Monday, January 31, 2011

How you know it's going to be "one of those days." Part 2 (or 3...)

You know it's shaping up to be a difficult day when...

You are awakened 10 minutes before the alarm by the sound of one of your offspring shouting "mom, Mom, MOM.  The cat is puking on the carpet in the hall." 

I'm just going to leave you with that visual.  There is nothing more to say about the start of such a Monday morning.



Part 2
You know it's really not shaping up to be a better day when you walk outside and it's so cold that your nose hairs crackle.....

Also a lovely visual ....  but you know it's true!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Looking for a laugh

Click here to check out this You Tube video called "PP Platypus."

I warn you though, this ridiculous song will get stuck in your head.

It will.

You will think it won't happen to you, but it will.

It is stuck in my head, but I'm thinking that if I pass it along I'll be freed....

Good luck.  You've been warned!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

You know it's going to be "a day..."

You know it's going to be one of those days when....

You realize that the carefully selected outfit you have chosen for the visit from your superintendent has a fatal flaw....

wait for it.....  I know you've got a crazy visual going....



Yep.  Navy blue nylons, black short skirt.

Not pretty.

Confidence busting really.

Yep.  One of those days. 

Maybe tomorrow I'll do something wild and crazy like black bra, white turtleneck......

Sunday, January 16, 2011

The fort

This is my view from my kitchen window....


















That hill, it's a fort.  Let me tell you how it came to be:

Last weekend Girl was outside playing.  She stacked some snowballs against the pool fence.  After about an hour she had a little snow pile that was about 1 1/2 feet high.  She enlisted  the help of her dad to get it higher.  They stacked snow in a circle igloo-style for about another hour.  Boy looked out the window and commented that it looked like a lot of work, and he couldn't believe that dad hadn't gotten the tractor and blower our to speed things up.  I was also impressed at the manual labour....

At lunch they told me all about their big  plans for the "ultimate snowfort."  I listened with only half an ear, unfortunately.

Shortly there after I had to take Boy for hockey.  As I walked out to the jeep I noticed the garden hose snaked across the driveway.  This is not the season for a garden hose, I thought to myself.

I followed the hose right into the snowfort.  Girl was diligently spraying icy water on the INSIDE of the snowfort.  Our conversation went like this:

Me:   What in the world are you doing?
Girl:  Spraying down the walls with water.
Me:  Why?  Why would you do that?  You are soaked and it's freezing out here.
Girl:  We have to make the walls more solid so they will support the plywood.
Me:  Plywood?
Girl:  impatiently For the roof!
Me:  Who's brilliant idea was this?
Girl:  Dad's.  Who do you think hooked up the hose?
Me:  walking away.  Where is your father?
Girl:  still spraying.  Shovelling up front.

Second conversation
Me:  Girl is soaked.
DH:  I told her to change her mittens.
Me:  She has.  Three times.
DH:  She must be doing a good job then.
Me:  Do you really think it's a good idea for her to be playing in water at minus 14C?
DH:  impatiently  How else are we going to get the walls solid enough to hold the roof?
Me:  driving away. Hrumpf

So when I got home Girl had sufficiently soaked the walls inside and out and they were frozen solid.  This got Boy intrigued so he joined in the building process.

Plywood was cut to fit for the roof.  Then snow was piled on top of the plywood to better "disguise" the fort. 

Over the week the table and chairs from the playhouse has been added to make the interior comfortable.  A flashlight/lantern sits on the table.  Steps up the outside have been added. They are necessary, you see, to get to the top so you can go down the slide....




This has been great fun for Boy and Girl, and I think as much for DH.  Plans for a second dwelling are in the works. 

Though it is top secret.

Top secret so mom won't vito the architectural plans, I think.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Boy wants a hound

Boy has decided he wants a dog.  Actually two dogs.  Specifically a basset hound and a bulldog. 

He's been checking out kijiji and You Tube to find the cutest hound and bulldog puppy pictures in an effort to sway me.

...Won't ever happen -- 'cause no matter what kind of dog it it, it poops.

But, we did find this funny video of an adult basset that made me laugh out loud.  It's called Basset Hound Beat Box.  Enjoy.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Boy's Joke #5

What do you say to a very large lady in a red dress?


Wait for it....

You won't see this coming....


What do you say to a very large lady in a red dress?


Hey!  KoolAid!



Sunday, January 9, 2011

You might be a hockey mom if.... continued...

You might be a hockey mom if...

-long underwear is a staple in your wardrobe
-you coordinate accessories according to the colours of your team
-you have the OMHA Stats site bookmarked, and you check it regularly
-you automatically count the bench of the other team as they enter the ice
-you know what it means to count the bench....
-you know how long, OR how short, 30 seconds is, depending on whether your team is winning or losing

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Boy's joke #4

Boy swears he made this  joke up all by himself.
I don't know.  It's pretty sophisticated thinking....


What was Piglet doing in the bathroom?



Looking for Pooh!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Rocky watched until the middle of the third.
Then he just couldn't take it anymore....

Monday, January 3, 2011

Seriously... I 'm just supposed to breathe???

I have been to two workshops in the last 5 weeks.  The first was called "Emotional Healing for Traumatized Children" (I know, heavy, right?) and the second was a conflict resolution workshop I took this evening.

Both workshops, while having vastly different topics, had a common message. I'm thinking that the Universe has twisted my studies to be sure I get this message.  And I'm thinking that maybe I should be listening -- 'cause I also read the same message in a magazine article and heard it on Oprah over the holidays.  And you know if Oprah and the Universe are sending the same message, then you should pay attention!

The message?
You cannot take care of others if you first do not take care of yourself.  You have nothing to give away if you don't first fill yourself.

How? you ask.
Remember this is the word of the Universe's message, not me.... Breathe.  Sit quietly with your eyes closed and pay attention to your breath in and out.  Notice the support of the chair underneath you and the rhythm your breath brings to your body.

Seriously?
My whoas and fatigue and grumpies will disappear with me sitting with my eyes closed and breathing?

I breathe all day long. 

How 'bout I sit with my eyes closed sipping a wine. 
Why can' that be the message from the Universe.  "Big Red, drink more wine...."

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Gratitude

I started a Gratitude journal on Jan. 1, 2010.  Every night (almost) I wrote 3-5 things that I was grateful for that day. 
I reviewed my journal today, and I am a little surprised at some of the things I wrote.  I didn't put any explanations, so I cannot remember the context of most of the entries.
I have the usual list of people I am grateful for in my life.  DH, the kids, my parents, siblings, friends who called, or emailed or said just the right thing at the right time. 
The entries that struck me today are things like -- new pen, clean Jeep, DH made supper (DH made supper???? glad I recorded that for all of history....) rose, butterfly, ____'s joke, a gentleman held the door and smiled at me.
I guess when I break down each day at the end of it, it really is the little things that would otherwise go unnoticed that made an impression.

I have a new journal sitting on my beside table.  I'll start my 2011 journal tonight.  I'll start with this list:
-rubber boots
-label maker
-Girl and Boy helped clear the supper table
-gluten-free oreo cookies
-a new year



"You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach


 
 
 
Happy 2011, folks.