; and even then, these days, they won't even let you have a fire while camping... least not latter in the summer.

 

There's also a big swap meet this weekend I want to visit. Just hoping to hitch a ride out with someone. I still say it's the best place to buy kids stuff...why buy all new, when you use something for 2 months of whatever? Then long to be rid of it?

 

Hope everyone enjoys the first weekend of the summer! here's the pics I took, they should be a bit entertaining...

Summer has officially arrived,  and in typical B.C. fashion, it's a breezy, partly cloudy day, where the temp is striving to reach 20degrees.

Aiden's been fighting the 'sniffels' for a couples days now, so Nana agreed to take him for a few hours, so Eryn & I could go to our 'Mommy Meetup Grp'

The playground we met up at  was THE MOST fantabulous playground I have ever seen for toddlers. Eryn was on the go the entire time. It was completely fenced in too, so I didn't have to worry about her wandering off, and I got to spend alot of time chatting with the other mommys. Eryn's lil' friend Jordan was there, she was SO adorable, go a cute picture of her. The weather was delightful and Eryn busied herself for a full 2 hours. She only stopped once, when I offered her a drink and some strawberries, she devoured the entire container, and was then OFF again. I got some pictures of some of the group of us. Lori made some yummy chocolately mashmallow thingys and a nice sugar rush was had by all.  I also got a picture of me holding baby Amy, Lori's lil' baby girl.I can't wait to return to this playground, for a longer period of time. 2 hours wasn't enough.

 

I was hoping to come straight home and put them both down fro the afternoon nap,

BUT

now that they share a room, sometimes it works wonderfully, and others times it's a nightmare.

This afternoon is one of those times where it's a nightmare. Eryn doesn't want Aiden to sleep, so she screams at him, then he wakes, and starts to cry, she laughs, then he's 'awake' again, and they play, and laugh, until he's tired again and wants to sleep, then Eryn screams at him again, and he cries and screams back. 

UGH
I long for 3 bedrooms!

I am hoping the universe will answer my request!

Keep you fingers crossed for us!

 

 

Here's the pic's of the Best Playground around!

 

By this Wednesday it will officially be summer.

Now, where I grew up, summer was,...summer.

 It was SUPER hot, muggy, sweaty, steaming, blast furnace type of smothering heat, the worst part was that it seldom cooled off at nighttime. To live there in the summer without air-conditioning , was near living in hell.

 

Summers' in B.C. took me a long while to get used to. I used to yearn for heat waves. But the summer weather here is mild, breezy, and nearly, quite literally, bug-free..least the bugs we worry about most..the biting ones. Compared to where I grew up , there are NO bugs in this city. Naturally, there is the odd mosquito bite. But they don't swarm you, at dusk, the moment you step outside.  If you head off into the mountains and back country here, you'll find all the nasty, biting bugs you could want, just here in the 'valley' they are few in number. That makes for a very pleasant outdoorsy summer nightlife. But, finally, after 12 yrs of living here, I've accepted the fact that as soon as the sun sets over the mountains, you gotta pull on your sweater, no matter how warm it was during the day (notice I didn't say HOT, cause I've seldom ever experienced a HOT day here...Up in the interior, you can find HOT, like the Fraser River canyon will get easy 40 degrees  (that's over 100 fahrenheit for you backward folk). )   It's taken a while, my body seems more  predisposed to handling the heat better than handling the cold.  B.C. summers are delightful, it's like perpetual spring, for 6 months....then it gets dark and rainy here for the other 6 months...  j/k...sorta

 

This morning Jenn phoned and suggested we meet up at a local playground, one that Eryn hadn't been to yet. She's ALWAYS eager to go outside or to the playground.. so by 9am we were out the door.

It was a gorgeous breezy morning. I had forgotten that when you are near the ocean here (unless it's REALLY warm) the breeze is always chilly. The only jackets I had handy were nice girly ones. So in the pictures, the child with the bright pink jacket on, is actually my son Aiden.

The setting was beautiful. We saw Bald Eagles fly over us too, but my camera wasn't quick enough to catch them. The breeze carried them right off. The cloud formations you see in the pictures are very typical here. The mountains in the background ore on the North Shore, or North Vancouver, where we are planning on moving back to. Many folks around here aren't as fond of the North Shore, because the steep mountains there are notorious 'cloud catchers', so there is inevitably MORE rain there, than in other areas of this damp corner of the continent. From the Vancouver side, there are only 2 bridges that connect the north to the rest of the mainland. You can see one of them in the background too, it's the 2nd Narrows Bridge.  You can also see some tugboat going out for duty. If you look carefully you can see that the tide is rapidly 'going out'  and the inlet looks more like a river at tidal change.  

 

We enjoyed the playground for near 2 hours, when I packed them in the van, and headed back to my part of town.  I only managed to get one photo of Jenn pushing Julianna & Eryn on the swings..   Steph & Lauren and Gabby and Aiden and Sirius were there as well.

I had my dental check up today, so Nana & Papa Bill had the kids, while the dental hygienist took out her frustrations on my poor aching gums.  As soon as that was over, I raced back across town  (hehe, town, a metropolitan area of near 3 million) hoping that I could reach Nana & Papa Bills house before  nap time set in.

Nana was a STAR at keeping them up  (thanks Mae & Bill). So they were gone from the house ALL morning and part of the afternoon. They've been napping for 1hr 45 already...they're worn out...LOVE IT

 

ok, so I'll go rinse my aching mouth with more salt water...while you look at the pics.....where's my motrin???

 

 

Today Eryn had her first regular dental check-up.

We took her there 6 months ago, for her first exam. She was a bit too young still,  so wasn't very cooperative.

 

I was SO proud of her this time.

She was amazing!

 

The staff at the dental clinic we go to, are very good as well (this will be the third generation of Gary's family to go there).

Eryn loved the dental chair. The Hygenist  let her play in it a bit first (up, down, back forth, up , down).

 Then,  she got her bib on, and laid all the way back in the chair. The staff loved her sunglasses. I said they were her idea this morning (as was the dress..as usual). The dentist was impressed and said; well, they'll come in handy because I'm turning the big light on now.

 

He got a GOOD look at her teeth this time. He said they looked great.

 I asked about them, cause she doesn't have the nice white pearly 'chicklet' teeth (you know, the little squares of white gum)

I always thought her teeth looked like monster teeth, because they're all a bit pointy, and there are such big gaps between her teeth.  The dentist told me, on the contrary...you WANT the baby teeth to have gaps between them. The bigger the gaps now, the more room for adult teeth later  = less chance of needing braces.

SO , needlesstosay, I'm now rather fond of her little monster teeth.

So, she got them checked, really well cleaned , no need to floss since there is so much space between teeth.

I got some pictures of her at her first real dental check up.

My little girl is growing up.

 

 

 

 

I don't even know where to start today....

It's been a busy week,

and a sad week.

 

I got a letter last night, from my real father's sister, informing me that my dear Uncle Bud had died.

She said that the birthday card & pictures I sent to him, got forwarded, and that's how she got my address. My dear Uncle Bud had died in APRIL, and I'm only finding out in June.

I felt soooo sad, so left out.

Uncle Bud was the last of my real father's family that I kept contact with. He was the oldest of my dad's siblings. He and his wife, Rosie, were like an extra set of Grandparents for me. My Aunt Rosie died several years ago, now finally Uncle Bud is gone too. My father had a large family, and I'm sure of all the nieces and nephews around, my brother & I were his favorites. I would always send my Uncle Bud photos of us, and he'd proudly show them off to the rest of my dad's family.  My father died in 1989. He was the youngest of all the siblings and the first to die. Now there are only 3 of the 6 left.  My Uncle Bud was a WWII hero, received the Purple Heart for his heroic deeds in the tank division he was with, in Germany. He told me a few stories of 'back then' and gave me some of his war souvenirs, like the Nazi Money and such.  I know he was very lonely the past few years after losing his wife. I'm happy for him that they can be together again, but sad for me, that I lost my Uncle Bud, and yet another member of my family. Very sad news...

 

I wish I had a digital photo of him to post, but until we get a scanner, that ain't happening.

 

 

WE got a call Sunday night from the talent agent,  they wanted Eryn for another audition the next day.

So today, we arranged with Nana to take Aiden for a bit, while I zipped downtown for her audition for Fisher Price commercial. As usual I wasn't allowed in the  filming studio..but I did peek in, and they had some weird looking tigger & Pooh toys. She's never been uber keen on Pooh Bear, so not sure how she did, but she was excited to go in. I explained to her what would happen and she didn't want to wait her turn. Every time the door opened, and the 'wrangler' came out for the next one, she'd try and get past to get into the studio. We'll see how she did, if we get a call back next week.

 

Daddy's work was just a few blocks away, so we dropped in for a visit afterwards. Eryn got to see her Uncle Chris too, because he works right beside his brother. Gary was pretty busy at work, so we didn't stay long. Gary came to help me load her in the car, and brought a lil package along for me.  It was supposed to be a surprise, but Gary's notoriously lousy at keeping surprises, so I found out that he was getting me a new monitor through work. Being married to an IT nerd has it's perks. Now I have a GORGEOUS 19" flat monitor..not just the screen, the WHOLE thing is flat. I can't get over the vast ocean of desk top space I have..I don't know what to do with it just yet.  I can feel how much my eyes appreciate it already.

My mom died a year and a half ago. I'm still missing her something fierce. I don't know how many years it will feel like this..I don't want to know.

It was such rotten timing, that she died, just as she became a grandmother. Aside from my childhood, I need her more than ever now... instead, there's just a void, and a sharp stinging ache in my throat, that moves up to my eyes, and comes out as tears, when I think of her..

I've said so many times, since having my own kids, that nothing makes you appreciate your parents MORE than having your own kids.

Now both my babes are full on into toddler hood, a most adorable age. They do such amazing things, and like any proud mommy, I want to tell the WORLD how amazing my kids are. Most new moms share this excitement with their own moms & dads, spending countless hours retelling stories of every facet of baby's life.

Who else would want to hear that stuff anyways?  

 

I miss my mom.

Now, more than ever, as both kids are developing SO fast. It's such a pleasure, usually, to watch them interact, brother & sister, separated by a mere 13 months in age. I can't help but feel 'gypt' or 'robbed' having lost my mother at this stage in my life. She would have treasured my children, I would have LOVED  to watch her with them.

sigh

 

what can replace that?

nothing

so, I'm learning to grieve..

it sucks...

 

 

Aside from my long lost girlfriend wanting to see pictures of me...current pictures of me...

I noticed, that as the 'family photographer' I'm seldom IN any of the 'shots'.

SO

In an attempt to recitfy that

AND
to prove that while being a semi-depressed full-time mommy of two, I still don't look like NO 37..even with no make-up or hair 'done'

SEE:

(NO smart-ass comments Uncle Glenn!!!!!!!)

I 'found' a very old friend of mine, again, after losing touch for about 12 years!

Shamim & I went to university together, back in Nebraska. One of my few friends at the time that had broader horizons than just 'Omaha'.  We both got married at a young age, to a man named 'John', but not the same man, just a coincidence. We both divorced too...hehehe

Anyways, I remember she went East, as in Boston. And I went father east..as in east to Europe. That's when we lost touch.

Shamim knew a few of my friends in Omaha, and just recently, while back visiting her brother, she  ran into my Thai friend Ek, at a local pub. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES??  I don't believe anything is 'random'

So, they got to catch up a bit, and Ek got me in touch with her again.

YAY

Shamim called me yesterday and we spent Aiden's entire nap time attempting to fill in 12 yrs. of where & what.

I was so impressed to hear that she's gotten her master's degree in Education..from Harvard...whew!

She's living in Miami now, with her Mexican Fiance. I tried convincing her to move to or at least 'check out' Vancouver, since they are interested in moving internationally. What a nice 'daydream' that is, imagining them moving here and settling in! I've known Shamim since I was in my EARLY 20's...like 22..I think it was..

I may not have gotten my 'masters' yet, but I've had my 2 kids ..and she's just thinking of starting now..hehehehe

 

I HAD to post of pic's of her...cause she looks so darn fabulous!

Here's a couple pics of her and Jose on holiday in Egypt.

David & Isabella made their weekly play visit today. We also asked Jenn, Julianna & baby Gaby over to play too.

I got the pool ready, swim suit, towels, sun screen, etc..

David brought watermelon, soda & croissants. Plus we even had chocolate cake & ice cream, on deck , if needed.

The gorgeous B.C. weather was the cherry on the cake.

 

Isabella wasn't too keen on the splash & play, but I got some cute photo's of  Isabella, Eryn & Aiden playing inside. All 3 of them were jumping on the couch together.

very cute.

 

Aiden is developing SO rapidly lately.

He's a vocal mimic, and while he can't form words yet, he can most certainly imitate the sounds of words.

He watches EVERYTHING his sister does, and tries his best to keep up with her...whether it's climbing on top of things, toys being played with, movie being watched, running thru the house..he's her shadow in all things. I suppose since his 'role model' is always on FULL THROTTLE..I suppose he will be too..he's certainly headed in the same direction.

 

David & Isabella left early, or Jenn & her gang arrived late..depends on how you look at it. But there was as short time when all 4 toddlers were playing around together.

Seeing Jenn with her wee little baby, in the summer (nearly) by our pool, made me think SO MUCH of myself last year (same scenario, only I had the wee little baby).

I'm so glad that year is over...it was a tough one.

I told Jenn I remember breaking out in a sweat every single day, even doing the most menial of things because as a mom of 2 you are multi-tasking so many things, you can't help but sweat.

 

I SO know where she is..all I could say to her is that it goes by quickly.

 

And it does,

just one short year, and Aiden is nealry independent enough to require minimal supervision..in a controlled environment.

Both he & Eryn played together in the pool for a long time. Aiden fell out a few times, its unfortunate about all the concrete...but.. he learns quick, and by next year, I'll be laughing. I can just them them out to play and sit down to drink a tea and chat with a friend..as opposed to doing my 'game show' routine (this is also assuming we will have moved, by then, into our sweet new place, with a garden )

 

I got some great pics of Julianna , Eryn & Aiden.

I even pulled out the sprinkler for the girls. Though I think the dog had more fun with the sprinkler than the kids did. Then they also discovered the 'water pot'  in the yard, where our landlord is going to build a 'water feature'. For now the kids are allowed to play in the pot, and play they did.

Is there a Guinness record for number of toddlers in a plant pot?

Cause we fit 3.

After more than 2 hours of pool fun in the sun. All the kids went to their respective beds and had a good sound long deep nap.

YAY

here's the pic's:

 

I got to go Mtn. biking today for the first time in nearly 3 years...since I was 2 months pregnant with Eryn.

THANKS JENN (she let me borrow her 'big' bike)

My sister-in-law is now 'getting into' biking , so I took her and her friend down a trail on Seymour Mtn. today.

I thought I might be in some kind of condition to do it, since I push the bloody 60+lb stroller everywhere...

But I had to stop a few times from exhaustion. It might sound easy, to just ride a bike DOWN the mountain..but there is ALOT more to it than that...

there's riding over all the slippery exposed roots, rocks, boulders, downed trees, steep inclines..so you are standing on the pedals the whole time, with your butt usually BEHIND the seat and your arms aching from the beating the elbows and forearms take due the the roughness of the trail.

THANK GOD for hydraulic disc brakes!

but even then, hands get cramps from squeezing handle bars and brakes.

so, it's not as easy as just coasting downhill.

 

Jenn (my sis-in-law) and her friend Theresa did pretty well for first timers!

everyone made it safely down the trail..

we were riding out the 'exit' trails, that feed into the old logging roads, and Jenn's lame-ass borrowed bike (that wasn't meant for that kind of riding) stuffed it on a rock and the handlebars twisted out of her hands, and then came the 'endo'

short for  end-over-end.

she flew over her handle bars bounced on the rocky road and landed on her back.  Her bike started the plunge down the embankment toward the creek.

She ripped up her new biking shirt, got some nice road rash on her side and a nice rock that tried to embedded itself in her elbow.

LUCKILY, it was at the end of the trail, so she was able to 'coast' out and down the road.

After that spill, it would only be ONE trip down the mtn. for the day.

 

We sorted out cars, bikes and who goes where (some friends dropped by to help, who were also biking that day) Then Theresa took Jenn to the hospital to get stitches and to ensure she didn't separate her shoulder.

 

Aside from Jenn's unfortunate fall..I had a wicked time riding. I LOVE 'Neds' trail. I just BOMBED down sections of it..just like old times...lovin the adrenaline kick!!

hootin & hollerin the way down. I did a few of the old built up stunts I used to ride. It was so great to be back in the saddle again.

We got home and eventually got the kids fed and to bed and now I'm so BONKED!!!

soreness and fatigue are taking over my limbs and my 'bonk' headache hasn't left yet and I can't believe how saddle sore my butt is from ONE ride!

Least I know that pain goes away the more you ride.

 

Just one ride down the mountain and I get bonked  (that means over exhausted, desperately in need of water or food, coupled with the light headed dizzy sorta feeling and being outta breath)

 

THAT used to only happen to me after a FULL day at Whistler Bike Park...

oh well..baby steps..

It was awesome I loved it I can't wait to go again!!!!!

 

here's the pics

Congradulations Carla & Ken on the safe arrival of your first baby!  (31 May 2006)

A little girl they named Jade Evita.

Now that America's Next Top Model is over for the season, I will try NOT to think of 'Jade' from THAT series, when I meet new baby Jade.

 

Glad everything went smoothly for you both!

Welcome to the world of sleep deprivation and a lifetime of worry & fret...

as well as grey hairs!  hahaha

Another Gemini in the 'pack'...happy with THAT! :)

Can't wait to meet her!

 

Here's a pic I 'stole' from Tia.

 

before going to bed last night, I caught the late night Canadian news.

I know everything on TV must be taken with a grain of salt..but what I saw was very interesting..

 

First there  was a report on the American marines in Iraq and the pending murder charges for the massacre(s) that was(were)  covered up.

(my initial thought to this report was..wait a second? isn't this war? and just because America signed the Geneva Convention...doesn't mean the Iraqis will 'follow it'...there really are no 'rules' to war..that's why it's  'war' )

but anyways..there is an investigation pending, on American Marines 'murdering rampage' overseas..

 

Later there was a report on the Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, and the problems they are encountering..

now, as far as I understand, it's much the same sort of fight, against 'terrorists', 'insurgents' 'rebels'  etc... But the problem the Canadian soldiers are having is;  turning over their prisoners to Afghan authorities, knowing full well, many of the prisoners would be immediately executed, or at least tortured. This act of knowingly turning over prisoners to such a fate, is apparently against the Geneva convention as well. So the Canadian soldiers are concerned with being prosecuted (internationally) for turning over prisoners for execution/torture. They showed a field video of such an occurrence, where afghan authorities wanted to take a prisoner , to execute, and the Canadian soldiers are phoning their superiors..WHAT DO WE DO? THEY WANT TO TAKE HIM and KILL HIM RGHT HERE?

In the end, they had to surrender their prisoners to the Afghan's, it's the legal agreement Canada has with Afghanistan.. 

 

but the difference in the two reports..are WORLDS APART.

don't you think?

typically Canadian..

we don't want to step on anybody toes...

ask LOTS of questions first, fill out the reports, get approval

..then consider shooting..

 

whereas American mentality still seems to be..shoot first, ask later..

 

interesting..no?

 

We went to Ikea today.

David & Isabella joined us.

We were looking for something to do with the kids for the morning, something cheap and inside.

I suggested Ikea...I wanted to get the guard rails for Eryn's 'big girl bed' anyways.

 

We strolled thru a bit of the showroom..only to the part where the kids' bedrooms are. Then I let Eryn & Aiden loose. Eryn loves climbing thru the display rooms and beds etc..

Isabella and she had a great time trying out all the different chairs, beds, kids tables, kid toys etc..

It wore both of them out..eventually. After cruising thru the marketplace..( and Eryn yelling  'MARKETPLACE, MARKETPLACE')  we ended the Ikea adventure at the cashiers.

I got my 2 bed rails and a sweet lil beach/park mat with a built in back support..snazzy, ikea style..

 

We got home, went strait for naps..and after they both finally got up

(I've gotten Aiden down to 1 nap a day for the past week....woot woot woot!!!)

I installed the bed rails and replaced the rainbow canopy top. Eryn was sooo excited about having her 'big girl bed' all ready to go again. We'll see if she actually sleeps in it tonight..she spent a lot of time playing in it this afternoon.