Yesterday we participated in Earth Hour and turned off lights and appliances between 8 and 9pm. All in all I think lots of people participated and it went well. Lucas was not very impressed with this bath by candlelight and at one point even said "Please turn the light on". But enjoyed cranking the flashlight to read books by and even wanted to do it this morning. Part of me found it easy to not use lights for the hour and another part wondered what I was going to do. Basically I spent my non Lucas time reading by candlelight. I am reading a great book. Eat, Love, Pray. But if I didn't have light/candle I don't know what I would have done.
What about you guys... did you participate? What did you do in the dark for an hour?
Till Tomorrow
Jenn
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Productive
These last couple of days Lucas has gone to the dayhome and I have been getting "stuff" done. It is great to have this time to tie up some lose ends that normally get done in a last minute rush or not done at all. I thought I would pass on some of the things I have learned:
1. First off if you put money into and RESP for your children the government puts in an additional 20%. I knew that but wasn't sure if you had to apply or if it was lump sum. With Lucas we invest his 100$ child tax credit in an RESP and the government puts in the 20% about a month after. There is no statement or lump sum if you invest regularly.
2. This year on your taxes you can write off your kids physical activities. So Lucas's swimming lessons and gymnastics we'll be able to write off.
3. Parking tickets never go away! Even though I ignore them, I had to pay them yesterday when I renewed the vechiles.
4. Dollar stores are the best thing, especially the Dollaroama. Do you have a favorite dollar store?
One thing that some of you may or may not know about me is that I aspire to be more like Martha. I am not artisty, but quite crafty. I spent most of the day working on painting a mural in Lucas's room. Here are the half way through shots.
Tomorrow I'll post the mostly done shots. I've also done some sewing and made a couple of Thank You cards. If there is still no baby next week, maybe I'll do some baking and freeze it. Although for the moment I'm going to read my new book and chill.
Till Tomorrow
Jenn
1. First off if you put money into and RESP for your children the government puts in an additional 20%. I knew that but wasn't sure if you had to apply or if it was lump sum. With Lucas we invest his 100$ child tax credit in an RESP and the government puts in the 20% about a month after. There is no statement or lump sum if you invest regularly.
2. This year on your taxes you can write off your kids physical activities. So Lucas's swimming lessons and gymnastics we'll be able to write off.
3. Parking tickets never go away! Even though I ignore them, I had to pay them yesterday when I renewed the vechiles.
4. Dollar stores are the best thing, especially the Dollaroama. Do you have a favorite dollar store?
One thing that some of you may or may not know about me is that I aspire to be more like Martha. I am not artisty, but quite crafty. I spent most of the day working on painting a mural in Lucas's room. Here are the half way through shots.
Tomorrow I'll post the mostly done shots. I've also done some sewing and made a couple of Thank You cards. If there is still no baby next week, maybe I'll do some baking and freeze it. Although for the moment I'm going to read my new book and chill.
Till Tomorrow
Jenn
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Celebration
This weekend was a wonderful celebration of family and marriage. My Oma and Opa were here for their 50th wedding anniversary. To celebrate we went to the castle in the mountains (Banff Springs Hotel) and ate and ate and ate. We have had them here all weekend so we have had many good conversations as well. Like I said in the last post, it's good to learn lessons from others, espcially family. My grandparents have been through SO much in their lives that their stength and courage is a lesson for myself and all their grandchildren. This weekend also focused on their marriage and how you make 50 years work.
Here is a pretty good picture of the two of them. We had a great room to sit in and the light was perfect for pictures, so be prepared for alot of them.
The food was so so amazing. It is a buffet, which Oma and Opa love, because "If you don't like one thing, you'll always find something as you like" - Opa. That being said I don't think Opa found one thing he didn't like. They had breakfast food, lunch and dessert. I didn't get pictures of my favorite things but they were: banana bread french toast with banana compote and real maple syrup, lamb and my dessert which was a really rich chocolate ganache cake and Bananas foster (which Lucas was scared of the fire from the alcohol burning, but I thought it was so cool). Like I said the food was amazing!
Here is one of my favorite pictures of Oma and Opa's children. Oma and Opa had 4 children, but one of them Bonnie died when she was a teenager. I rarely hear Oma and Opa talk about her, but did hear some really great and sad stories this weekend. I think the most poignant was Oma saying their would always be something missing in their lives, there wasn't anything they could do about it, it would always be there.
Mom gave a really good toast about Oma and Opa building the foundation for the rest of their family to have good lives and good marriages.
Here is my mother and Aunt Lucille and the only other picture I have of them. She is married to my uncle Arnie. They came our from Saskatchewan and I think had a really good time as well.
I got to sit beside my father throughout the meal, who wore his Apple tie clip for Darryl. I though this was a great shot of him.
Did I mention we were all a little crazy!
Lucas was estactic that his Auntie Lexie was here. He really does love having aunts. He had so much fun with Auntie Karen too. Jumping on her bouncy bed and having her for a sleepover. Plus every morning he'd wake up, "Where's Auntie Lexie"
I thought this was a good picture to demonstrate the room we were in. Plus it shows how handsome Lucas is (and my big belly)
Anyway it was a excellent celebration and as usual Oma and Opa were excellent guests.
Till Tomorrow
Jenn
Here is a pretty good picture of the two of them. We had a great room to sit in and the light was perfect for pictures, so be prepared for alot of them.
The food was so so amazing. It is a buffet, which Oma and Opa love, because "If you don't like one thing, you'll always find something as you like" - Opa. That being said I don't think Opa found one thing he didn't like. They had breakfast food, lunch and dessert. I didn't get pictures of my favorite things but they were: banana bread french toast with banana compote and real maple syrup, lamb and my dessert which was a really rich chocolate ganache cake and Bananas foster (which Lucas was scared of the fire from the alcohol burning, but I thought it was so cool). Like I said the food was amazing!
Here is one of my favorite pictures of Oma and Opa's children. Oma and Opa had 4 children, but one of them Bonnie died when she was a teenager. I rarely hear Oma and Opa talk about her, but did hear some really great and sad stories this weekend. I think the most poignant was Oma saying their would always be something missing in their lives, there wasn't anything they could do about it, it would always be there.
Mom gave a really good toast about Oma and Opa building the foundation for the rest of their family to have good lives and good marriages.
Here is my mother and Aunt Lucille and the only other picture I have of them. She is married to my uncle Arnie. They came our from Saskatchewan and I think had a really good time as well.
I got to sit beside my father throughout the meal, who wore his Apple tie clip for Darryl. I though this was a great shot of him.
Did I mention we were all a little crazy!
Lucas was estactic that his Auntie Lexie was here. He really does love having aunts. He had so much fun with Auntie Karen too. Jumping on her bouncy bed and having her for a sleepover. Plus every morning he'd wake up, "Where's Auntie Lexie"
I thought this was a good picture to demonstrate the room we were in. Plus it shows how handsome Lucas is (and my big belly)Anyway it was a excellent celebration and as usual Oma and Opa were excellent guests.
Till Tomorrow
Jenn
Monday, March 24, 2008
Pass It On
We have had an excellent weekend and I can't wait to tell you all about it, but for the moment company is still here and that is not really conducive to blogging (or watching TV or reading blogs), but having great conversations with family has been so great. It's great to learn about what kind of people your grandparents are, what shaped their kids (my mom and aunt and uncle) and lessons they learned in their life.
More to come, along with some beautiful pictures.
Till Tomorrow
Jenn
More to come, along with some beautiful pictures.
Till Tomorrow
Jenn
Friday, March 21, 2008
Good Friday
Some random thoughts:
Jenn
- So happy to have Darryl home on a Friday, groceries was much easier
- April is the most popular month for Calgarians to have babies, it's 9 months after Stampede
- How did we end up with neighbors on both sides of us names Rusty. One's a grandpa, the other one is a teenager.
- Work is done, I am both happy and sad
- Love having family in my house, the house is full of people this weekend
- Definitely sad that Lost is not on again for 5 weeks
Jenn
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Wordless Wednesday
Now we can send messages to each other sitting across the living room.
Till Tomorrow
Jenn
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Monthly Newsletter - Month Thirty One
Dear Lucas,
Well this is the last letter I write to you as you are my only child. By next month at this time there will be another person in our life. I think you are quite excited about the new baby. You like to watch it in my belly. We talk about it most everyday, an you have picked a name for it. You call it Baby Jonathan, after the baby of the same name at Lesley's. I'm hoping it will all go well, and I'm sure there will be many stories about you and the baby in the years coming up.
Life has been quite good and quite fun in the last month. Although we are in transition from an afternoon nap to no naps and it kind of depends on the day. Some days I can tell you need more sleep and it is harder to rationalize with you. Most of the time you are a happy-go-lucky kid, as long as you are well fed. You are fun to be around, not only do I love you as my kid but really enjoy spending time with you.
You love music. I don't know a lot about other kids but I think you probably enjoy music more then most. I love to watch you dance and jive in your car seat as we drive. If I try to turn the music down, you complain. "I like it loud". You'll listen to most anything, although the Little Einstein's Theme song is your favorite. You are also starting to sing a lot of the songs we listen to a lot. You know most of the words to QU as well. If I sing one line, you can sing the next. Same with Little Einsteins. Really I couldn't be happier that you love music, becuase I love it too and I love it loud.
This week you have started to correct me when I'm doing something wrong. Mom, don't talk with your mouth full, is the one I have heard twice this week. I also heard you telling Grandma the other night not to waste water. So funny it is to hear you correct us. Soon you'll be telling us to be careful.
Everynight before I go to bed I go in and check on you and cover you up with a blanket. When I watch you sleeping, so peaceful and quiet, it makes me so excited to have another person in our lives to love as much as I love you.
love mommy
Well this is the last letter I write to you as you are my only child. By next month at this time there will be another person in our life. I think you are quite excited about the new baby. You like to watch it in my belly. We talk about it most everyday, an you have picked a name for it. You call it Baby Jonathan, after the baby of the same name at Lesley's. I'm hoping it will all go well, and I'm sure there will be many stories about you and the baby in the years coming up.
Life has been quite good and quite fun in the last month. Although we are in transition from an afternoon nap to no naps and it kind of depends on the day. Some days I can tell you need more sleep and it is harder to rationalize with you. Most of the time you are a happy-go-lucky kid, as long as you are well fed. You are fun to be around, not only do I love you as my kid but really enjoy spending time with you.
You love music. I don't know a lot about other kids but I think you probably enjoy music more then most. I love to watch you dance and jive in your car seat as we drive. If I try to turn the music down, you complain. "I like it loud". You'll listen to most anything, although the Little Einstein's Theme song is your favorite. You are also starting to sing a lot of the songs we listen to a lot. You know most of the words to QU as well. If I sing one line, you can sing the next. Same with Little Einsteins. Really I couldn't be happier that you love music, becuase I love it too and I love it loud.
This week you have started to correct me when I'm doing something wrong. Mom, don't talk with your mouth full, is the one I have heard twice this week. I also heard you telling Grandma the other night not to waste water. So funny it is to hear you correct us. Soon you'll be telling us to be careful.
Everynight before I go to bed I go in and check on you and cover you up with a blanket. When I watch you sleeping, so peaceful and quiet, it makes me so excited to have another person in our lives to love as much as I love you.
love mommy
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Lucas's List of Things to Teach the Baby
This evening Lucas was walking around the house reciting all the things he is going to teach the baby. Here's his list:
Jenn
- turn things
- press buttons
- clean bathrooms
- pour coffee
- sew things
- put CD's in
- play music to the baby
- read his book out in the hallway
- drive big bob cats
- eat mashed pototaoes
- play the guitar
- how to play with big dinosaurs
- line his head up and do summersaults
Jenn
Friday, March 14, 2008
Crazy Dreams
Last night I was robbed of sleep by all the crazy dreams I was having.
The first one was my subconscious telling me I had locked Torin int he basement. I dreamt that you could order funny animals from you tube videos and Darryl had done this for my birthday. There was a dog that when he barked said "Hey Dude" and two cats that made a very peculair noise. Both animals were funny and I remember laughing in my dream. The problem was Darryl goes to work and I had to figure out how to get all these animals back into the carton they came in. The cats were scratching me, the dog didn't want to go. I woke up quick upset with Darryl. But then remembered I had left Torin in the basement.
After falling back asleep I had a dream, that my friend Leanne and I were staying at my
grandparents old house and Ben, from Lost, was trying to capture us. We were walking through a bunch of tunnels opening doors and there was Ben standing behind one of the doors. when I saw him I said the F word, which is the only time I swear, in my dreams. Luckily I convinced him to let my friend go.
Maybe I need to stop watching Lost. It's like when Lucas wakes up crying he's scared of the big bad wolf, he needs to stop watching Super Why... But he is so scary.... and plays it so well.
Hope you are all sleeping well.
Till Tomorrow
Jenn
The first one was my subconscious telling me I had locked Torin int he basement. I dreamt that you could order funny animals from you tube videos and Darryl had done this for my birthday. There was a dog that when he barked said "Hey Dude" and two cats that made a very peculair noise. Both animals were funny and I remember laughing in my dream. The problem was Darryl goes to work and I had to figure out how to get all these animals back into the carton they came in. The cats were scratching me, the dog didn't want to go. I woke up quick upset with Darryl. But then remembered I had left Torin in the basement.
After falling back asleep I had a dream, that my friend Leanne and I were staying at my
grandparents old house and Ben, from Lost, was trying to capture us. We were walking through a bunch of tunnels opening doors and there was Ben standing behind one of the doors. when I saw him I said the F word, which is the only time I swear, in my dreams. Luckily I convinced him to let my friend go.Maybe I need to stop watching Lost. It's like when Lucas wakes up crying he's scared of the big bad wolf, he needs to stop watching Super Why... But he is so scary.... and plays it so well.
Hope you are all sleeping well.
Till Tomorrow
Jenn
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Smorgy
I haven't really posted in a couple of days, so I feel the need for a round up of the last couple of days.
Lucas had his last gymnastics class this week. We have been going to gymnastics for the last couple of months and Lucas has quite enjoyed himself. It's been a great way to tire him out. He has jumped on trampolines, done flips over bars (with help), mastered the summersault and enjoyed running around.
I also went to another stamping class where I got to be crafty again, which I do love. Look what I made! You may think I'm talented, but it's really all the teacher.
Preparations are still underway for the babies room. We bought a chair from Canadian Tire, leather recyliner for 215$. It was a great deal. Plus it's nice to have a chair in the nursery, and this one should last a while.
Just finished watching Lost. Man I love that show. It answers questions in each episode, but always asks more. Will the questions ever be answered?? I really should stop watching Lost because I'm dreaming about it. But I'll post more on that, and my crazy dreams tomorrow.
I have to go to the doctor who is going to deliver the baby. I'm not to fond of this process as there is a 1 in 8 chance she'll be the one to deliver the baby. Plus I sit there for half and hour for her to measure me and listen to the heartbeat. That being said I do have a question for all the women out there. What is the best way to pee in a cup. Start to pee and put the cup in midstream, try to position it, then start peeing? What's your technique?
Till Tomorrow
Jenn
Lucas had his last gymnastics class this week. We have been going to gymnastics for the last couple of months and Lucas has quite enjoyed himself. It's been a great way to tire him out. He has jumped on trampolines, done flips over bars (with help), mastered the summersault and enjoyed running around.
I also went to another stamping class where I got to be crafty again, which I do love. Look what I made! You may think I'm talented, but it's really all the teacher.
Preparations are still underway for the babies room. We bought a chair from Canadian Tire, leather recyliner for 215$. It was a great deal. Plus it's nice to have a chair in the nursery, and this one should last a while.Just finished watching Lost. Man I love that show. It answers questions in each episode, but always asks more. Will the questions ever be answered?? I really should stop watching Lost because I'm dreaming about it. But I'll post more on that, and my crazy dreams tomorrow.
I have to go to the doctor who is going to deliver the baby. I'm not to fond of this process as there is a 1 in 8 chance she'll be the one to deliver the baby. Plus I sit there for half and hour for her to measure me and listen to the heartbeat. That being said I do have a question for all the women out there. What is the best way to pee in a cup. Start to pee and put the cup in midstream, try to position it, then start peeing? What's your technique?
Till Tomorrow
Jenn
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