Treasure Hunt

When I went away I want the boys to have fun without me. So a couple of days before I left I went to the dollar store and picked up 7 different "toys". Then I made up 4 "clues" for each day and the first clue started on the fridge.

After that the clues ranged from: your next clue rhymes with Punder Lathan's Red, or your next clue is in the book with the line: I'll love you forever, or your next clue is in your coat pocket from when you were two.



It wasn't a really hard thing to put together. It takes some fore thought and planning. Besides I think Lucas loved it. Darryl and Mom would have to attest to it, but I think it was pretty sucessful.

Another idea for a cold week

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Chicken Pasta "Bake"

Here's a new recipe on the Eat at Home Challenge Blog.

Jenn

Alphabet

I'm amazed at how smart Lucas is. Not saying that he is any smarter then any other kid his age. It's just amazing how much he knows. Dollarama has great workbooks that we can do. Lucas's favorite thing is to do mazes. But we try to get a variety of books. He knows all his alphabet and numbers. He is figuring out how to add. I love all this learning. Here is one of the activity we did to encourage learning... even Nathan participated. Here is some of the pictures Darryl took of our adventures

T

P

Z

O (although Nathan made it a Q)

M


T

A

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Another Great Thing...

As the cruise moves farther and farther away, I remember lots of wonderful things that happened. Like in the Snacktime show, when they talked about tushie burps. Or when Ed surprised John Sampson from the Weakerthans by playing the drums on one of their songs. Or everytime I hear a the Great Big Sea song Here and Now, I can see Alan, stopping his foot at the song. I told the story about girl with the exceptional large breasts jumping in the front row of the Great Big Sea Sailaway concert. The more time I have to reflect on it and appriciate that I saw the Barenaked Ladies as they were before the seperation.

One of my other favorite things from the cruise was the tea. It's so cold the last couple of days I drank lots of tea. That and it was free =). It was delicious, so delicious.



Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Why I Have This Blog

So I've read a fair number of articles lately about people blogging for making money or people stopping their blogs becuase it's too overwhelming. Although sometimes I find maintaining the blog alot of work, I don't really write to make money or for anyone else. Don't get me wrong I make it a public blog, so obviously I want people to read it and enjoy it. And I LOVE to get comments from people, so please comment away. But one of my favorite things about the blog is to go back and read about how life was a couple of years ago. Or what was Lucas doing when he was Nathan's age. It's great becuase I have it all online, but I've also published it in the Blurb book.

When I go back and read the blog from a couple of years ago I give updates what we did everyday and I don't really do that anymore. So just in case I go back and read now, here is how things are going with Nathan. Naps are going well. He does cry sometimes when I put him down, but not usually for more then 5 mintues. Bedtimes are not as simple. We usually try to get him asleep before putting him in his bed. Which is probably why he wakes up almost every night and I have to go in and rock him to sleep. With Lucas we were more strict, but now that I know the rocking to sleep stage is not that long, I don't mind doing it.

For the daily update today we had a pretty good weekend. Some exciting "cops" action behind our house on Saturday morning. Then we went to the home show and Lucas had another meltdown as we left. Sunday we went to IKEA and got Lucas a new mattress and did some redecorating.

Anyway, so Jenn is 5 years when you read this, this was your life. I'm working on a post like Lesley's where I reflect on what I was doing 10 years ago.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

The Good Things and a great deal

After a week of complaining posts, I realize that I live this wonderful lucky life. We had a great time last weekend. Our friends came over and the boys played like crazy. We had fun talking with our friends. And although the boys are up and down there are still lots of ups. They make us and each other laugh all the time. Here are some photos and video to highlight that.....

And as Lesley requested here is a website with an amazing deal. My sister sent me this link for 38$ glasses, which includes lenses!! She has ordered some and they looked great. Even if you need a backup pair.

Smiling for the camera, as always.
Hanging out with Auntie Lexie

Our photo alphabet, Here's the letter A. Can you see it?

Last week Grandma found a ladybug out front of the house. So even though it was -22 today, there is hope for spring.
Love and cuddles.




Till Tomorrow

Jenn

So Sad

Well I've spent most of the day reading, listening and watching to all the news about Steve leaving the Barenaked Ladies. I am not surprised but I am very sad about what has happened. When I say I'm not surprised, I certainly noticed something to be off on the cruise. Steven was late for shows, didn't participate in the banter as much and spent lots of obvious time with his girlfriend. I thing Steve has grown away from the band. And although I'm not happy about it and thought it was something they could get over. I'm not surprised that this is the outcome.

The sadness comes from never hearing those Steve songs anymore. Not hearing the back and forth banter from Steve "the man on my right" and Ed. I'm glad we heard Break Your Heart on the cruise and Asleep at the Wheel.

I have hope though, hope that the foursome will be great. Hope they will make great music and their stage show will be great. Even on the cruise there was alot more interaction with the "backies". Plus Kevin did a lot on the Snacktime album and that is one of my favs. So yeah... hope that it will still be good.

I'm still having trouble getting on side with the Steve music. I still feel kind of mad at him. Mad for growing away from the band. Grow, do stuff, but don't leave. I don't think he'll find the chemistry that he has with Ed anywhere else. But I think in a while I'll probably be able to get on side with it. Just not right now, still disapointed with him.

Till Tomorrow, and a wonderful happy post with lots of pictures. I promise

Jenn

Donuts

Today I grabbed a donuts from Lucas Timbits (which for my American friends is like a donuts hole). It was a honey dip and seemed a little stale, although it had been sitting out all day. As I popped it in my mouth and started to chew it, I felt a little gush in my mouth. Then I realized it was not a honey dip, but a powdered donut. And what I was tasting was the strawberry filling in the middle Lucas had licked off all powdered and then put it back.

A lesson to a mother who tried to snack off her kids.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Parenthood

Both children are sleeping and I have a moment to myself with some tea and a moment to write.

I don't know what has been going on with Lucas but we are having such a hard time with him. I was hoping to teach him that when he is good he gets rewarded so we went to the toy store and got him a toy. Then today we went to the grocery store and he expected to get a toy. The problem with him lately is that when he gets upset about something he get over the top crying can't catch his breath upset. As we were leaving the store he tried to jump out of the top of the cart and it pushed me over the edge.

This parenting thing is so hard. I completely understand how parents can lose it and spank there kids. I didn't hit him, but I was looking for anything to snap him out of his crazy crying.

This getting upset and not being able to control his emotions has become a daily thing. I just don't know how to teach him how to express what he wants without getting so upset. Or how to teach him to do what we ask and if we work together rather then always trying to go against us his life will be easier. I need to get better at this. I need to find a way to deal with this stage.

Is this a normal thing for a 3 year old? How do you teach your kids how to deal with there emotions?

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Get to Know More about...... Darryl

I'm feeling at a bit of a blank on which to write, so I saw a couple of meme on Facebook and thought it would be fun.

He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen?
Survivor, Lost, Legend of the Seeker or Who's line is it Anyway

You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad?
Some sort of vinagarette

What's one food he doesn't like?
Oh, that is a hard one.... Beets, he doesn't like beets.

You go out to eat and have a drink. What does he order?
Red Wine

Where did he go to high school?
Montcalm

What size shoe does he wear?
9

If he was to collect anything, what would it be?
Tools

What is his favorite type of sandwich?
Some sort of fancy meat. Not just turkey or chicken. But sun dried tomato and basil turkey or herb spiced chicken.

What would this person eat every day if he could?
jujubes.

What is his favorite cereal?
Mini Wheats.

What would he never wear?
Costumes.

What is his favorite sports team?
Calgary Flames

Who did he vote for?
Not sure... or not saying

Who is his best friend?
Chris

What is something he does that you wish he wouldn't do?
Leave the garbage without a bag

What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do?
leave my wet towels on his side of the bed.

What is his heritage?
Canadian

You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake?
Cheesecake with cherry pie filling.

Did he play sports in high school?
no, he was a bike rider.

What could he spend hours doing?
playing computer games (with Chris)

What is one unique talent he has?
He is quite good at almost everything....

Then there was this one... which is about both of us.

How long have you been together?
Married for 8 years this May. Together for almost 15

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
A month...

Who asked whom out?
He asked me

Whose siblings do you see the most?
We probably see my sister more, but talk to his sister more.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
I think having a newborn was the hardest on us.

Did you go to the same school?
At one point, but not at the same time

Are you from the same home town?
Kind of. I moved to his hometown when I was 10.

Who is smarter?
Darryl.

Who is the most sensitive?
That is a hard one. I think me, but I'd like to know what Darryl thinks.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?

Edo Japan as a family. If it's just the two of us probably the Keg.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Italy

Who has the craziest exes?
We don't really have exes as we met when we were so young.

Who has the worst temper?
Definitly Darryl. For those of you who have not heard the scary voice be glad. Darryl's step father heard it the other day through video conference and he swore to never get on Darryl's bad side.

Who does the cooking?
Both of us. Maybe 60% me, 40% Darryl

Who is the neat-freak?
Neither.... I'm good at overall cleaning. He's good at in depth cleaning.

Who is more stubborn?
Again a hard one. I guess me. Again Darryl what do you think

Who hogs the bed?
Neither of us. We both love to strech out when the other is not there. But both try to not cross over our "rungs".

Who wakes up earlier?
Me. Darryl LOVES to sleep in.

Where was your first date?
Skiing. On the Boler Bump.

How long did it take to get serious?
Years. But we were teenagers. Once we moved out West I knew he was the one.

Who eats more?
For sure Darryl. He can eat a house. But ask who has the higher BMI, it's me.

Who does the laundry?
Me. Sometimes he helps fold while we watch TV.

Who's better with the computer?
Darryl. It's his thing. Although I have converted him to a mac user.

Who drives when you are together?
Again it's pretty equal. If the driving conditions are bad. Usually Darryl. But it most often depends on which kid we grab. Nathan's car seat is on the drivers side, so who ever put Nathan is his car seat drives.

Till Tomorrow