Tuesday, August 31, 2010

change of seasons


so school starts tomorrow [for kids!]. I've been back at work for two days now and it's been super busy, but really good. nate starts grade 2 tomorrow and ty does one day of kindergarten on thursday. they are super hyper and still awake. I know that tomorrow night will look different because they'll be exhausted, but tonight's been rough. we've needed to get into a routine for a couple of weeks now, but I haven't had the energy. and now I am paying the price. or should I say, john is!! I'm awful.

I think I'll record the rest of the show I'm watching and go to bed. I need to be on my game! love my job, but september sucks!!

xoxo

Monday, August 30, 2010

bang the drum

k, wanna try something SUPER yummy? I've recreated a martini I had in vegas. I had it at the nine fine irishmen pub in new york new york. okay, here goes:

1 pt vodka [vanilla, if you have it...ordinary will work too!]
2 pts caramel baileys [use the caramel kind...not the regular kind]
2 pts butterscotch schnapps

shake over ice, garnish with chocolate [if you can!]

seriously yummy. and a total recreation. I am a rock star.

and in other news, school was back in for teachers today - the first full day back. totally exhausting. good thing it was rainy today, because seriously, I did not want to be there! I know it will all be okay by the end of the week, but I wasn't ready to go back. oh well, what do you do? a girl's gotta work! it's going to be a good year, but I need to get into the groove, sooner than later...

Sunday, August 29, 2010

crossfire

so, it's the night before the first day back at school. and I'm feeling blah. and tired. I am totally ready for the kids to get back into a routine, but I'm not ready to go back to work. it's really been a low-key summer and although the weather has been crappy, it's been a good time relaxing!

top ten summer 2010 things:

10. watching csi every day
9. drinking a pot of coffee every morning
8. watching all the remaining episodes of fnl
7. floating down the pembina river
6. space science centre with the kids
5. vegas with yvonne
4. turning 38
3. hanging out with the kids, coffee with friends...and other general visiting!!
2. get the house mainly unpacked
1. the new house!

sigh. gonna watch big brother, read for a bit and get things ready for tomorrow morning!
xoxo

Friday, August 27, 2010

dreams on fire

so, went for a run this morning. I've run on the treadmill before, but seem to never get past running one & one's [walk one, run one]. I'm sure it's a psychological thing, but regardless, I struggle. well today, different treadmill, ran two & one's. and at one point, I pulled a three minute stretch! one of the things that helped was that rae's treadmill doesn't show the time constantly. it's fluctuates between time and distance. so I focused on my music and how I felt in the moment and not on how long I'd been at it. I am not at the point where I can do this for a solid 30 minutes, but when I can't run, I set the incline for 8 in the two minute stretch. and maybe best of all, I felt great. I feel great. not ready to hit the pavement yet [still having peeing issues...must always run with a bathroom within 2 meters!] but I think I have it worked out that for this fall I can run/treadmill it at least once a week. better than nothing, right?

Thursday, August 26, 2010

maybe this time

THIS made me laugh this morning!!!


how much longer do I need to wait for glee??? thank goodness for the ol' pvr!!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

blister in the sun

so, I have to confess. I have an addiction. pretzel m&m's. it's so bad that I sent john to the store tonight to buy some. and he never comes home with small bags of things. sheesh. no wonder I can't lose weight to save my life.

and today, I went floating down the pembina river with yvonne. THAT was fun. I have a super wicked sunburn now, but hey, we totally enjoyed the last hot day of our summer vacation!

it's been a crazy, good, busy summer.

Monday, August 23, 2010

take a bow

well. the full moon tonight explains a whole lot. it's almost 11:30 and nether kid is asleep. in as much as I love my summer holidays, I am so ready to go back to school and get back into the routine. THIS is brutal. ty's been sleeping in until 10:00 every morning. no wonder he's not tired. tomorrow is the start of a three day stretch of 7 am wake-ups. and by wednesday night, I predict that there will be some earlier bed times. ty's also in a weird growth spirt right now. I can't remember the last time he ate so much. the kid is ALWAYS hungry - and not for junk food, but for fruit and vegetables and bread! he ate a huge bun with pickles and mustard for supper [ham & cheese on the side, of course!!], cucumbers and peppers, a cookie, grapes, yogurt, a couple of cheese strings, potato salad, fruit snacks, toast...like all since 5 pm. it's nuts. he's always been a grazer, never a big meal eater, but I am not used to this from him! nate, on the other hand, is a big meal guy. three pieces of pizza for him is nothing. he wants pyrogies for supper, I make 10. he's a full meal guy. ty is a different sort [shocking]. this has all been at the same time as his sleep disruption. I sorta feel bad for the kid. and I am loving the foreshadowing of my life in 8-10 years. food, food and more food. I'm going to need a second job.

good thing he's so cute [both of them!]...I think I'll keep them around for a while longer! these pictures were taken at the market on saturday. we took ty to get some new school clothes and he insisted on wearing them all weekend. new shoes, new jeans, new t-shirt. he'll be the coolest kid in kindergarten!



and nate got new glasses last week. it makes my heart just so sad when I go to eye appointments with him. I have been there. I got my first pair of glasses in grade one and it was just totally downhill from there. nate has my eyes. he got his first pair of glasses last year and this year when we took him in, his prescription had almost doubled. poor kid. he is in for a lifetime of "which is better? this one? or this one?" [I HATE that part of the eye exam!]. so, he got two pairs of glasses [for the price of one!] - they are the same style only different colours. one pair is grey and one is brown. and they are spiderman glasses with some cool webbing on the arms! I think they're pretty handsome. ty is fairly jealous, so he's been really wearing the ol' "sunglasses-with-no-lenses" a lot more...hahaha!!


well, I opened up my laptop thinking I didn't have much to write about. guess I was wrong. one kid is now asleep. john is now asleep and my ty is still up - and super restless. sigh.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

everyday is like sunday

I wish. because I like sundays. they're low key and generally quiet. this is a good, good thing. the kids had a sleep over at their aunty's house last night. good for us, but not so good when they walked into the house. LOL they had a lot of sugar and not a lot of decent food [unless you consider doritos a decent food!! and yes, this has more to do with them than with my sister - she tries really hard to feed them good food!!!]. yeah. all hell broke loose and my quiet sunday wasn't so quiet anymore. grrr.

so now they're in the bath. and my bit of quiet is back. and I'm watching undercover boss. have you watched this show? I like it. I'm watching the "white castle" episode. super cool. the boss guy can't get the buns in the bag. LOL I wonder what it would be like to be a student in my classroom...would I like me? would I feel safe? would I feel like I was able to risk and do my best? things to think about as I begin another school year [one more week!!].

okay, now he's working night shift on the drive through. SUPER FUNNY!! and the kids are starting to scream and definitely mess up my tv watching. I am totally the queen of the good mom's club today!!!

Saturday, August 21, 2010

I know what I am



so we watched the last three episodes of friday night lights tonight. there's a group of us that gets together to watch, and we usually pvr them so we can watch three or four episodes at once. well tonight was that night and now season four is over. so sad. I love this show. I am going to miss coach taylor [see below!].



there is one season left...are you watching? ['cause trust me, it's not all football...!!]



full hearts, clear eyes, can't lose. and they whooped the panther's arses tonight in a sweet, sweet victory! it may just be tv, but I *heart* my FNL!!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

devil town

I'm tired of the taylor swift song title/blog titles. opting for tony lucca tonight.

so I was thinking tonight of my birthday - yes, six weeks ago - and the fact that I got to ride the roller coaster at new york new york that night. I had kinda forgotten about it. strange. okay, now I don't generally like rides, but it's not like I hate them either, they're just not my first choice, so that's kinda why I wanted to ride it on my birthday...a take a risk kind of thing. well this roller coaster is no better or worse than any other I've been on, but it was HOT outside. and the desert wind was fierce. so we get on and it starts climbing. and I'm a bit scared, knowing what's coming. and then we fall and I feel like my eyes are totally burning out of my head. the wind was hitting my contacts like something awful. so I close my eyes. and keep them closed the entire time. didn't see the view. just enjoyed the sensation of the movement and tried to guess when we were upside down! but honestly, I missed most of it. and now I kinda regret it. the point of taking a risk is not doing everything possible to not see what's happening. the point of taking a risk, or doing something out of the ordinary is to see it and feel it and taste it...all of it. all those sensations.

not too sure why I'm all philosophical about this tonight - just got me thinking. it's not just about saying you did it, but about totally being in that moment while you're doing it. maybe that's what a good run feels like too. and since I think I carb'ed up for one tonight [mmmm...yummy pasta!], maybe I should strap on the ol' shoes tomorrow and at least walk.

xoxo

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

tell me why



this kid makes me laugh so hard. his new love...an old pair of sunglasses with the lenses missing! oh, and a little bear with a mountie hat [yes, he's wearing it!!]. ty is such a character with his own sense of style - something I totally don't get. he is some kind of cool and I love that about him! today he totally wanted a different jacket because the one I gave him "didn't go" with what he was wearing. HE'S 5!! on the flip side, he's FIESTY!! and man, he holds a grudge! don't do something awful to him in the morning because by bedtime, you'll have PAYBACK!

love him, love him...although some days I don't like him!!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

mad world

more bits of randomness on a tuesday afternoon:

1. I am going to miss lazy afternoon's of watching csi.

2. I am totally procrastinating right now. I have so much to do and absolutely no energy to do it...grrr.

3. I found some m&m's in the bottom of a bag today. I bought them in vegas - they're coconut flavored. LOVE!

4. my hair is frizzy today. SUPER IRRITATING!

5. watched my fave movie this morning - ocean's 11. L-O-V-E!

6. I'm in good book withdrawal. grrr.

7. I really want a nap, but know that napping is a very bad thing at almost 4 in the afternoon!

8. I miss warrick on csi. [yes, I'm watching an old episode right now!]

9. I miss vegas...oh, but so can't afford that one right now!!!

10. one more tuesday. so sad. and tomorrow, going into school. blah. not ready...NOT READY!!!!

xoxo

Monday, August 16, 2010

gimme sympathy

so it's started. it's august 16th and they've officially started: the pre-school nightmares. last night, it was about not being able to get to my classroom when the bell rang. strangest thing. I was at school, I was dressed [some of my pre-school nightmares are about NOT being dressed!], I was on the other end of the building and I couldn't get to my classroom. yes, they've started. good times. there is only one more monday of freedom. and although I am VERY ready to go back to school, it's really quite a depressing thought. I am liking my days of leisure. my sitting about with a coffee, being able to just hang out with the kids and stay in my pj's all day if I want!

oh well, reality is inevitable. I am going into school on wednesday to set up my classroom, that will feel better.

last night john & I watched grand torino with clint eastwood. it's a couple of years old, and not my usual style, but I totally loved it. kinda a story of revenge and redemption all in one.

and now wow. I am sitting in a starbucks downtown and am completely baffled by what people wear. tight, tight, TIGHT workout pants. on someone totally NOT working out. and that's not even the real problem. the fabric is so stretched out that I can see that she's not wearing any underwear. really? I want to know this? the teacher in me wants to pull her over and say "sweetie, we can all see your bum," but really, she probably knows. and apparently doesn't care. *shudder*. this is why I am generally honest about stuff like this with my kids at school [okay, well in private...not in front of the WHOLE class!].

sorry, a total "off the topic" rabbit trail...not that I really had a topic. or was on topic.

I am debating buying the new brandon flowers cd - he's the lead singer for the killers. his new single has been released and I kinda like it. not too sure when the entire cd is released, but I am looking forward to hearing the whole thing. [okay, just found out that it won't be released until september. it could be the making a of a great "back to school" itunes playlist...]

okay, is that enough randomness for a monday morning? THERE'S ONLY ONE MORE!!!! *sigh*

Sunday, August 15, 2010

hayloft

what do you do when the carbon monoxide detector decides to do some test beeping at 630 am on a sunday morning? well, after a kid woke up, and the alarm company was called just to double check and I figured out what was beeping and how to stop the beeping...well, we made coffee & pancakes and watched "a new hope".

and because I don't have a good "from scratch" recipe, I use my coyote mix - 3 pancakes for a serving for about 3 points. I LIKE!

mmmm...first one in the pan - the colour is all wonky in this picture...strange!

the boys helped by pushing the button on the coffee maker [and counting scoops!]

then they settled on the couch for some star wars...nate refused to pose for a picture.

mmmm...with homemade blueberry syrup!

so maybe not the grandest start to a sunday [I had plans to sleep in...!], but hey, not too bad overall!! and since I finished "the girl who kicked the hornet's nest" last night, I am now currently without book. might be a good thing for getting things done this next week!!

Friday, August 13, 2010

play with fire

so it's been a rainy, rainy day. blah. I don't love rain days when my kids are around...they get SO BORED!! thank goodness rae came over & left jackson! so now, they're watching astroboy. they've all see it before, I haven't. HOWEVER, I watched astroboy when I was a kid! the old tv version.


okay, this version without the asian writing! good, good times. needless to say, I sometimes like when they re-do my old kid cartoons!

off to keep reading [and fold laundry, and clean bathrooms, and empty a few boxes, and purge some stuff.......]

xoxo

Thursday, August 12, 2010

I'll take you there

so I got a hair cut today - shorter than the last few times. my hairdresser always straightens it when she cuts it, so it's always a bit funky the day of a cut. I am trying to get my bangs down to my chin - when their curly. I still have another year of growing, I'm sure!! I like it though...



there was something else I was going to share. totally forget...
OH! so, I'm officially on book THREE!! and it's killing me that I can't read right now - between getting the kids fed and all that jazz, my book is just sitting. I took it out for lunch today, but my lunch was so spicy [pad thai from wok box] that I kept having to wipe my nose...and couldn't read at the same time!!

SO, short post today - off to read! [btw, book two was good but I know that book three is going to be GREAT!!]

xoxo

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

I love rock & roll

and I could love running, but for the peeing. today was a bit better, but man alive. birthing children really wrecked me. sigh. they're worth it. kinda. LOL and I forgot that I was on the tail end of a nasty sinus cold. oh yeah, running one and one's while hacking up nastiness is just never good. so I switched mid way to walking one minute, then doing a large incline for one minute. 30 minutes of pure lovely torture.

then I went to dairy queen with ty. he had 3 immunizations today. and man, my kid is brave. so yes, a mini-blizzard and some chicken strips TOTALLY tasted good after my work out!!

and although I didn't go to weight watchers this week, I did get on my own scale and was down 3 lbs. WHOOOHOO. okay, well my scale isn't totally calibrated. let's see if I can keep it up for next week.

and now, exhaustion. this is double good.

Monday, August 09, 2010

shimmer & shine

okay, so I have a new obsession. other than jimmy rankin doing "saturday night" as an ending tune with jakob dylan, brandi carlile & colleen brown on sunday afternoon. seriously, my favorite rankin family song. live. and jimmy, that man can SING.

okay, back to my new obsession. stieg larsson. I just finished reading the girl with the dragon tattoo. L. O. V. E. D. such an amazing, dark, wonderful mystery. and the main characters are so flawed and heroic and not twilight-ish that I've decided that if lisbeth salander was going to ever want a best friend, that I could be that person.


and then I watched the movie - with subtitles. and although the movie is NEVER as good as the book, and this was no exception, it was still a good movie. I was a bit bothered that there were really important things that were left out, but I do understand that a book of this size really would need three - two hour movies to do it any justice. they had to leave out something. or a bunch of somethings. and they did. still, it was a good movie and the actress that played lisbeth was lisbeth.


and so today, I went and bought book #2 in the trilogy. and I started reading this afternoon while the kids were at the splash park!!


and then there is still book 3. yeah, it will be done by the end of next week, I'm sure! so, there's my big obsession. I love mysteries. and I love these mysteries. it's really too bad that there are only three books. I could live with triple that many! my only concern is that hollywood is also making these into movies - and if the hollywood version of lisbeth disappoints, I'll be bitter and twisted!!

okay, ending here. this thunder storm is a nasty bugger. I don't need my internet coping out on me!!

xoxo

Friday, August 06, 2010

diamonds on the inside


and today, my biggest concert dream came true - I got to sit on a hill, on a warm summer night and watch ben harper perform. ahhhh. sweet bliss. seriously in my top three concert experiences. the man did not let me down. so mellow. smooth. and the atmosphere was amazing with the hill lit up by hundreds and hundreds of candles, and the hazy edmonton skyline in the background.

I am going to bed tonight a happy, happy girl!

xoxo

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

the woman in you

so, the basement floor is SO close to being done, it's ridiculous!! I just have some touch ups to do - then I can move furniture!! and UNPACK!! and then CRAFT!! I'm just waiting for paint to dry. and that's like watching a pot of water boil. TAKES FOREVER!

so today, is a lazy day filled with trying to kick this cold, cleaning, reading and watching tv. super exciting. I can't remember the last time I was this sick - I avoided a ton last school year, so I'm completely out of practice...at being sick! needless to say, I'm thinking that taking a sick day is okay.

on a completely different topic, I've been curious about my blog feed - I am amazed by how many people read my blog from completely different places - places where I am pretty sure I don't know people!! okay, so I know people in philly & florida but russia? anyways, I think it's pretty cool. even if they are google-stumbles!!

anyways, my wee ramblings for the day. it was either this or eat wagon wheels. I chose writing! YEAH ME!

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

burn to shine

less than 24 hours and I'll be watching van morrison at the folk festival!! which THEN means that it's less than 48 hours until I get to see BEN HARPER!!! okay, so not since going to see Kings X in the late 90's have I been this excited about a concert. I *heart* ben harper. love his music. love, love his voice. I am a total folk fest rookie, but I couldn't pass this one up! SWEET!

so all my big plans yesterday - the get up early and walk plans? yeah. I woke up sick this morning. a total sore throat from h-e-l-l. I've tried soaking it out with buckleys cold and flu AND cold f/x. we'll see how that works for me tonight. I did get the first coat of paint on the floor today - and I'll finish it up tomorrow morning. the blue is looking GREAT! I am really happy with it.

all this and ty has an ear ache. I think I'm going to get that looked at in the morning. poor kid. the summer sickness has hit the house - I'm out to purge! look out!

Monday, August 02, 2010

boots like these

well, a successful long weekend.

I went for a 3k walk on sunday morning and did some push-ups along the way. holy dinah was I hurting this morning!! not feeling so hot today [could have more to do with my lack of sleep combined with the couple of margaritas I had last night] so I chose to nap, and not walk. I do have all my things set out for tomorrow morning though - I'd like to be up at 630 and do 30-45 minutes before John heads to work. we'll see. although I am feeling motivated tonight, who knows what that will translate to in the morning!

and this week is craft-space week...FOR REAL! I have 3 days to get it together, so tomorrow morning I begin! and since I'll have to take a break to go visit a wee baby this week [right, Suz?], it's more important for me to take advantage of the time tomorrow!!

and I'd like to say that I'll have basement pictures for you after tomorrow, but you never know!