I'm BACK!?

When the kids get sick...which sometimes seems to be monthly, especially when they are in school. The germs go from child to child and then to the parents!! Although it seems that only I get it...my husband bypasses a lot of the sicknesses...mostly because he works LONG hours and outdoors. This past cold was minor with the kids. Minor as in no one wakes during the night to complain of a sore throat, fever, vomiting, plugged nose and just feeling miserable to the point where sleeping on Mommy feels better! It was a simple cold.....one night they go to bed, the next morning they have the sniffles...that's it!

When I got it...BAM...this is my first day feeling more like me, normal to some degree.....and this is day 8 of the cold. This is the first day of not taking Advil or DayQuil....I was starting to feel like a junky...gotta pop pills to feel better! I had a sore throat for a week...and it wasn't normal...it was like I swallowed a ball and it hurt to swallow....and I still haven't slept through the night....but at least the kids didn't get it!! So I shouldn't complain!!

So....that's what happened to me...in case you were wondering?? It was hard and is hard...you cant call in sick as a parent...somehow you have to muster on, and try to get the job done. Perhaps bedtime for the kids come earlier and relying on Hubby becomes more of a NEED. I am thankful that when Matt came home from working 12 hours...he slapped on his Daddy Hat quickly and got to what needed to be done. Thank YOU!!

Now that I am back(kinda)....I am ready to clean this HOUSE from top to bottom, sort and organize...reclaim my HOME...and start baking more often. The one thing with being sick and loosing my sense of smell and taste...you loose weight...cause really, who wants to eat something that you cant taste...there is no FUN in that!! Eating was boring!! I'm still waiting for my taste and smell to come back....I'm blocked solid! Just letting you know! LOL!

Understanding GREY HAIRS!!

This morning, while putting my hair in a ponytail, standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom, I noticed something....a new grey hair! Come on!!! (Its bad enough that I have my Aunt pointing out to me the age that I will be this year...OMG...seriously..I don't think I will be that AGE, what happened?? But that's another BLOG.) I have a few more grey hairs...and I know there are some that welcome this change, a sign of maturity, dignity...BUT NOT ME...I run and hide and cry over a new grey hair....I still feel 16!! What has happened?? While trying not to focus on the grey hair that is sticking right out(why is it that all greys kinda go kinky??) I thought about why I was getting them.  Then it came to me...it was because of my children!! Did I have greys before kids?? NO!! One of the downsides to having children!!! That and stretch marks(but again that is another BLOG)!!

While washing my face, it started to come together...the thought process of grey hair. We get our first grey during pregnancy, more around the time when we realize that THAT BABY has to come out of THERE....after seeing videos at those birthing classes. I have to admit...Matt and I went for the first child...I freaked out when seeing pics for the first time and hearing and reading what was going to happen to me. It was then that I realized, perhaps we didn't think this whole thing through....could we turn back the clock...please!!! We even skipped the last class....we knew what was going to happen and we paid just over three hundred dollars to be terrified??? So that is the story of the FIRST grey hair. During the birthing process you receive a few more grey hairs....come on...who wouldn't!! My kids were 10 pounds and 12 ounces, 11 pounds and 6 ounces and the last child was an even 10 pounds....so yah...I got some more grey hairs!!! AND they weren't C-Sections...naturally and the epidurals were late!!!

So with three kids, two of which are boys...I am bound to get some more grey hair. Then throw in a husband(cause all us ladies know that our husbands can be kids at times.....and we love them dearly!!)...I'm bound to have my share of grey hairs. Now this new grey hair....it came last night after spending an hour trying to help Josh, my six year old, do his Math homework.....and it was only addition!!! We got to the point where I knew he was finished when I asked him, "what is 2 plus 4?" and he was using all his fingers to count and answered, "14?" AND it just wasn't simple adding...the teacher was doing a different way of adding, counting by tens...which honestly, I don't know why she did this, whats wrong with the old way of adding 22 + 42....that's where Josh was getting lost and I was ready to RUN to the LCBO to quench my frustration!! BUT he finally saw a small light of understanding......and we left it at that!!!

So that's where the NEW grey hair came from. I have three kids, two which are boys....I am afraid that I'll be totally grey by the end of Grade 8. I'm scared to see what high school brings...but by then, I would have bought shares in L'Oreal Hair Colouring and I wont care. But right now...when I feel too young for the greys....it makes me sad....and I settle for blaming the kids....which in turn they feel bad and give me extra hugs!!  So all in all.....everything kinda works out!

PS. DON'T tweeze your greys....they just come back...coarser and kinkier!!

January Blues.....

They say that the third Monday in January is the worst...for various reasons, mostly cause our Credit card bills come pouring in...everything we did from the Holiday Season is reflected on that statement. Perhaps it is then, as we go over it, we realize that a certain so and so didn't really deserve that gift, especially if they only got you a spatula...that's right, I got a spatula from someone!!! Next year, they are down graded to a generic gift..perhaps soap!

January also has COLD, miserable weather.  We are back in routines and are coming off our high from the Holidays(now what am I suppose to do?)  And the next holiday that we have to look forward to is Family Day(and that's if you live in Ontario...and that's in February). So other than that Holiday and waiting for Spring....we try our best to get through the cold, dreary months.  Which for me, means improving on our home...and buying flowers!!! Flowers can cheer me up quickly....a burst of bright colours placed about...reminding me of Summer!

I LOVE these flowers and the colours!!

After we got a rug for the living room....it was time to change the wall colour...gotta match!!! After watching HGTV, and having various paint samples taped to the wall, I chose a colour...actually it was down to two colours and Josh chose the one I was liking, but I just couldn't choose it...but Josh did, so that confirmed my choice was right! We chose Luminary Yellow...normally I don't pick a colour from the yellow family for the living room...but something drew me to it...perhaps it reminded me of Spring and Summer....its light and cheery and goes great with the furniture. Now its all done!!! (Except for the curtains.)

I love my living room....slowly the HOME is becoming what I want. The kitchen and the rest of the rooms are complete...it was just the living room and our bedroom(I still want some romantic elements in there, but not girly, don't want to scare Matt). Now...I am just waiting for the curtains...back ordered....they are energy efficient...soon I can block out the WINTER months and focus on the sunny, light living room......waiting for Spring!!!

Its a VENT...sorry...its bothering me BUT....

I picked up Josh from school this afternoon. Living up north, its been turning cold all throughout the day, and ice seems to be everywhere(I haven't seen a sander/salter truck).  There is a crosswalk from the school to the side street, signs are posted.  We got to the end of the sidewalk, and like I taught MY kids, they stopped and LOOKED both ways. There was a pick up trucking coming along....it did not look like they were speeding at all...so we were going to wait for him to past or for him to stop(some cars still don't stop and keep going, never making eye contact with you...seriously...is it that much trouble for you to stop, and let kids cross??) We were waiting, when all of a sudden a kid comes running out to cross the road. The truck screeched and swerved down a side road...not to hit the kid. The driver then turned around and gave the kid a dirty look. The mother who was walking up the road, listening to her IPOD...didn't know what happened.

I had to say something to the Mother....she should know...tell her son about stopping and looking both ways...cause neither of them cared. So I told her...not blaming her son...but just explained how he just missed the truck. Her reply, " yah the roads are bad, the driver should be going slower." WHAT!!!!!! It was your kid who didn't look!! I just shut my mouth and walked on.....I then explained to Josh what just happened and expressed passionately how you have to stop, before crossing any street!! He understood and so did Katie!!! PLEASE PARENTS TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO LOOK BOTH WAYS!! I could have witnessed something more serious than it was!! It is still bothering me how this parent blamed the driver.........

Friday the 13th!!

I don't know about you...but I am not superstitious. Black cats, walking under a ladder, broken mirror, shoes on the table....I don't really believe in that. I see nothing wrong with a black cat. I wouldn't walk under a ladder, what if it fell...its a safety issue...especially if someone is up the ladder....duh!! Broken mirror....it only means a BIG mess that I have to clean up and I might end up cutting my finger....and the way things are going at times, I must be breaking a mirror daily..LOL! And shoes on the table...eeew....well that's just a health issue, don't put anything dirty on a table!! Common sense people!! So...as you can tell...I really don't believe in Friday the 13th stuff.....however, just in case...I'll stay home...not go anywhere except to pick up Josh from school......cause you never know.....BUT I don't believe in that sort of stuff!!! Do YOU!? 

UGH.....I just remembered that I have to go out tonight, do our weekly shopping....perhaps Matt wants to come(he can drive)......CAUSE I don't believe in that Friday the 13th stuff...not one little bit!!

Various things and the update on the KD Challenge!!

Well it has been a LONG week of sorts. Various issues has arised...some I wish to leave behind...almost like placing trash at the curbside and waiting for the garbage man to come around and take it away with him...if only!! Wouldn't life be easier...place all your worries, troubling issues, poisons of sorts at the curbside and wave good bye to them, as the muscular, unshaven, dirty sanitation worker hauls the bin in the hopper...and drives away to the next house, to collect their worries...life would be easier! As the New Year approached I thought to myself, cause I really don't make resolutions, I would clear my life of worries and issues that can make one sick.....I'm still trying to cleanse myself...I guess it can be a long process! I shouldn't focus on others...just focus on MY LITTLE FAMILY...cause in the end that's all that matters.....why cant I though??

Wouldn't it be AWESOME to move, pack up all your belongings, head out to another province...I suppose though, we would need a job first...then find a place to live!! But I can dream!!

As for the KD Challenge.....it is only week two and I am tired of KD. So we adapted our challenge to make it all pasta(or try too)...pasta is fast and easy and cheap and so many things can be added to it....right!? And we threw in rice too....why not mix it up a little!! (Although not rice and pasta mixed together.)The kids haven't complained, nor has the Hubby...so I guess things are OK!! AND you can make HUGE pots of this stuff!! And when in doubt...after the kids have eaten and I cant stomach KD anymore, I'll have a bowl of good old Cheerios...I LOVE Cheerios!!! Although we do cheat on the weekend..since we are all home....I'll make nice meals. So its KD/pasta/rice through the week...and nice meals on the weekend!! That's OK...right!!?

So here we go....getting ready for week three of KD and sorts.......gulp! I think though that Katie is getting tired of KD...she keeps asking me "when is it Summer?" Just a few more weeks Katie.....just a few more weeks!! LOL!

A Day of ME!!

As parents, after the Holiday rush and schedules returning to normal...we need a day of ME!! That is what I'm doing today...a day of ME...what do I want to do!? Two kids are in school and its just me and Alex(who doesn't count, cause I can put on his favourite movies and I can putter around, doing what I want to do). Its FINALLY here...ME DAY!!! All the chores are finished .  The house is clean and tidy. There is nothing more for me to do. I can't do laundry, I must wait till after 7pm(cheaper rates) so I must focus on catching up with shows!! Thats right.... I will be watching TV SHOWS that I PVR'd a few weeks ago!! I am in my PJ bottoms...kettle is on and I will be watching a marathon of Coronation Street!! It has been a long time coming. And I feel GREAT!!

I hope that YOU too can find that day to be a "ME Day"..and do what you want. Even read half a book with a BIG mug of tea, a long hot, bubble bath, or watching a favourite old movie. Call up an old friend that you haven't spoken to in ages....and just chat..just be! We as parents deserve a day of ME!! It helps us to be better parents!

So....enjoy your day...cause I will...at least till 3pm....then reality comes back when I have to pick up the darling kiddies....Cheers!!