2009

thanks everyone for a wonderful 2009!

till tomorrow

Jenn

Christmas 2009

Well it's 11pm on boxing day and another Christmas has come and gone. Lucas is sleeping here beside me while Darryl is downstairs playing one of his presents. As most people know about me I don't really like Christmas. I find it to be a lot of work and pressure for the rewards, but I was determined to make the month fun and enjoy Christmas this year. The kids are at a fun age and really enjoy all the aspects of Christmas. We did the countdown calendar with all different activites. Lucas really enjoyed most of it and even though it is done he will still often ask what our activity for today is. Some of the best ones were the simplier ones, like make snowflakes or have breakfast for dinner. I think we'll do it again next year.

Lucas did get quite sick on Christmas Eve day. He threw up and slept most of it, so we cancelled our original plans and stayed home and ate pizza. We wrote a thank you letter to Santa (what a nice kid I have) put out the cookies and milk and went to bed. Darryl and I went to bed early as well as we had no idea what time we'd be up in the morning and we had been up late the night before wrapping presents.

Christmas morning came, the boys were up at 7ish and were so excited to see the presents from Santa. Grandma, Pop and Auntie Lexie came over with breakfast and we spent the rest of the morning opening presents. We did some videoconferencing with Darryl's family (who LOVE christmas) and watched the boys open more presents. Then came the playing and the cooking. Later we had our friends and more family over for good food (Darryl is such an excellent cook) and fun. It make me so happy to see our house full of people who all get along and have a fun time with each other. We then played Hedbanz and laughed at the boys who thought everything was a wig. And laughed at each other who found the game harder when it was their turn and the game wasn't all that easy.

Today was filled with sister shopping, tobogganing and more great food.

Although I don't like all the hoopla of Christmas I do enjoy the being together and excuses for that are just fine with me.

Merry Christmas to everyone who reads the blog. I hope yours was also filled with people and good food and fun.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Monthly Newsletter: Month Fifty Two

Dear Lucas,

Happy Birthday buddy. Things continue to be great this month. Most of the time I look at you in awe. Whether it's how big your feet are or the smart things that come out of your mouth. Mostly I can't believe I get to be your mom and how quickly this is all going by. Some cool things from this month include:

You love the countdown calendar. You love to check it in the morning and love to do the activities. Well most of the activities. I'm not sure how fond you were of the "give to others" and the "clean out your toys" activity. But most of the stuff you love doing: making cookies, watching movies, gingerbread houses.

Lucas and Nathan washing dishes. Not one of the activities.

I think you have been enjoying the snow and cold. You love to play in the snow and you love to be inside. We have been spending lots of time inside, which you also love. You definitely picked up that "homebody" gene from your dad.



You are really enjoying crafts and coloring. It is probably your favorite thing to do. We probably spend some time everyday coloring, this is fine with me because I love coloring. You love coloring pictures and love coloring things on white papers as well.

You love the iphone. You like to play the different apps/games. You are getting quite good at them as well. You hand eye co-ordination is really coming along with it.



You make friends quite easily as well. You are still shy, but will warm up to kids your own age very quickly. You make friends with kids at the pool or Kaelen, my friend Allie's son. Although I wouldn't call you outgoing, I would call you friendly.



You continue to get more brave, whether it's with swimming or sitting on Santa's lap or the fire at Japanese village, you are growing and getting bigger. And although I'm glad that the fears are not rationale, but at the same time it makes me realize how quick you are growing up.

love mommy.

Tidbits from the day

Happy Birthday Alexis! I love having you around. The boys love having you around. Spending time with you is one of the best parts of Christmas.

I did a lot of driving today. I was on the new Stoney Trail (which i know means nothing to those of you don't live in Calgary- it's a new big road on the other side of the city) and I can't believe the urban sprawl. I know it's everywhere in Calgary, but with the hills in the north part of the city it is so well demonstrated.

I am not usually a mean person. But sometimes you have to mean to make a point.

I bought Darryl his last Christmas present at a store I love to go to.

On the way home today, the Deerfoot is closed right before my exit. (Again I know that means nothing to people who don't live in Calgary but it's a highway I take home) People were going crazy, making their own lanes, cutting other people off, playing bejeweled on their iphones (yep that was me)

If you are not listening to Ingrid Michealson, you should be.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Music on my ipod

The people in this picture make up the marority of the music on my ipod lately.



Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Swimming Lessons

Lucas has been taking swimming lessons for the last couple of months. It has been a really good experience for him. He has gone from enjoying the water and maybe putting his face in, to swimming underwater with his eyes open. It has been a really good experience for him. He did everything in his "level" and most of the next level as well. He is even loving being in the water and doesn't want to leave when it's time to go.

We are so proud of our little swimmer.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Holidays

Holidays are going pretty well here. This is what is done:

• Tree up, decorated
• Cookies, many different varieties made: sugar, chocolate chip, Darryl's favorite cherry balls, bad fudge
• Most presents bought
• Presents sent to Ontario
• Cards made, pictures bought, cards sent out
• Stockings hung by the chimney with care. Decorating done
• Christmas music bought and on a playlist
  

Still to do:

• Get Nathan a stocking
• Wrap presents
• Buy stuff for Christmas dinner
• Plan videoconferencing with Ontario family
• Celebrate Alexis's birthday
  

I think that's it.... anything I'm missing Darryl?

How are your Christmas festivites coming along?

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Winter

Winter has come in with a vengeance just over a week ago. On the days I work my car feels like my second home. Spending a good hour to get to work and another hour on the way home. This week there has been the extreme cold temperatures too. -27 on Monday was just too cold. Poor Emma has not really been out for walks because her paws can't take the extreme cold. I did take her out tonight because it's only -15 out . The snow is higher then her belly but she loved jumping around in it and smelling for anything in the freezing cold. The boys are also loving the snow (when it's somewhat warm enough to go out). It will be fun once it gets even warmer and the snow will stick together. It will be a White Christmas out west.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Nathan's Monthly Newsletter: Month Twenty

Dear Nathan,

This month has continued to been an exciting one. You are talking more, playing more and getting more fun.



You have started to play more independantly. It's so cute and so nice. You'll go off to the playroom and play with the farm or the cars. It's very sweet to see you doing things all by yourself.


Your speech has been very slowly coming along. Your newest word is "dop" which means stop. It's so funny, which causes me (and others) to do things (like tickle you) to say dop. You are also getting better with other words too. When we ask you about Santa you say "ho, ho, ho". When we ask you about most farm animals you can make their noises. Moo, baa, neigh are all part of your vocabulary.



Things with Lucas have been quite good. You are getting along reallyl well. Don't get me wrong there are still times you guys fight, but it's more that you can't tell him what you want or more so, what you don't want. But usually you enjoy playing with him and copying him. You are pretty good at sharing with him (and him with you) expect when it comes to the Wii Fit. Then it's mine mine mine.




You really enjoyed gymboree. It is crazy expensive, but you love the songs and the playing. You have also really enjoyed the swimming. We do it with Lucas every other week and you really enjoy the water.




We did lots of activites this month, classes, zoo, spending time with Grandma and Pop. You are so crazy about them. You can say Pop, and do say it over and over again, but I know you are just as crazy about grandma, but just can't say her name yet.

love you baby

love mommy

Weekend Update

There was a major storm on Friday so the snow and cold kept us inside for most of the weekend.

We did go to the grocery store on Sunday to buy our food bank items but other then that we stayed inside. We put up the Christmas tree (that was our Saturday activity), Watched the movie the proposal, which was very funny. I've never really seen Ryan Reynolds in a movie and he was quite funny. Listened to this Pearl Jam song over and over. Reminded me of being a teenager and listening to Pearl Jam endlessly.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Values

It's important to me that my kids are good people. I want them to be happy and healthy, but I also want them to do the right thing. So today we had a couple of instances where we had the opportunity to teach Lucas the right thing to do and our cashier was quite surprised. The first instance was Lucas wanted this mini snow globe. While carrying it around the store he accidently dropped it and broke it. When we got the till we had her ring it in and we still payed for it. She said it wasn't necesary as it was just an accident, but we insisted. THe second instance was also at the grocery store (and was our advent calendar activity today). It was buy food for the food bank. So for almost everything we bought for ourselves we also bought one thing for the food bank. It is more then I have ever bought for the food bank, but we felt good doing it. And I think it's important to show Lucas about giving to others. We have another activity this month that is buying a toy for a kid in need.

Hopefully we are showing Lucas how to do the right thing.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Well if the rest of the month is going to be as fun as tonight I am going to love the Christmas season.

Tonight we did puppet shows as our bedtime stories. It was hilarious. I was the tiger and Lucas was the salamander. I was trying to find something they had in common, what they eat, where they live, what they do for fun, Lucas was not getting my drift, so finally I suggested "do you drink water". No he/the salamander replied. Which made me laugh to no end. The end of play then ended with the Tiger and the salamander not being friends.





Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Threadless

I ordered a couple of Christmas presents from Threadless. I really love their t-shirts. I love comfortable, causal and funny clothes. Threadless has lots of them. Here are some of my favs.



I ordered myself this one. Bones and Jenn = love



Darryl has this one in his collection



This one is in my collection



This one is on my Christmas list

If you are ever looking for a cool shirt I would check out this website.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Almost Done

I'm looking forward to it being the end of the month. Phew I don't really like posting everyday of month.

Here's a cute picture from the weekend.



Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Great Big Sea

If you have been reading the blog for a while you'll know what a big fan I am of the Barenaked Ladies. Really I'm a big fan of Canadian music. Not all Canadian music, but most of it. One of my favoites is Great Big Sea. They play east coast/celtic music. There songs have great upbeat messages (except for Scolding Wife "if the devil would take I'd thank him for his pain I swear to god I'll never get married again). I use to blare them loudly while drivin home after night shift. Lucas was also named for one of their songs. They were also on the cruise, so I got to introduce Tammy to what a fun experience their concert. On the second night she claimed she wasn't going to jump or clap, but when you are there you just can't help yourself.

So anytime I get a chance to see them and jump around, i "jump" on the chance. Last night was one of them. And the fun part about it was it was our godson's first concert. He was so excited, although exhausted by the end of it. It was a gala. So there were many many artists that night. The Canadian Tenors (who were much younger and better looking then I expected), Sophie Millman (a jazz artist), Divine Brown (and R&B Artist) and George Canyon (a country artist) were all on before GBS.



It was a super fun night. To see Matt's excitement when his favorite songs were song was priceless.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

French People

On the weekend we went to our friends house warming. Our friend is Chinese and most of her family was there. There were a lot of Chinese people there. Later that evening Lucas says: Mom, did you see all the french people there. Darryl and I though it was so funny. Lucas thinks that every other language other then english is french.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Nathan's New Favorite Thing To Do

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Christmas Countdown Calendar

This year I am determined to enjoy Christmas, I am usually quite the bahhumbug. But it has become much better with kids, they make it so much more exciting. Last year I was looking at this blog and thought her advent calendar/christmas countdown calendar. Last year I bought one after Christmas and here are some of my ideas for the activities for the different days. What do you think?

• Put up and decorate the Christmas Tree
• Go for a walk at night and look at all the lights
• Go to McDonald's for dinner
• Make cookies and decorate them
• Santa needs some room for your new toys. Donate 5 toys to charity
• Read a Christmas story
• Decorate a gingerbread house
• Make a glitter shape
• Make a fort
• Color a Christmas picture
• Buy food for the food bank
• Make paper snowflakes
• Have an indoor picnic
• Have hot chocolate with all the fixings
• Write letters to Santa Claus
• Use puppets to tell bedtime story
• Have breakfast for dinner
• Make decorations for the tree
• Have a camp out around the Christmas tree
• Wrap a toy and take it to a charity Christmas tree
• Go out for dessert
• Dance like crazy to music
• Watch a Christmas movie with popcorn

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

November

More then 6 years ago I started the job I'm doing now. I really love my job and although it's not always perfect, I do really like it. 6 years ago when I started my job there was a tremendous learning curve. Although I was teaching people how to be x-ray technologists, and I was an x-ray technologist, it was a whole new world. Different terminology, different working environment, needing to know the information inside and out. It was a huge adjustment and although I was ready for the challenge, the work was phenomenal.

Here is the second part of the story and they will blend together at the end. Here in Calgary we are quite far north, so in May and June we have these really really long days. It's bright at 6 in the morning and doesn't get really dark until 11pm. It's great I love it. But of course to the ying there is a yang and in November the days are short. The sun comes up around 7:30 and goes down around 5 pm.

So the first year (and second) of teaching during the month of November, I only saw the sun on the weekends. That "SAD" thing, I had that. No sun 5 days in a week. I started work before the sun came up and didn't leave my desk till the sun went down. So November is never really been my favorite month.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

The Furminator

As Emma grows older her shedding problem has been getting worse and worse. Every spring and fall Emma sheds a lot of her hair. I vaccum once a day to pick up all the hair. I've even tired to vaccum her. This fall I was debating taking her to a groomer to see if that would help. Instead I thought I would go what Lori recommend: the Furimator. It is expensive (40$), so we have put it off for a while. But today we went out and bought it and OH MY GOSH look at all the hair it got out:



And that is about a quarter of the hair that came out. It was also great because the Furminator didn't bother her at all. In the past if we have used a comb she really didn't like it. If you have a dog and they shed I definitely recommend it.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Happiness

One of the things I've really been enjoying lately is how happy my kids can make other people. Nathan has been giving smiles and waves to strangers on the street. His blond hair and happy face seems to make people so happy, even just for a moment. In regards to Lucas it's more indepth. When he's playing with my Mom, you can see how happy she is to have him in her life. Or in school he is a good kid and you can see how the teachers appricaite that. Also his friends, how well he got along with Kaelen and how he has such fun with his friends.



It such a warm fuzzy feeling inside to see your kids bringing happiness to others.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

New Moon

Just got back from seeing New Moon and I thought it was great. Much, much better then the first one. Maybe it's because my "vision" of everything wasn't ruined. But I thought the acting was better, the special effects were better. It didn't seem so rushed. I'm still on team Jacob, he did really well in the movie as well. I also thought they did a good job visually with the Voluturi. There was also some comic relief with the high school students.

Have you seen it? What did you think?

Jenn

Melded

When you read someone's blog you feel like you get to know them. You become friends with the people's blogs you read. Truthfully as this is a public forum very few people share everything. I have lots of crazy things that happen that never make it into the these pages. So no matter how much I feel I really get to know my blogger friends, you wonder how it will go when you become real life friends with them.


Today Lesley, Allie and I all met up and took our kids (or the kids we had at the time) to the zoo. I've met Allie in real life before but kind of by accident. It was great because in real life she is just as kind and friendly and funny and a great mom as she writes on her blog. It was like our afternoon at the zoo was time spent with old friends. It's the only time I've ever been to the zoo and not seen the giraffes or the gorillas. We were having so much fun just talking that the animals were kind of in the background.



The other part that really amazed me was how well all the kids got along as well. I am kind of picky when it comes to people, and I think it has kind of worn off on Lucas. But it was like the parents melded and so the kids melded. Lucas and Kaelen got along so well, that they were both upset when they had to leave each other.





Thanks Lesley and Allie for a great afternoon with friends.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

A year ago

I just got my blog book from last year, the first thing I did was flip to last year at this time. I was going through one of the most challenging times, with my broken foot. It is amazing to look back at it now. When you are in the challenge it seems like it is taking forever. I remember being depressed, living days for them to be done and not what would happen in the day. But now looking back it seems like the time went by very quick. I guess the old saying "time flys when you are having fun" is very true. Most days seem to go fast and time since the foot was fixed. But when the foot was broken it wasn't fun and took forever. I am still so grateful for all the help I got while I was hurt. I think it made me a kinder person. This summer I called a friend of mine who had a c section and couldn't drive and took her out to shopping, because I remember people taking me out. Interesting to reflect back at a year....

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Treasure

I made plans on Friday to go to the zoo with her and her (very excited about). The only problem was I made them for when Lucas is in school, so I had to adjust it. How quickly they are growing up. It was not that long ago that we had all day every day to ourselves. Now there is school to worry about, and that will only get worse. It makes me treasure, PD days and days at home with my boys, and weekends. How wonderful it is to have days where we wake when we want to and not some activity dictates it. How wonderful just to have oodles and oodles of time with them.

Man I love those kids.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Monthly Newsletter: Month Fifty One

Dear Lucas,

This month has been a really good one. You still have your emtional times, but generally we can work through them (usually by feeding you =)) Compared to last month, things are a million times better.


A couple of times this month you have wanted your hair spiky. It's been very cute. You are also more concerned about things matching.

We have finshed reading your first chapter book. You enjoyed it so much that you have started reading it again. If anyone has any suggestions on another chapter book we could read to Lucas, I'd love to hear them.

Things with Nathan are still up and down. Sometimes you guys get along well. You laughing and run and have fun. And other times your play "fighting" can get either one of you in trouble. Or sometimes he will laugh and you'll get mad becuase you think he's laughing at you. This makes me laugh, and then it makes Nathan laugh more and it's a bad scene. But I think this will continue for the next 10 years. You will have ups and downs with your brother.



Swimming lesson is going really well. You are going under the water and acting like a fish. You listen to your teacher very well, just as you do in preschool.



A couple of things happened this month that shows me how much you are growing up. The first thing is your first "gun". It's a nerf gun, which I know is no big deal. But it feels like a big deal to me. We have set some ground rules about not shooting people with it but the walls or "imaginary things". How long these ground rules will last, I don't know, but you are really really loving it. You also had dinner at a friends house this month. Not that I've never had dinner without you. But it was weird to have dinner with Nathan and not with you.



As you grow and as these things happen, it makes me treasure the times that things are normal. I know there will be a day when you have less and less dinners at home, so I'm enjoying all of the ones we have together.

love mom

Chinook

Mom took this picture on Sunday. It's been chinook-ing here. Today it was 15 degrees. What a cook sky eh?



Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Emma

I love that dog of mine. We have been snuggling together in the nights, laying in Nathan's room while he falls asleep. She is there wagging her tail and jumping every time I come home. I love that dog. My favorite part is that we have to take her out everyday (well almost everyday) for exercise. So everyday even in the winter, I go out and get some fresh air.



What about you what's your favorite part about your pet?

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Who Do You Love

Today while we are getting ready to go out Nathan is babbling.

Nathan: Mum, Mum, Mum
Mum, Mum, Mum
Mum, Mum, Mum
Mum, Mum, Mum

Mum: Who do you love?

Nathan: Dad

Dad starts laughing, and keeps a smile on his face for the rest of the morning.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Motherhood of One

Thanks everyone to your very nice comments on the last post. The reason I posted something so different then my normal happy posts is because I think it's important for me and others who read the blog is to remember that I have things about myself I'd like to change and improve. And although I am usually a pretty happy person, I like everyone else have times where I question who I am. Thanks again though, the support is so nice.

Back to normal posts.

This afternoon Lucas is at his best buds birthday party, Nathan is upstairs sleeping and I am blogging in the afternoon. This kind of reminds me of blogging in the beginning. I use to blog every afternoon while Lucas slept, I'd write about our events, his sleep habits. Nathan has been sleeping well. In the night he is getting quite good at falling back to sleep. Life is starting to feel good again.... easy again. I am getting enough sleep at night and enough uninteruputed sleep. Which makes everything with the boys seem better and brighter. Nathan and I also went to gymboree today. It was great fun and again reminded me of being a parent to one kid. Nathan is really enjoying it, he lovely the singing part. I think I may look for a kindermusik class for next fall.



Tonight I'm headed out for some retail therapy.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

I wish....

I wish I didn't care so much what people think.
I wish my house was better decorated.
I wish friendships didn't make me question myself so much.
I wish I was more on the ball.
I wish my house was cleaner.
I wish I was more self confident.
I wish I was more type A, rather then type B
I wish I didn't forget things.
I wish I was more organized.
I wish I didn't get in trouble so much.
I wish I made more money.
I wish I fit in more.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Thanks for this....

Today the boys and I went to the zoo. It is not your traditional Remembrance Day celebration. But it worked for us. We are grateful for our freedom and grateful for living in a country known for peace.

Thank you to soldiers present and past.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Charlotte's Web

Lucas and I are almost done Charlotte's web. Tonight we were reading the second last chapter. The chapter where Charlotte dies. I can barely read it through my tears. Lucas looks over at me and starts laughing. Of course this made me start laughing. I don't know if he was laughing because I was crying about a spider dying or that I was crying at a book, but he thought it was hilarious. It was one of those few times I was feeling both sad and happy at the same time.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Happy Birthday Mom

I have the most incredible mom. Ask anyone, my co-workers or friends, she is such a great lady. She is there for me when I need her. She is there for my kids when they need her. She is kind and giving. Even though she doesn't live in the house with us, she still does a good job of taking care of us. So this weekend we celebrated a great woman's birthday. To the woman who gives so much to others it's nice to give back to her.

The birthday girl


All the kids surrounding Grandma.


Lucas and Shaun doing the dishes.


The snowball cake turned out great.


We Rockband-ed it out all night.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Money

Today I went shopping at the new Cross Iron Mills Mall. I was looking for a new pair of boots. There is only one problem with this, I like a good bargain. I can't imagine spending more then 100$ on a pair of boots. I know that may sound crazy to you, but that is a lot of money to me to spend on something I'll wear maybe once or twice a month and only in the winter. That being said I am sitting in my very cozy lulu lemon sweater which I paid 100$ for. But I wear this sweat shirt once a week. I think another part of it is, I know those boots will go on sale. Come March they will all be half price. I'll also spend lots on a vacation.

What about you, what do you spend money on?

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Nathan's Monthly Newsletter: Month Nineteen

Dear Nathan,

This has been a fun month. Today we actually celebrated Grandma's birthday, but you were great at helping her blow out the candles. We are at such a great time in your life. You are so fun and happy most of the time. You communication is coming along slowly. But I do feel like you are communicating more. Still virtually no talking. We think you are saying more words. We think you say the word more and duck and moo and meow. Your favorite words are still Mum, Dad and Pop.



One of the funniest things you are are doing lately is yelling "yeah". If I ask you something your really like and it usually has something to do with food, you "yeah" it. Like if I say, are you ready for dinner. You'll yell "yeah". It makes everyone around you laugh. You show such enthusiasm for your "yeahs" and for whatever it is we are offering you.



As I alluded to in the paragrapgh before you love your food. The moment I put something on the table for dinner, whehter it's milk or a salad you climb right up on your chair and will start to dig in. Even once you take a bite or two, you'll still sit there and wait for the rest of it.



You are really a boy. You have learned so much "boy" stuff from your brother. You pretend to shoot people with your pointer finger all the time. You also love to play on the iphone, just like your brother. I have learned that if Lucas asks for something I better get two, so that you both have one. You do know your one. Anytime I ask you how old you are you'll put up your little one finger.


You are doing well at your "classes". You quite like gymboree. You grab my hand and we walk all around and do the activities. But I think what your favorite part of it is the end. There are songs and bubbles and Gymbo the clown. You also really like the swimming we do after Lucas's swimming.


For life milestones, Daddy gave you your first hair cut this month. You went form the long shaggy hair that mommy loved. To little boy hair, which everyone else loves. Don't get me wrong I love your little boy look too. But it's just one more way you are growing up, so quickyly before my eyes.

love mommy.