There are many important dates in my life. Today is one of those days. February 27, 1992 a little girl was born. A little girl who would become my step daughter; a daughter of my heart, if not my body.
I never anticipated that I would love this little girl like a daughter. Sure, I always knew that I loved her, it was impossible NOT to love her. What shocked me was the depth of that love. The day I saw her driving away in a taxi with my mother-in-law after a short visit to us in Eastcoastville, I felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest. I was devastated to see her leave. A mama-bear exploded in me and I wanted to scream “Come back with my BABY!!”
Her family accepted me, included me, allowed me to play a part in her childhood and her future. While I would never presume to be her mother, they allowed me to love her like a daughter.
With her huge brown eyes, button nose and toothy smile, she was the picture of adorable. There was no denying who she was when she sat beside Hubster’s mother. She was a miniature version of her. She was sharp as a tack, full of witty humour, the pickiest eater ever, and probably the most diplomatic person I’ve ever met. Because of her grace and open heart and in spite of an unconventional situation; we all got along. Grandparents, parents, step parents; together we loved her. Together, we tried to give her our best. Because of her, we became a family.
Then, on the next date; May 31, 2003, the unimaginable happened. In a tragic accident, she died at the age of 11. And though, there is so much more than just that to the story, it’s not the day to talk about it.
Every year on February 27, we make her favourite meal: spaghetti. We sing happy birthday to her at the top of our lungs and enjoy a slice of chocolate cake in her honour. It’s never as good as that made by her favourite great grandmother, but good enough. We talk about her, we think about her, we laugh and we remember her life. We acknowledge how she’s touched our lives and shaped the paths that we’ve chosen. She laid the foundation for the kind of mother that I am to Mouse and Baboo and for that, I will forever be grateful.
Today she would have turned 17. And although she would have been on the cusp of adulthood, even if she was still with us, to a parent, even a step parent, she’ll always be our little girl.
Happy Birthday, M. We miss you. Know that we always love you.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Ralph
So, after reading Becprint's post about Ralph from Ralph’s World, I was reminded of how much we enjoy his music and how much we needed something new to listen to. We’ve worn the Mama Mia cd OUT. Yikes.
While at the library earlier this week, I found a couple of his cd’s to borrow. For the ride home, we loaded one into the cd player in the car. As is usually the case for me, my nerves feel jarred when listening to something new, only because I’m not familiar with it. However, most of the time, by the second listening, I’m finding a new groove.
Well… the Happy Lemons cd is now PERMANENTLY recorded into my brain. The kids keep asking for the songs over and over again and we’ve all, including Baboo, been singing the Happy Lemons song all day. And that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I mean really, with these lyrics, how I could be sad? (and am strangely craving lemonade which I normally don’t like)….
Happy lemons for happy days
Happy people with smiling faces
Happiness is a glass of lemonade
Le-mon-ade in the shade
Eve-ry-one loves lem-on-ade
Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalala lemonade….
See? Aren’t you happy? Don’t you wish for a hot sunny day and a nice big glass of cold lemonade with a straw and a little umbrella to sip while you sit in the shade of a big tree? You should. If not, sing the song about 25 more times and you will. Oh yes, believe me, you will.
There’s a few songs on the cd that have a bit of a Beatles flair to them and one that sounds vaguely like Crowded House, probably one of my all time favourite bands. Its’ fun music that isn’t too “kiddie” or tinkley (some kids music sounds very plinky and tinkely and circus-y– I’m not sure how else to describe it, except, well, annoying!). Some of the lyrics are really funny. Even if I didn't have kids, I might have to listen to this cd.
Mouse loves the crazy song about Belly Buttons. Baboo just keeps saying “wawawawa wemons”. We’re in a groovin’ mood here today. And maybe I’ll join Becprints and become a Ralph groupie.
I guess that maybe this cd might have to come and live at our house. (Our own copy that is, not the library’s. Which we will buy; not burn. We’re not that kind of people, sheesh!).
While at the library earlier this week, I found a couple of his cd’s to borrow. For the ride home, we loaded one into the cd player in the car. As is usually the case for me, my nerves feel jarred when listening to something new, only because I’m not familiar with it. However, most of the time, by the second listening, I’m finding a new groove.
Well… the Happy Lemons cd is now PERMANENTLY recorded into my brain. The kids keep asking for the songs over and over again and we’ve all, including Baboo, been singing the Happy Lemons song all day. And that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I mean really, with these lyrics, how I could be sad? (and am strangely craving lemonade which I normally don’t like)….
Happy lemons for happy days
Happy people with smiling faces
Happiness is a glass of lemonade
Le-mon-ade in the shade
Eve-ry-one loves lem-on-ade
Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalala lemonade….
See? Aren’t you happy? Don’t you wish for a hot sunny day and a nice big glass of cold lemonade with a straw and a little umbrella to sip while you sit in the shade of a big tree? You should. If not, sing the song about 25 more times and you will. Oh yes, believe me, you will.
There’s a few songs on the cd that have a bit of a Beatles flair to them and one that sounds vaguely like Crowded House, probably one of my all time favourite bands. Its’ fun music that isn’t too “kiddie” or tinkley (some kids music sounds very plinky and tinkely and circus-y– I’m not sure how else to describe it, except, well, annoying!). Some of the lyrics are really funny. Even if I didn't have kids, I might have to listen to this cd.
Mouse loves the crazy song about Belly Buttons. Baboo just keeps saying “wawawawa wemons”. We’re in a groovin’ mood here today. And maybe I’ll join Becprints and become a Ralph groupie.
I guess that maybe this cd might have to come and live at our house. (Our own copy that is, not the library’s. Which we will buy; not burn. We’re not that kind of people, sheesh!).
Monday, February 16, 2009
Notes To Self
Notes to Self:
1) Pay attention to youngest daughter running around with a pencil. Chances are she’s doing some graffiti on the wall and/or furniture.
2) You should have learned your lesson with your young delinquent SATURDAY when she took a red sharpie marker to the coffee table.
3) Buy more Magic Erasers.
4) If a solicitor comes to the door offering to clean your carpets for free and you decline, it’s pretty much a guarantee that someone (ahem… oldest daughter) will dump an entire mug of hot chocolate on the carpet.
5) Pay attention to where you put the METAL baking pan on the counter. If you put it near the “Tot Lock” magnet for the kitchen cabinet doors, it WILL stick to the bottom of the pan. Said magnet will NOT survive being in the oven at 425 F for 15 minutes.
6) The day you decide to “be tough” (ha, I just typed DOUGH… hmmm… Freudian slip, maybe) with your diet is the day your kids BEG you to bake blueberry coffee cake and there’s an Ace of Cake’s marathon on the Food Network Channel.
7) Stop ignoring the weird smell in the upstairs hall bathroom.
8) No matter how hard you try, you will not understand the game that Mouse comes up involving a family of giraffe’s that hatch out of eggs, eat fish and fly away.
9) Your chances of winning a game of Candy Land are almost always thwarted 4 squares before the end by the stupid skinny Candy Cane guy.
10) Your kids will not settle at night unless they are sung a personalized version of Raffi’s Morning Town Train song, and will stay up an hour after bedtime (done by Daddy who does NOT sing the song) until you go up and sing the song. Then they will promptly fall asleep.
11) If you’re sitting down the first time all day and want to try watch a tv show, that will be the moment that your loving children decide to hang off of you, play with your hair, have a tickle fight on your lap and generally make pain’s of themselves rendering any relaxation impossible.
1) Pay attention to youngest daughter running around with a pencil. Chances are she’s doing some graffiti on the wall and/or furniture.
2) You should have learned your lesson with your young delinquent SATURDAY when she took a red sharpie marker to the coffee table.
3) Buy more Magic Erasers.
4) If a solicitor comes to the door offering to clean your carpets for free and you decline, it’s pretty much a guarantee that someone (ahem… oldest daughter) will dump an entire mug of hot chocolate on the carpet.
5) Pay attention to where you put the METAL baking pan on the counter. If you put it near the “Tot Lock” magnet for the kitchen cabinet doors, it WILL stick to the bottom of the pan. Said magnet will NOT survive being in the oven at 425 F for 15 minutes.
6) The day you decide to “be tough” (ha, I just typed DOUGH… hmmm… Freudian slip, maybe) with your diet is the day your kids BEG you to bake blueberry coffee cake and there’s an Ace of Cake’s marathon on the Food Network Channel.
7) Stop ignoring the weird smell in the upstairs hall bathroom.
8) No matter how hard you try, you will not understand the game that Mouse comes up involving a family of giraffe’s that hatch out of eggs, eat fish and fly away.
9) Your chances of winning a game of Candy Land are almost always thwarted 4 squares before the end by the stupid skinny Candy Cane guy.
10) Your kids will not settle at night unless they are sung a personalized version of Raffi’s Morning Town Train song, and will stay up an hour after bedtime (done by Daddy who does NOT sing the song) until you go up and sing the song. Then they will promptly fall asleep.
11) If you’re sitting down the first time all day and want to try watch a tv show, that will be the moment that your loving children decide to hang off of you, play with your hair, have a tickle fight on your lap and generally make pain’s of themselves rendering any relaxation impossible.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Keep the Change, America
Today was “finish the taxes day”. I waited until Baboo went for her nap and Mouse could happily be entertained for more than 3.2 minutes; then cleared off my desk to make room for the tax related paper mess.
Yes, I did start the taxes several weeks ago, but with an interstate move and snail mail we did not have all the required paperwork to really finish. We now have all the paper and so I ran out of excuses to postpone finishing up.
So I made myself a fresh coffee, got all the papers and files lined up and fired up Turbo Tax. After waiting for eleventy minutes for any updates to run, we were good to go.
I plugged in numbers, pulled my hair out, answered questions accurately (I think), got Mouse a snack and 45 glasses of milk while half-assedly replying “yes, that IS funny” to whatever she was trying to show me from across the room, and yelled “What the heck are you talking about!???” to the computer before I moved onto “state taxes”.
And then my head exploded.
ARGH! It was NOT intuitive, “Intuit Company”. Eastcoast State didn’t like that we are in Midwestville State and vice versa. They each wanted to take money from the other state, which I adamantly refused to allow! Getchyer PAWS off our money, DAMMIT! I think I heard Turbo Tax tell me to f* off when I was yelling at it.
After poking around a bit, clicking on various topics and swearing for a while, I found the very simple “do not include this on abc or xyz state return” button. It would have been nice to have had that option right off the bat! Turbo Tax got a little “over helpful” and skipped a few steps during the transfer from Federal to State. Do not over assume Turbo Tax. Do not over assume.
So, while I can say the taxes are “done”, as in the forms are filled out, I have not filed them. I need to sleep on the completed forms (which would mean stuffing my laptop under my pillow, so just assume I’m speaking metaphorically here) for a night and then review everything again with a clear head before signing off.
I suppose I should have taken our taxes in to be done by “someone” this year as I am certainly NOT a financial wizard and for us, this year has been complicated. However, considering how many trips I’ve had to make upstairs to get various related documents and files, I can imagine how PISSED I would be to have to go home 50 times to get related papers and files from a “tax center”. However, perhaps we’d get more money back (not that I’m complaining this year) if someone else did them.
Generally speaking, I think I'm an honest person by nature, and though I did not omit any information intentionally, a part of my brain always worries if the tax police are going to come and take me away because of something stupid that they'll point out and say "everyone knows THAT". (whatever "that" is). Seriously, despite the programs and books and “help” information, taxes are still convoluted and a gigantic pain in the ass. And yet they still allow us to file them ourselves. I guess they’re hoping we’ll screw it up, be none the wiser and they’ll (the “Man”) will keep our hard earned money in their hot little hands. And well, I guess I’m cheap enough, stubbornly egotistical (yes, dammit, I CAN so do taxes!) enough and stupid enough to do this myself, so uh, if I screw it up, I’ve only got myself to blame. Keep the change, America!
Yes, I did start the taxes several weeks ago, but with an interstate move and snail mail we did not have all the required paperwork to really finish. We now have all the paper and so I ran out of excuses to postpone finishing up.
So I made myself a fresh coffee, got all the papers and files lined up and fired up Turbo Tax. After waiting for eleventy minutes for any updates to run, we were good to go.
I plugged in numbers, pulled my hair out, answered questions accurately (I think), got Mouse a snack and 45 glasses of milk while half-assedly replying “yes, that IS funny” to whatever she was trying to show me from across the room, and yelled “What the heck are you talking about!???” to the computer before I moved onto “state taxes”.
And then my head exploded.
ARGH! It was NOT intuitive, “Intuit Company”. Eastcoast State didn’t like that we are in Midwestville State and vice versa. They each wanted to take money from the other state, which I adamantly refused to allow! Getchyer PAWS off our money, DAMMIT! I think I heard Turbo Tax tell me to f* off when I was yelling at it.
After poking around a bit, clicking on various topics and swearing for a while, I found the very simple “do not include this on abc or xyz state return” button. It would have been nice to have had that option right off the bat! Turbo Tax got a little “over helpful” and skipped a few steps during the transfer from Federal to State. Do not over assume Turbo Tax. Do not over assume.
So, while I can say the taxes are “done”, as in the forms are filled out, I have not filed them. I need to sleep on the completed forms (which would mean stuffing my laptop under my pillow, so just assume I’m speaking metaphorically here) for a night and then review everything again with a clear head before signing off.
I suppose I should have taken our taxes in to be done by “someone” this year as I am certainly NOT a financial wizard and for us, this year has been complicated. However, considering how many trips I’ve had to make upstairs to get various related documents and files, I can imagine how PISSED I would be to have to go home 50 times to get related papers and files from a “tax center”. However, perhaps we’d get more money back (not that I’m complaining this year) if someone else did them.
Generally speaking, I think I'm an honest person by nature, and though I did not omit any information intentionally, a part of my brain always worries if the tax police are going to come and take me away because of something stupid that they'll point out and say "everyone knows THAT". (whatever "that" is). Seriously, despite the programs and books and “help” information, taxes are still convoluted and a gigantic pain in the ass. And yet they still allow us to file them ourselves. I guess they’re hoping we’ll screw it up, be none the wiser and they’ll (the “Man”) will keep our hard earned money in their hot little hands. And well, I guess I’m cheap enough, stubbornly egotistical (yes, dammit, I CAN so do taxes!) enough and stupid enough to do this myself, so uh, if I screw it up, I’ve only got myself to blame. Keep the change, America!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Happy "Valentime's" Day
Oy, it’s been a loooonnnggg day. Love is complicated, especially when it comes to kids.
There’s no doubt that we love them, every day, not just on Valentine’s day. However, today has been a day of ups and downs. Big ups and BIG downs.
Mouse has huge expectations when it comes to holidays; expectations that are hard to live up to. Hubster and I decided this year that Valentine’s day would be low key, for various reasons, and haven’t really been pushing it. We didn’t want to squash her enthusiasm so much as just keep it in perspective.
Mouse did have a little card exchange at school. She made all her own Valentine’s and she really enjoyed the process of making them. It took us a few days to make them (cut out shapes, decorated with stickers and a Valentine's pencil) as there are 18 kids in her class and she made every one and wrote each child's name by herself. She really focused on what each child would like on their card and carefully chose each pencil. When she brought her cards home from school, we took the time to look at each one, appreciating that the other kids took the time to do a card for her.
We talked about how Valentine’s day is to let those people around us know that they are special. We made Valentine’s for each other, and for the girls I just got them a balloon and made a very small goodie bag. Today we did go for breakfast and this afternoon made chocolate covered strawberries for dessert tonight.
Well, despite “low key”, we’ve had 2 days of fall out. Lots of tantrums, sass and back talk. It’s sooo hard because the stores just have sooo much “stuff” out and the kids see all of it and think “Wow! This is a BIG deal” and we're telling them "Well, no, we dont' have to have all of that STUFF to have a nice holiday". In particular, I know it’s hard for Mouse to reconcile what she expects and imagines with what is real sometimes. I know part of her being upset was that we didn’t have an all day Valentine’s party with decorations and friends and all the hoopla she imagines should go with a “holiday”. It was very much an ordinary day, with a few special things thrown in, which is what we told her was the intention all along.
And of course, the crazy attitude has rubbed off on Baboo who is almost 2 and certainly doesn’t need any encouragement when it comes to tantrums these days.
Baboo added her own brand of toddlerhood to this day. The painted on the table with her applesauce at lunch, threw several tantrums when she didn’t get her way and then took a red Sharpie marker and added her own special touch to our coffee table. (Guess we're finally deciding to paint that table).
It’s been a long day of putting out temper fires in between some really sweet family moments.
Mouse made a cute picture for Hubster in his Valentine’s card. Baboo sucked all the chocolate off her strawberries and said “Mama! I WIKE this!”. And I could never replace all the hugs that we’ve gotten today.
There’s no doubt that we love them, every day, not just on Valentine’s day. However, today has been a day of ups and downs. Big ups and BIG downs.
Mouse has huge expectations when it comes to holidays; expectations that are hard to live up to. Hubster and I decided this year that Valentine’s day would be low key, for various reasons, and haven’t really been pushing it. We didn’t want to squash her enthusiasm so much as just keep it in perspective.
Mouse did have a little card exchange at school. She made all her own Valentine’s and she really enjoyed the process of making them. It took us a few days to make them (cut out shapes, decorated with stickers and a Valentine's pencil) as there are 18 kids in her class and she made every one and wrote each child's name by herself. She really focused on what each child would like on their card and carefully chose each pencil. When she brought her cards home from school, we took the time to look at each one, appreciating that the other kids took the time to do a card for her.
We talked about how Valentine’s day is to let those people around us know that they are special. We made Valentine’s for each other, and for the girls I just got them a balloon and made a very small goodie bag. Today we did go for breakfast and this afternoon made chocolate covered strawberries for dessert tonight.
Well, despite “low key”, we’ve had 2 days of fall out. Lots of tantrums, sass and back talk. It’s sooo hard because the stores just have sooo much “stuff” out and the kids see all of it and think “Wow! This is a BIG deal” and we're telling them "Well, no, we dont' have to have all of that STUFF to have a nice holiday". In particular, I know it’s hard for Mouse to reconcile what she expects and imagines with what is real sometimes. I know part of her being upset was that we didn’t have an all day Valentine’s party with decorations and friends and all the hoopla she imagines should go with a “holiday”. It was very much an ordinary day, with a few special things thrown in, which is what we told her was the intention all along.
And of course, the crazy attitude has rubbed off on Baboo who is almost 2 and certainly doesn’t need any encouragement when it comes to tantrums these days.
Baboo added her own brand of toddlerhood to this day. The painted on the table with her applesauce at lunch, threw several tantrums when she didn’t get her way and then took a red Sharpie marker and added her own special touch to our coffee table. (Guess we're finally deciding to paint that table).
It’s been a long day of putting out temper fires in between some really sweet family moments.
Mouse made a cute picture for Hubster in his Valentine’s card. Baboo sucked all the chocolate off her strawberries and said “Mama! I WIKE this!”. And I could never replace all the hugs that we’ve gotten today.
This is the picture Mouse made of herself (notice the LONG lashes, blue jeans, and smiling mouth) and Baboo beside the enormous flower with dirt and roots. I love it!
Hubster and I didn’t really do too much for eachother. We’re both kind of “over” the commercialism of Valentine’s day. He did get a killer box of chocolates for us to share. They’re made by Pete Schmutte, head pastry chef at Puck’s restaurant. Apparently, he’s a friend of a Hubster’s coworker. They’ve got great names like “Dark and Stormy”, “Ancho and Cayenne Pepper”, “Port Lemon Caramel” and “Pear William”. They’re delicate and delicious. A surprise favourite is “Earl Grey Tea”. And they’re pretty. So pretty. See?!
Almost too pretty to eat... but uh yeah. NOT.
And, I went and got my hair cut finally today (yup, decided on going shorter again). Whatever she put in it smells like coconut and all I can smell is COCONUT. It wasn’t too bad in the beginning, but now it’s starting to annoy me.
Anyway, hope you had a lovely day – Valentine’s celebrations or not.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Crash Landing Into Real Life
We’ve come back into real life with a bit of a crash landing, as we usually do after a vacation. It’s always a shock to come back after being somewhere else to find that our lives are just as they are before we left. It’s a slap in the face to be honest. And while it was great to be away and we really did have a good time, it is good to be home too. Slap in the face ‘n all.
No real Trouble Spot Tuesday post – AGAIN – as right now my whole life is a bit of a trouble spot as we get back into gear here. So, um, clean out a drawer or HEY… did you know that you should clean the lint vent on your dryer? Not just the screen, but the pipe going to your dryer vent. Yeah, clean that out. Good luck with that. See ya next week. (I did this recently and it took me an HOUR. Nasty).
So, today I had my first “therapy” session and it was as stereotypical as I thought it would be. Several times I almost laughed out loud at the stereotypical-ness of it. Sitting on the couch, pouring out my guts, having the therapist nod and say “hmmm. Interesting” while scratching secret codes about my sanity onto my hastily filled out forms. However, I do like him and will see how things go over the next few sessions. I suppose, if nothing else, I’m happy to burden someone else with my troubles for a while. I do feel as though I’m being proactive about this and truly, this is the time to do this as I have a prairie sized view full of time in front of me with no moves/job changes/babies/earth-shattering-life-changes in the foreseeable future. Much different than the last, say, 6 years of my life. No wonder I feel so fucked up.
After we got home, I was understandably drained. I convinced the girls to play “nap” which involved me lying on the bed while they bounced around me and tried not to land on my head. In general, it was not very restful but it was certainly entertaining. Mouse popped around me like piece of popcorn in a hot pan, talking constantly about ALL the things SHE did to personally make my bedroom so wonderful for me. And Baboo popped around right behind her trying to mimic everything she said.
Mouse: (bouncing around my head) And Mommy, you see those pictures on your wall? I MADE them. I PAINTED them and then I MADE the frames. Yeah, I used some glue and wood and made it like a RECTANGLE and put the pretty pictures in there. Yeah, I did that all by myself.
Baboo: (Bounce, Bounce.)Mommy! Gwue. Paint, paint! ME!
Mouse: (bouncing on my back) And see that dresser over there? Yeah, I made that too. I needed a lot of wood and a HAMMER and then I put ALL those knobs on. There’s a lot of knobs. And the mirror? It’s GLASS! But I used paper too because glass is sharp. I made that for YOU!
Baboo: (Bounce, bounce) Mommy! Gwass! Ouch! No touch! Me!
Mouse: (bouncing on my legs) And you know those pillows with all the colours on them? I took a whole bunch of thread and I swirled it around and then I took my sewing machine and SMOOOOTHED it out and then I glued the pillows together to make it REALLY nice for you, Mom.
Baboo: (Bounce, bounce)… WHEEE PIW-OWS! (launching herself at my head).
No real Trouble Spot Tuesday post – AGAIN – as right now my whole life is a bit of a trouble spot as we get back into gear here. So, um, clean out a drawer or HEY… did you know that you should clean the lint vent on your dryer? Not just the screen, but the pipe going to your dryer vent. Yeah, clean that out. Good luck with that. See ya next week. (I did this recently and it took me an HOUR. Nasty).
So, today I had my first “therapy” session and it was as stereotypical as I thought it would be. Several times I almost laughed out loud at the stereotypical-ness of it. Sitting on the couch, pouring out my guts, having the therapist nod and say “hmmm. Interesting” while scratching secret codes about my sanity onto my hastily filled out forms. However, I do like him and will see how things go over the next few sessions. I suppose, if nothing else, I’m happy to burden someone else with my troubles for a while. I do feel as though I’m being proactive about this and truly, this is the time to do this as I have a prairie sized view full of time in front of me with no moves/job changes/babies/earth-shattering-life-changes in the foreseeable future. Much different than the last, say, 6 years of my life. No wonder I feel so fucked up.
After we got home, I was understandably drained. I convinced the girls to play “nap” which involved me lying on the bed while they bounced around me and tried not to land on my head. In general, it was not very restful but it was certainly entertaining. Mouse popped around me like piece of popcorn in a hot pan, talking constantly about ALL the things SHE did to personally make my bedroom so wonderful for me. And Baboo popped around right behind her trying to mimic everything she said.
Mouse: (bouncing around my head) And Mommy, you see those pictures on your wall? I MADE them. I PAINTED them and then I MADE the frames. Yeah, I used some glue and wood and made it like a RECTANGLE and put the pretty pictures in there. Yeah, I did that all by myself.
Baboo: (Bounce, Bounce.)Mommy! Gwue. Paint, paint! ME!
Mouse: (bouncing on my back) And see that dresser over there? Yeah, I made that too. I needed a lot of wood and a HAMMER and then I put ALL those knobs on. There’s a lot of knobs. And the mirror? It’s GLASS! But I used paper too because glass is sharp. I made that for YOU!
Baboo: (Bounce, bounce) Mommy! Gwass! Ouch! No touch! Me!
Mouse: (bouncing on my legs) And you know those pillows with all the colours on them? I took a whole bunch of thread and I swirled it around and then I took my sewing machine and SMOOOOTHED it out and then I glued the pillows together to make it REALLY nice for you, Mom.
Baboo: (Bounce, bounce)… WHEEE PIW-OWS! (launching herself at my head).
Friday, February 6, 2009
Redeemed
And today, the vacation was made complete. Despite being chilly this morning, the sun was shining, the wind wasn’t as strong and it looked as though we were going to get a decent temperature. We hit the beach for pretty much the whole day and were definitely rewarded with a cloudless, nicely warm, sunny day. We came home sandy, a bit wind blown, crispy from the salt sea spray, greasy from the sunscreen and happy. Our souls were filled with sunshine. It was a great day.
The beach we went to was great. Nice sand, clean bathrooms and a shell pickers paradise with layers and layers of shells of every size and sort. I watched as Baboo swam in the sand dunes and ate handfuls of sand. (Yeah, I tried to stop her, but well, I can’t watch her every second). My heart smiled as I watched Mouse, in her utopia on the beach, running back and forth to the sea, picking shells, delighting in every shark tooth she found, reeling in a little fish, making castles and just letting her spirit run free. I really don’t think she’s AS happy anywhere else. She LOVES the beach.
Dad and Hubster fished. They didn’t catch much, but the point was just “to fish”. We dug up sand fleas and used them as bait (ewww, in a fascinating kind of way). A heron was our constant companion all day, waiting for his next little fishy snack. I think he checked out Baboo a bit, but well, we headed him off before he took off with her.
We ended the day with ice cream, because well… it’s the last day of vacation and we should have ice cream.
We’re pretty much packed and ready to go home. Now that we’ve had a REAL beach day, our trip to Sunnyville feels complete. Tomorrow, we’re headed back home. Back to real life. Sigh. Vacations go by so fast.
The beach we went to was great. Nice sand, clean bathrooms and a shell pickers paradise with layers and layers of shells of every size and sort. I watched as Baboo swam in the sand dunes and ate handfuls of sand. (Yeah, I tried to stop her, but well, I can’t watch her every second). My heart smiled as I watched Mouse, in her utopia on the beach, running back and forth to the sea, picking shells, delighting in every shark tooth she found, reeling in a little fish, making castles and just letting her spirit run free. I really don’t think she’s AS happy anywhere else. She LOVES the beach.
Dad and Hubster fished. They didn’t catch much, but the point was just “to fish”. We dug up sand fleas and used them as bait (ewww, in a fascinating kind of way). A heron was our constant companion all day, waiting for his next little fishy snack. I think he checked out Baboo a bit, but well, we headed him off before he took off with her.
We ended the day with ice cream, because well… it’s the last day of vacation and we should have ice cream.
We’re pretty much packed and ready to go home. Now that we’ve had a REAL beach day, our trip to Sunnyville feels complete. Tomorrow, we’re headed back home. Back to real life. Sigh. Vacations go by so fast.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Powerless
Today, we have realized that we are powerless. Literally and figuratively.
We are powerless to control the weather. We know this and yet, we continually risk everything, plan a vacation around SUN and FUN and HEAT and get slapped in the face with our krappy karma. It is COLD in Sunny-ville. Frost cold. Fleece sweaters and jackets cold. Damn cold. I can stand cold when my head tells me it’s supposed to be COLD, like at home, with 3 ft of snow. I have a hard time processing that here where the palm trees and shining sun make me THINK it’s not SUPPOSED to be cold. Good old fashioned brain screw there.
However, despite the COLD, today Hubster and Dad hit the golf course with Uncle. They also played pool (indoors) which involved a lot of explanation to the girls that no, Daddy and Poppy were not going to the POOL to go swimming, they were going to bang balls around on tables with sticks. They still don’t get it.
That left Mum and I to figure out what to do with 2 small children on a cold and windy day in a retirement community who do not feel any need to have things to entertain small children. Baboo was whiney and so we decided to brave the cold and wind and take them to the park. After 30 minutes, a few trips down the slide and having the cold wind totally blow us away, while Baboo continued to whine the whole time, we decided to ditch the park and go to Walmart to pick up a few things.
While wandering in Walmart we decided that we wanted something hot and since we are “powerless” to fight the urge for Stouffer’s mac and cheese (I know its’ crap, but it’s still good), that’s what we bought for lunch. We were all looking forward to sinking into a spoonful of that creamy, hot cheesiness. We also promised the girls that this afternoon we’d make CAKE to take for dinner with Great Aunt and Uncle.
When we got home, hurriedly shuffling windswept little girls into the house, we tried to turn on the oven to preheat it for said promised cake baking. After a few choice words, Mum realized that “Hey! The oven’s not on!” and after I explained several times that the emergency flashlight on the wall WILL still light up even when the power is out because it has its’ OWN battery, we all agreed that the power, literally was out.
We were without power. And there was no heat. And it was cold. And there was no cake baking. And there was no mac and cheese.
We waited a while to see if the power would kick on. We thought about firing up the bbq for grilled cheese or something hot for lunch. We kept holding out, for like an hour, hoping that the power would be on any minute for us to make our coveted mac and cheese. Then we got too hungry and had cold sandwiches.
And there was much whining and pouting and complaining – 99% of it done by Mum and I. Then we convinced the guys to go and get HOT coffee and donuts, cos Lord knows, we need some DONUTS. Oy.
And I was powerless to stop Mouse from running around in a bathing suit and skort (and that’s it) all afternoon, despite having no heat and frigid temperatures.
And we were powerless to avoid the sun room with the sun pouring in on 3 sides, making it the warmest room in the house, despite having 3 walls of vinyl only.
And I was powerless to say no (not that I wanted to) to Mouse when she asked for a juice and a snack and Mommy time while Baboo napped today (eventually). We sat in the rocking chair in the sun room under a toasty burgundy fleece blanket, read every book we brought, and when we ran out of those we looked through my Mum’s quilting magazines saying on every single page “oooo! That’s so pretty” to every pretty quilt or scrap of fabric we saw.
And I was powerless to hold back any laughs at the girls yelling ‘FASTER’ as we rode on the back of my Aunt’s golf cart when she drove us around on a tour of her community. We were topped out at 23 mph, but it felt like we were flying.
And I was powerless to contain the swell of love and pride I felt when after behaving so wonderfully at Aunt and Uncle’s home for dinner, they helped to bring a smile to Aunt/Uncle’s elderly friend’s face when they both ran to her first (without any prompting) and hugged her, thanking her sincerely for letting them play with her “special friends” (a small stuffed cat, bear and dog).
Thankfully, the power was back on when we got home from dinner. It had been out for at least 5 hours. Tonight, we have heat and light and hot coffee and left over donuts.
And despite the trip not being exactly what I hoped for (sunshine and HEAT), I’m powerless to deny that we’ve really had a good time so far and are glad to have come.
We are powerless to control the weather. We know this and yet, we continually risk everything, plan a vacation around SUN and FUN and HEAT and get slapped in the face with our krappy karma. It is COLD in Sunny-ville. Frost cold. Fleece sweaters and jackets cold. Damn cold. I can stand cold when my head tells me it’s supposed to be COLD, like at home, with 3 ft of snow. I have a hard time processing that here where the palm trees and shining sun make me THINK it’s not SUPPOSED to be cold. Good old fashioned brain screw there.
However, despite the COLD, today Hubster and Dad hit the golf course with Uncle. They also played pool (indoors) which involved a lot of explanation to the girls that no, Daddy and Poppy were not going to the POOL to go swimming, they were going to bang balls around on tables with sticks. They still don’t get it.
That left Mum and I to figure out what to do with 2 small children on a cold and windy day in a retirement community who do not feel any need to have things to entertain small children. Baboo was whiney and so we decided to brave the cold and wind and take them to the park. After 30 minutes, a few trips down the slide and having the cold wind totally blow us away, while Baboo continued to whine the whole time, we decided to ditch the park and go to Walmart to pick up a few things.
While wandering in Walmart we decided that we wanted something hot and since we are “powerless” to fight the urge for Stouffer’s mac and cheese (I know its’ crap, but it’s still good), that’s what we bought for lunch. We were all looking forward to sinking into a spoonful of that creamy, hot cheesiness. We also promised the girls that this afternoon we’d make CAKE to take for dinner with Great Aunt and Uncle.
When we got home, hurriedly shuffling windswept little girls into the house, we tried to turn on the oven to preheat it for said promised cake baking. After a few choice words, Mum realized that “Hey! The oven’s not on!” and after I explained several times that the emergency flashlight on the wall WILL still light up even when the power is out because it has its’ OWN battery, we all agreed that the power, literally was out.
We were without power. And there was no heat. And it was cold. And there was no cake baking. And there was no mac and cheese.
We waited a while to see if the power would kick on. We thought about firing up the bbq for grilled cheese or something hot for lunch. We kept holding out, for like an hour, hoping that the power would be on any minute for us to make our coveted mac and cheese. Then we got too hungry and had cold sandwiches.
And there was much whining and pouting and complaining – 99% of it done by Mum and I. Then we convinced the guys to go and get HOT coffee and donuts, cos Lord knows, we need some DONUTS. Oy.
And I was powerless to stop Mouse from running around in a bathing suit and skort (and that’s it) all afternoon, despite having no heat and frigid temperatures.
And we were powerless to avoid the sun room with the sun pouring in on 3 sides, making it the warmest room in the house, despite having 3 walls of vinyl only.
And I was powerless to say no (not that I wanted to) to Mouse when she asked for a juice and a snack and Mommy time while Baboo napped today (eventually). We sat in the rocking chair in the sun room under a toasty burgundy fleece blanket, read every book we brought, and when we ran out of those we looked through my Mum’s quilting magazines saying on every single page “oooo! That’s so pretty” to every pretty quilt or scrap of fabric we saw.
And I was powerless to hold back any laughs at the girls yelling ‘FASTER’ as we rode on the back of my Aunt’s golf cart when she drove us around on a tour of her community. We were topped out at 23 mph, but it felt like we were flying.
And I was powerless to contain the swell of love and pride I felt when after behaving so wonderfully at Aunt and Uncle’s home for dinner, they helped to bring a smile to Aunt/Uncle’s elderly friend’s face when they both ran to her first (without any prompting) and hugged her, thanking her sincerely for letting them play with her “special friends” (a small stuffed cat, bear and dog).
Thankfully, the power was back on when we got home from dinner. It had been out for at least 5 hours. Tonight, we have heat and light and hot coffee and left over donuts.
And despite the trip not being exactly what I hoped for (sunshine and HEAT), I’m powerless to deny that we’ve really had a good time so far and are glad to have come.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Strawberries Stink
No really, they do. When they are fresh picked and ripe, they stink like… well, ass. They taste fine but when you have 2 buckets full sitting around the house, every time you open the fridge you get a waft of stink. And despite the smell, we’re still eating them hand over fist. They taste good and look lovely and once you clean them up and cut off the tops they’re delicious. Better than anything in the store. I feel kind of nuts though, eating something that has an odour de ass.
It’s like I can always tell how ripe a cantaloupe is by how farty it smells. I leave it on the counter after I buy it and I know it’s ready to eat when I walk into the kitchen and say “what the hell is that smell?”. I just peel it, carve it up and put it in the fridge for a while and we’re good to go. The best ones always smell the worst. Take the peelings out of the kitchen garbage right away or your kitchen will smell like ass. Gross.
Kind of like the strawberries.
Don’t you really want me to get you some fruit? No really? Don’t you? Shall I pass the ass?
It’s like I can always tell how ripe a cantaloupe is by how farty it smells. I leave it on the counter after I buy it and I know it’s ready to eat when I walk into the kitchen and say “what the hell is that smell?”. I just peel it, carve it up and put it in the fridge for a while and we’re good to go. The best ones always smell the worst. Take the peelings out of the kitchen garbage right away or your kitchen will smell like ass. Gross.
Kind of like the strawberries.
Don’t you really want me to get you some fruit? No really? Don’t you? Shall I pass the ass?
Greetings from Sunnyville
And so we have arrived safe and sound in Sunny-ville. So far things are going very well. We’ve already been very busy, buzzing around doing all sorts of things.
Baboo has a bit of a cold that seems to make her sound worse than she feels and we’re all holding our breath to see if we’re going to get it. Especially since she slept ½ the night 1.5 inches from my face, breathing and coughing all over me. Yay.
Regardless, yesterday after leaving at the butt-crack of dawn, we arrived here at about 9:30 am, ready to get the day going after hearty and cheap breakfast from McD’s (only because every other restaurant in a 5 mile radius was PACKED). We went and picked 2 buckets of hydroponic strawberries and then found a little farm with a sweet older lady who drove us in her little Kubota to pick some of the few oranges that have not been damaged by frost. The girls had a wonderful time and she and her granddaughter showed us their chickens, bunnies and cows. The girls loved it. Baboo picked an orange off the tree, hugged it to herself, patting it and saying “I wuv you owange” before slam dunking it into the bucket.
Despite the air being cool, the pool is heated so Mouse and Papa went swimming. They both returned a little chilly. We’re not going to get the 80 F weather we hoped for, but the suns’ out, there’s no snow and we can play outside without 17 layers of clothes on. So, I’ll take that.
Today we hit a local playground for a while then headed off to a little carnival with little kid sized rides. We only had to buy Mouse an arm band, Baboo was free and Hubster and I accompanied them. 42 trips on the carousel on a horse now named “Rosie” because of the roses she was covered in certainly paid for the band. We also loved the slide and the twirling airplanes (but NOT going up and down!). We took the girls on a “little” dragon roller coaster and I felt like *I* was going to fall out, I tried to keep sending the junior carnie the pleading eyeball – begging him to stop the ride early. Baboo was so terrified she didn’t start crying until it was done! I did the whole nervous laugh when we got off, thinking God, don’t let me on there again. I know, I’m a chicken. Craziness.
The kids running the little carnival were so young. I kept wondering if they were actually “qualified” to work the rides. But then I thought, well, is there a degree for being a carnie? I don’t know. It all feels a bit shady to me.
Anyway… sending you some sunshine and fire ants from Sunny-ville. And the required neighborhood wave as we pass anyone who happens to be outside. No really, it’s REQUIRED. “Thou shall wave to thine neighbor”. That and driving at 15 mph. Geezers on gigantic trikes are passing us as we wave and weave out way through the park. Ah retired life. It’s good. (haha)
Baboo has a bit of a cold that seems to make her sound worse than she feels and we’re all holding our breath to see if we’re going to get it. Especially since she slept ½ the night 1.5 inches from my face, breathing and coughing all over me. Yay.
Regardless, yesterday after leaving at the butt-crack of dawn, we arrived here at about 9:30 am, ready to get the day going after hearty and cheap breakfast from McD’s (only because every other restaurant in a 5 mile radius was PACKED). We went and picked 2 buckets of hydroponic strawberries and then found a little farm with a sweet older lady who drove us in her little Kubota to pick some of the few oranges that have not been damaged by frost. The girls had a wonderful time and she and her granddaughter showed us their chickens, bunnies and cows. The girls loved it. Baboo picked an orange off the tree, hugged it to herself, patting it and saying “I wuv you owange” before slam dunking it into the bucket.
Despite the air being cool, the pool is heated so Mouse and Papa went swimming. They both returned a little chilly. We’re not going to get the 80 F weather we hoped for, but the suns’ out, there’s no snow and we can play outside without 17 layers of clothes on. So, I’ll take that.
Today we hit a local playground for a while then headed off to a little carnival with little kid sized rides. We only had to buy Mouse an arm band, Baboo was free and Hubster and I accompanied them. 42 trips on the carousel on a horse now named “Rosie” because of the roses she was covered in certainly paid for the band. We also loved the slide and the twirling airplanes (but NOT going up and down!). We took the girls on a “little” dragon roller coaster and I felt like *I* was going to fall out, I tried to keep sending the junior carnie the pleading eyeball – begging him to stop the ride early. Baboo was so terrified she didn’t start crying until it was done! I did the whole nervous laugh when we got off, thinking God, don’t let me on there again. I know, I’m a chicken. Craziness.
The kids running the little carnival were so young. I kept wondering if they were actually “qualified” to work the rides. But then I thought, well, is there a degree for being a carnie? I don’t know. It all feels a bit shady to me.
Anyway… sending you some sunshine and fire ants from Sunny-ville. And the required neighborhood wave as we pass anyone who happens to be outside. No really, it’s REQUIRED. “Thou shall wave to thine neighbor”. That and driving at 15 mph. Geezers on gigantic trikes are passing us as we wave and weave out way through the park. Ah retired life. It’s good. (haha)
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