The Beak

The Old Beak Is Redirected To the New Blog Now!

2009-08-20T06:54:00.000-07:00

I am Suffering Blogging Withdrawl

2009-08-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

Ok. Seriously. I am going through blogging withdrawl.

I hated the new site, ignore the new Beak I linked to. Its not what I wanted. I nuked my old post.

The Supermom has taken on a life of its own, with books reviews and now has NOTHING to do with my personal blogging, which is ok, its cool, I am happy that I am getting sent books to review by real authors, its fun and I would love for it to get bigger and bigger in that direction. I plan on taking the books into my work and donating them to the children's units, so I really hope it gets larger that way, the more the better!

Mike is working on a new blog for me. Its crazy. Its a huge project. Mega huge. Three blogs in one at the moment. But I have always found blogging to be my "crafting", and he is making me a super duper complex blog that will be my art, my crafting, my creative outlet that I have always wanted, and I am very excited.

But it might be ready in September lol. It WILL be up by September.

I miss MY blogging desperately. I have so much to catch up on, so much to post about my gardening and everything. But I have to wait.

*sighs loudly*

So I still don't have *my* creative outlet running yet. The supermom was going to be, then totally just ran away from me! And then I realized that yes, it is everything that interests me, but its not about me.

So selfish, I know.

So I am still here.....just not blogging as much. Ok not at all. I am still reading all of yours as well, so keep on posting chickies.

This summer has been so busy, I have worked 5/6 days a week, then went to calgary, then worked another full week, then am going to calgary again. And then, I am going to attack my house which has been so sorely neglected. I just can't keep up with it, I am not home.

We have been everywhere, from the beach, to the lake,to the calgary zoo, to the science center, visiting their grandparents and cousins and aunties, the kids have had a fantastic summer, but that means that everything in my house has gone to hell in a handbasket, but when I realized that the kids have done more this summer than I even dreamed I would have, I am ok with the mess. Sorta.

So once the new blog is running, and this one is going to be the final one, I have spent forever designing and planning and concocting it to be exactly what I want, I will go back and blog blog blog about my summer. The new one also will have all my old posts off of here, so it will probably just re-direct to the new one.

I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer!

Who...

2009-05-16T19:12:00.001-07:00

....does and doesn't want to be on my blogroll on the new site? Blackbird is anonymous and Twinkle pix is a business, so I moved them, but the rest of you may just want me to move your links to my kids blog (I have to have them listed somewhere cause I remember nothing and I read them at work)

anyhoo let me know where you wanna go!

Shuttin' It Down....

2009-05-15T15:58:00.000-07:00

Well, I am going to leave this blog up, for my reference, but I am not going to be posting anymore. But before you ask if I have lost my mind, its because my wonderful husband has created an absolutely beautiful site for me to blog on, not only personal but now I can blog in categories that I like to share things about (crafts, books, food, etc).

Sooooo everyone can now read my blog at thesupermom.com (and seriously I can't believe that that name wasn't taken by a website already, its SO much fun!!!) and feel free to comment as per usual on my posts. I am absolutely in love with what he made me and have another site I want him to make soon too.

There are lots of things that I will be moving over from here, and maybe nuking this one completely if I can get all my old posts over to the new one, there are still things to add on the new site as well. I just don't have time to keep up with two and the kids blog now as well.

See you all over there!!

AND!

2009-05-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

I had to harass stupid Chapters why my gawddamn Polo books weren't shipped on the 12th, and I get a bullshit email that their vendor didn't have the supply ready, and they will have the books in 2-4 business days. Which would make it a WEEK past the pre-order date for shipping it out to me. So I replied telling them they had better ship it priority at THEIR expense, because the bloody point of a pre-order is that I get my EFFING books when they are released!

F! #@$%&^%$#@

I need some chocolate.

SIGH!

2009-05-14T09:23:00.000-07:00

This has to be the coldest, latest spring EVER. Its snowing today, freezing, the furnace is turned on dammit, and my gardening course is postponed until Monday the 25th. The day before I LEAVE on my trip. Mother EFF I am frustrated. I am not sure how I am going to get my garden in on, oh, the Tuesday morning, we are leaving Tuesday right after school to go to Calgary.

Look at this crappy weather coming next week, I can't even get my plants out because the nights are possibly going into the minus temps again with more snow.

ARGH.

Today

9°C

Fri

13°C
1°C

Sat

18°C
2°C

Sun

16°C
5°C
40%

Mon

5°C
-2°C
60%

Tue

8°C
3°C
60%

Wed

13°C
2°C

My Mini-Me...

2009-05-12T20:41:00.000-07:00

..reading until there is no more sun in the room to read by tonight.. I used to do this as a kid allll the time. I just don't think it was quite this early on, and definitely was not falling asleep on my books.

Aw my sweet little boy :) He reads every night until he falls asleep, such an incredibly voracious little reader. He's a grump in the mornings tho, not quite sure what we are going to do about that. I am thinking its time for some dim-out/blackout material in the windows!

Cross Your Fingers.....

2009-05-11T13:57:00.000-07:00

...that the two new Polo books I pre-ordered ship tomorrow, and are here in time for our trip! That gives me a good hour of entertainment in the car for the kids. I also ordered a couple new Robert Munsch books too.....waiting anxiously for them to arrive!

I was also glad to see there are two more coming out in the fall, Polo and the Dragon, and Polo and the Magician! Can't wait!

Goodies

2009-05-11T13:46:00.000-07:00

A couple goodies from Mother's Day...

..homemade window cling, which is something we are going to do this summer as a craft (have to start storing up my ideas for two months of crafts at home). Mr K did such a great job, and it looks so lovely on my window.

..and a book from Mike and the Princess, and a bookmark that Mr K made for me as well. I got a folder full of coupons, crafts, notes, and a poem, all very lovely.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T21:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's day to all the moms out there!

Let's see...Charlynn likes my thankful posts, so I will do another one today for all us moms...

I am thankful this day that my children are healthy. Working at the childrens' hospital often reminds you that not everyone is so lucky.

On that note, I am grateful to be humbled by my job sometimes with the reminder that my complaints are so incredibly minor.

I am grateful to be given the chance to raise these two amazing kids with two distinctly amusing and wonderous personalities.

I am grateful for my friends, my family and the intricate web of personalities I know...I know some truly great people...and not so great..lol. I am glad that I have been challenged to think outside the box, that the selfish have shown me how not to act, that the patient people have helped me learn my own, and to be blunt, that some people have just shown me how I do not want to parent, and on the other side of the coin, how I don't want to treat my friends. That in itself is a valuable lesson, negative as it may seem.

I am thankful that spring is here.

I tear up with joy looking at the crafts made by beautiful little chubby fingers, working so hard to make their mommy something special for Mother's Day. I only get a limited amount of those, there's an age expiry limit...I will treasure them while I can.

I am thankful and very excited to take my garden course with one of those aforementioned good :) friends this Thursday evening!

I am happy that Mike surprised me at work for my supper break with two kids and a box of my favorite sugar free Fudgsicles. Gawd dang, sometimes he gets it right!

And all days, I am just glad I have a heartbeat ;)

Want To Read..

2009-05-09T07:07:00.000-07:00

...this book when the revised edition comes out. There are a few books on the topic, but this would be the most recent revised edition that one could find. Its a subject that fascinates me, especially after two children and my own negative experiences with the staff in the hospital and clinics we've been to.

Every day more than 3,000 babies die from infections due to a lack of breastfeeding and the use of bottles, artificial milks and other risky products. In her powerful and provocative book Gabrielle Palmer describes the pressures on women, health workers and governments who are enmeshed in collusion with the sellers of infant feeding products. These companies invest in marketing strategies and clever promotion which help maintain practices that contribute to the suffering, illness and death of children in both poor and rich nations. Gabrielle Palmer vividly describes the far-reaching consequences for health and well-being that the actions of large corporations have on global politics and the environment. With an engaging blend of facts, insight and anecdotes, she puts infant feeding fashions into their historic and economic contexts. An essential and inspirational eye-opener, "The Politics of Breastfeeding" challenges our complacency about how we feed our children and radically reappraises a subject which concerns not only mothers, but everyone: man or woman, parent or childless, old or young. This is the 3rd fully revised and updated edition.

Goofy Goose

2009-05-04T19:01:00.000-07:00

What happens when you live near a natural lake area....we sat on the front step last night watching two that were on separate rooftops and were "talking" to each other (translate - total cacophony of honking loud noises, so funny) and now this guy on my back neighbors roof tonight, who's rather quiet. Until another lands on a nearby rooftop I am sure!

And So It Starts...

2009-05-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

The annual craze has started, this past week I have cleaned out the flowerbeds, added new soil and manure, raked the grass, and then yesterday planted my lily and glad bulbs, AND finally pulled out that damn tree in the front. Its been half dead (ash mites) for about 2 years now, we tried to save it, but it was so far gone that Mike was able to get it out by just bending it back and forth for a few minutes, everything was so weakened it just came right out.

However, digging out the damn wire basket that held the roots was a freaking chore and a half, not to mention then back-filling the hole when done! I am not sure what's going there, I am thinking a sweet cherry bush perhaps...there are some sweet cherries that we can grow here now, which excites me to no end, but I have to find someone who carries the one I want...

I also pulled out my dogwoods cause I am sick of them and they aren't flourishing either. The rabbit is completely enjoying chewing the twigs, I will have nothing but the root system to throw out in a week or two after she's done having her fun.

There's only 2 weeks till May long! I have to get so much done before we go on our trip too, we're going right in the peak gardening time for me.

Black Eyed Susan Vine

2009-05-01T07:32:00.000-07:00

My first bloom on one of my multitudes of vines I started, I can't wait, I love these vines :) I moved them into my hanging baskets yesterday as they were getting a little long, and they can sit inside for a few more weeks.

Alberta Campground Bookings Go Online

2009-04-30T17:36:00.000-07:00

This was VERY interesting for me, I doubt we are going camping this year since our trip is taking up lots of fundage, but we are hoping in the next couple years to get another tent trailer and get out there with the kids. I live online, so this is just awesome. I hate phones. LOL. Booking online = perfect.

These two facts on the site I can't wait to check out, the 360 view of the campsites? That's AWESOME!

Provide “real time” information on campsite availability; and
Include leading-edge geospatial technology that allows panoramic 360-degree views of campgrounds and campsites

From the Edmonton Journal:

For Cindy Ady, finding a campground with showers, flush toilets and power is a must when it comes to vacationing in the great outdoors.
While unveiling the new online camping reservation system on Wednesday, the minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation joked about her need for the extras while camping.
"I am a recreation camper, not a hardcore camper," she said.
The reservation service will be available to the public May 1 at www.Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca. Campers may reserve campsites at 25 provincial campgrounds chosen for a pilot project.
The new reservation system will allow people to choose campsites based on individual preferences, such as size, proximity to washrooms, even firepit location. Campers can get a 360-degree panoramic view of campsites and campgrounds on the website.
"This new service that we're announcing today will make it easier for campers to use our provincial campgrounds," Ady said.
The move to create an online registration service came in response to a 2007 survey of campers, many of whom were frustrated with the existing booking system.
"Eighty per cent of (campers) were selecting their campsite online, but they couldn't book the site," Ady said. "It felt like an incomplete service to them."
The first phase of the online service will cost the province $8.4 million, and the estimated cost for the first year of operation is $1.8 million.
In addition to camping fees, users of the online registration will have to pay a $10 reservation fee. The added cost does not sit well with Harry Chase, Calgary MLA and Liberal critic for parks and protected areas. Chase said he is concerned the extra fee will make camping more exclusive and too costly for some families.
"This may force families into random camping on Crown land in the backwoods, and that's where the yahoos are," he said. "The potential for conflict between a family trying to have recreation and a bunch of good old boys boozing it up is a concern."
Camper Lavona Bailer is frustrated with the $10 fee as well. She said she doesn't understand why the government is adding an extra fee when so many other places offer discounts for booking online.
Bailer has started an online petition to protest the fees, which she thinks will hurt tourism more than help it. She said, given the choice, she would choose the campground that does not charge extra for booking online.
"Half the time, the weather on weekends is crappy, so you end up cancelling and then you are out $10," she said. "Where is the money going? It just seems like a bit of a cash grab to me."
The $10 fee is not new to campsite reservations, says Camille Weleschuk, spokesperson for Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation. She said people phoning campgrounds to make reservations were charged the same fee.
Campgrounds in the pilot project were chosen based on popularity and proximity to major cities and highways. Ady said the province hopes to add 100 more campgrounds to the online service next year.

You May Not Like The Snow...

2009-04-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

...but my plants sure do!

My delphiniums (I think lol, they could be larkspur, the leaves are similar and I planted both) are exploding faster than most of my spring plants, I am surprised at how hardy they are. I am so excited, they should bloom this year!

My giant onions are growing sooo fast.

And some sorta bulb that I can't remember the name, but they are already turning blue, and should be gorgeous in a week.

Pssst...Jane.....my honeysuckle FINALLY CAME BACK this year! What is this, #3 that I have tried? I was shocked to find buds on it.

Animals move today to new Edmonton shelter

2009-04-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

Very cool, I knew they were getting a new facility, but didn't know they had revenue generating ideas and classrooms for summer camps etc! I LOVE the idea of classes to educate children on responsible pet ownership, I think that it makes a bigger impression rather than parents, (tho lord know we try) kids going to a class especially for it, and perhaps with some hands on learning as well.

From the Edmonton Journal:

More than 200 shelter animals will be transported from the society's cramped, crumbling 60-year-old facility on Yellowhead Trail on Tuesday morning into the new $22-million Chappelle Centre for Animal Care.
Suffused with natural light, the new 56,000-square-foot facility is the vision of executive director Stephanie McDonald, who developed her ideas through touring more than 70 animal shelters across North America.
Designed to promote animal care and reduce stress — a trigger for disease — the facility also includes a number of revenue-generating elements, among them a day care for dogs, a coin-operated dog bath and an off-leash park that's fenced and gated.
It also has community classroom space, which will be used for workshops and seminars, and for a summer camp where children can learn about responsible pet ownership.
The society plans to develop programs, too, focussed on socialization and behavioural issues, two of the biggest reasons owners surrender their pets.
"We're going to shape young minds here and they're going to change the face of animal care in our community," McDonald said in an interview earlier this year.
"This will be a place you'll want to come to, not just because you want to adopt an animal but because you want to educate your kids, or because you want to volunteer."
The new centre, which is located at 13620 163rd Street, is scheduled to open during the first week of May.

You might be an Emergency Physician if...

2009-04-26T18:12:00.000-07:00

(stolen from the U of A emerg medicine website, I guess they have to have a sense of humour to survive!)

-You have the bladder capacity of 5 people
-Discussing dismemberment over a gourmet meal seems perfectly normal to you
-You find humour in other people's stupidity
-You believe 90% of what you are told and 75% of what you see
-You have your weekends off planned a year in advance
-You plan what you are going to have for dinner before doing a gastric lavage
-You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if the phrase "wow it's really quiet" is uttered
-You take it as a compliment when someone calls you a dirty name
-You are prone to complimenting complete strangers on their great veins when you are out in public
-You have ever answered a "lost condom" phone call
-You have ever wanted to hold a seminar entitled "Suicide…Doing it right."
-You believe that "too stupid to live" should be a nursing diagnosis
-You have ever had to leave a patient's room before you begin to laugh uncontrollably
-You have ever restrained someone and it was not a sexual experience
-You have ever wanted to answer "yes" when someone calls and asks "is my husband, wife, mother, boyfriend, etc. there?"
-Your most common assessment question is "what changed tonight to make it an emergency after six [hours, days, weeks, months, years…..]"
-You believe the waiting room should be equiped with a Valium fountain
-You have been exposed to so many X-rays that you consider radiation a form of birth control
-You have ever had a patient look you straight in the eye and say "I have no idea how that got stuck there..."
-You believe that waiting room time should be proportional to the lingth of time from symptom onset. "You've had the pain for 3 weeks…well have a seat in the waiting room and we'll get back to you in 3 days."
-You know the number for the local Detox by heart.
-When checking the orientation of a patient, you aren't sure of the correct answer.
-You always try to schedule days off around the phases of the moon.
-Your alcoholically challenged patients know you by your first name, and can point to "their room."
-The hem of your uniform is held up with either 3-0 chromic or steristrips.
-You believe things would go much quicker if everyone would just get a head CT, AB's, Narcan and a loading dose of dilantin at the E.D. entrance.
-You associate possible house paint colours with body secretinos or functions such as: Bile green, venous blue, arterial red, puffer pink, mottled blue, etc.
-You believe the sight of a full moon can ruin a perfectly good day.
-You find yourself avoiding an unhealthy COPD patient in the grocery store in fear that he'll drop near you and you'll have to do CPR on your day off.
-Your family members have to have a fever of at least 40 or be missing a limb with active bleeding to receive your sympathy.
-You've held a 14 gauge needle over someone's vein and said "now there's going to be a little poke…."
-You are the only one at the dinner table not allowed to talk about your day at work…
-You've ever sworn that you were going to have "NO CODE" tattooed on your chest (or you already have it tattooed!)

Alberta Spring

2009-04-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

Prop 8 - The Musical

2009-04-22T13:54:00.001-07:00

Have a good laugh, I love Jack Black!

"Prop 8 - The Musical" starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and many more... from Jack Black

Another Princess Gem

2009-04-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

In the van today..

The Princess : "Mommy, we don't say shut up, cause then we get a time out"

Me : "Yes, you're right."

The Princess : "When I am grumpy with K, I don't tell him to shut up. I just hit him".

I almost drove off the road laughing. Gawd, that girl of mine, she's such a people person LOL.

Loblaws urges shoppers to stop using plastic bags

2009-04-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

Part of the reason I love Superstore is the wonder of their totes (I have three that have been smashed, crashed, played "train" in by two rambunctious children and loaded tons of groceries for a couple years now and are STILL in one piece), the fact that their carts are designed for the totes precisely, and the push for their bags.

This article today talks about it a little more, but it neglects to mention that at least one store is COMPLETELY bagless. The store in Airdrie where my parents live is completely plastic bagless, you cannot purchase plastic at all. You are forced to use cloth or bins. LOVE. IT.

I honestly think instead of the charging more for the plastic, that they should get rid of them in Edmonton like they did in Airdire. The cloth bags are 74 cents each. That's IT. Who can't afford an investment of $5.18 for 7 !! cloths bags??

Oh, and how fantastic is the $3 million to the World Wildlife Fund over the next 3 years?

I would love to see this happen. Just give a weeks warning, then poof, sorry, we do not sell plastic bags anymore.

I also wonder, has anyone else heard of bagless Superstores like in Airdrie?

But On a Happy Note..

2009-04-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

...dinner at Khazana's was absolutely FANTASTIC, the rice was the best I have ever had there (I had another helping instead of dessert, what does that tell you lol) and the movie Adventureland was entertaining.

And it was lovely catching up with everyone, and getting away from my children (as wonderful as they are).

I feel refreshed and ready to tackle my week!

Get A Brain Already

2009-04-19T21:34:00.000-07:00

I had JUST commented last night to the girl I was working with, that "quad" season had started. I was looking in the emergency room program while searching for patients, and noticed that there were 2 adults coming in, one for a quad accident and one for a dirtbike.

Then I read that a 10 year old was killed today on, surprise surprise, a quad.

Parents, grab a freaking brain. Don't let your children operate a machine that is 10 times heavier than they are without supervision. Do you realize what it does to their little bodies when it flips?

PUT A HELMET ON YOUR CHILD. But you know what? When that 600 lb machine crushes their little chest, its not going to really help a whole effing lot.

Did I rant about this already last year? I am sure I have.What is really scary is that every night during the summer, I see that there is someone in emerg for a quad injury. I work in one hospital. ONE.

Quads are not toys to give your 10 year old to go for a spin with. They are incredibly powerful machines that adults have a hard time controlling properly. W....T....F people.

Rant over. Sigh. I hate that summer brings out the stupids. And they all end up at my work.

Thanks

2009-04-18T19:31:00.000-07:00

What I am thankful for lately (I think about it a lot, but its nice to verbalize. Ok, well not verbalize but make use of the written word)

*I am thankful for my job. I really, really like working here (hey, I have time to blog while working), the pay is amazing, and my hours are fantastic. I am so lucky that I found a shift that allows me to do everything I need to with my family. Everytime I come in on the weekend, I am so happy that I got to spend the whole week with my children, at my son's school and with my daughter. It gives me the false impression that I really can do it all ;)

*Every week I am more thankful for Mr K's school. The more I get to know the teachers and atmosphere, the more happy I am. I love that I can come in with The Princess to his class (unheard of for most public schools) and help out whenever I want, that I am forced to come out of my own comfort zones and HAVE to get to know the other moms, because there are only 9 LOL! And there are some that I really like too, and am looking forward to getting to know better. I also love that I am now "trained" to do some librarian duties there, since they are small they don't have one on staff, so I learned some of the basics to help out when needed. Fun! And I am so excited for him to go next year, next year he gets that one teacher that the whole school loves, that one teacher who just embodies fun, positivity, and zest, and if he's lucky, he gets her for the next 2 years, if there is still a split. I am so happy that for his first big year, he gets such a great teacher. My childrens schooling is such a huge part of my worries, that when its going right, I am so thankful for it, especially since I have been on the opposite end of having it eat me up with worry.

* I am thankful that Mike just has so much going on that could turn out to be great things for him. But I am ready for his damn book to be written already! And I think he's ready to have it off his plate...a few more months maybe.. but I am glad he's exploring what he loves to do.

* I am sooo happy its spring! I am sitting here planning on a wonderful day at Rundle tomorrow with the kids (while Mike writes, Boo Hiss, but damn, he's close to being done his re-write) and am so looking forward to sunshine and walking and the playground and a picnic lunch with the kids.

* I am thankful to be going out finally for my birthday dinner tomorrow night at Khazana's with some friends, followed by the movie Adventureland.

* I am glad my favorite Dr is back from his stint at the Alex, he makes me laugh, I really missed his warped sense of humor. Nothing like being hit on by a Dr who claims he has a wooden leg and a glass eye ;) Cheers you up every time!

*I am ever thankful for my little family, I can't help but want to burst with happiness watching my kids some days!

* Have you noticed I am in love with my new camera?

Rundle Park

2009-04-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

Some pics from the walk the Princess and I too today down in Rundle, Mr K has short days on Thursdays, and now with the nice weather she and I will just go take a walk for an hour instead of getting groceries like we usually do. Its too short a time to go home, and his school is 5 minutes away.

A lovely elderly couple, they were so sweet and caring to each other while walking.

My Composter/Lawnmower

2009-04-15T16:55:00.000-07:00

Yah, Scooby gets all her scooby snacks, right out of the kitchen lol. There is very little (asparagus) that she doesn't enjoy eating, I was talking today about how I am not going to bother composting with worms this summer, my dog, er, rabbit eats everything that is scraps that could possibly be composted. (you can't compost meat/dairy, so my little vegetarian takes care of the rest)

And now she mows my lawn too. Talk about green and efficient. Oh, and she also fertilizes it as she goes ;)

Aaand where the bunny is, my daughter is.

My allium are coming up! My big giant purple flowering onions, I am very excited about these!

HAHAHA!

2009-04-14T13:36:00.000-07:00

From the Calgary Herald..and I agree with the satire so completely.

Just Another Alberta Spring

2009-04-14T13:08:00.000-07:00

Before There Was Twilight......

2009-04-13T17:10:00.000-07:00

..there was Night World. Written in 1997 I do believe, (I am so not going upstairs to make sure thats correct) they have been re-issued obviously to tie in with all the Twilight craze. They were on at Walmart for about $9 each, each containing 3 stories, and there are 3 different books available. Unfortunately for me, I only grabbed the 2 I could see, which means a trip back to get the third.

I am very curious to see if they are as blasted needy, weak femaled and obsessive as the Twilight ones, or perhaps something I would let the Princess read later on. Of course, they are allll about teenage love, but I am hoping for maybe a little less simpering in them...

They seem to be a childhood favorite of many, so reading them at 33 for the fist time may not be the same. Oh hell, who am I kidding. I could pick up a Sweet Valley High and enjoy it.

Girls Weekend Day 2 : Spa

2009-04-12T06:38:00.000-07:00

Saturday Kandice and I spent the day at Pink Lime, and went for the works! But to start out my day even better, Mike brought me home some lovely tulips :)

Then off to the spa!

First was a mud body exfoliating scrub, followed by being wrapped up like a mummy to let it all soak in. Then while wrapped up like said mummy, it was facial time, which was lovely. Then after the facial was done, it was time to shower off the mud wrap. Then after being all clean and de-mudded, it was massage time for an hour. During that time as well it was mud mask time for the face, which was so weird lol. It hardened into a rubber mask, you couldn't open your eyes or lips! You definitely CANNOT be the slightest bit claustrophobic to have most of the treatments, the facial has warm towels put on your face, the wrap is confining (but oh so warm and awesome) and the mask, well, like I said, no face movement except your nostrils!

Just some of the ambiance...aah...smelly candles..

Then after the body treatment, it was time for a pedicure, which also was fantastic. They did a paraffin wax on them too,ooooh so warm and squishy for my dry feet!

Then after that, cut,highlights and style. I am always happy with the highlights they do. I went a little blonder since summer is coming.
And Kandice's awesome cut,color and highlights.

Then we came home to a lovely dinner and chilled wine that Mike had pretty much ready for us. A very awesome day to celebrate our birthdays! I think its going to be a yearly event ;)

Girls Weekend Day 1: My New Bangle

2009-04-11T06:38:00.000-07:00

Day one of girls weekend with Kandice, we went to the Antiques show. I actually only found myself one little thing, a gorgeous handmade glass bead bracelet. I have been admiring artists on the web for a while now who create these, they are amazing works of art. So I was REALLY excited to find one for myself! I actually can't get a good picture of it, the glass doesn't want to photograph well, I am sure a local photographer I know can clue me into why ;)

I also picked up some others things for the kids for Easter, will post after they receive them! I love that the antiques show has not only antiques but is almost like a flea market with assorted quality things to find.

Today is SPA DAY and I am taking my camera!!

More Signs of Spring At Our House

2009-04-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

Signs of Spring!!

2009-04-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

Ahahahahahh *she cackles wildly* it really is here! I cleaned out my flowerbeds to see what was happening under all the leaves and dead plants, and yes, spring is here! Even if my lupins are stupid (or desperate) enough to grow, um, through ice???

And I have hollyhocks all over by the fence coming up, yippee!

I Would Just Like To Say...

2009-04-03T10:24:00.000-07:00

..that trainer Bob kicked my ass on level 1 of his dvd. Ouch.

Oh, and my son telling "that was SHORT where's the rest???" (as my thighs were in screaming, shaking, burning pain) . I politely told him mommy's muscles would stop working, she would become one big charliehorse and she wouldn't be able to drive the van anywhere if she even attempted level 2, and that even thinking about level 3 would send her to the hospital. And for god's sake, it was 30 minutes of hell, SHORT?? !!!!! Ok, I left out the hell part.

The kids "do" it with me, which entails them doing the fun stuff, like jumping jacks, then sitting on the floor when "its too hard" lol. Wish I could sit on the floor too.

Kid-isms

2009-04-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

Ah my hilarious kids. Last night Mike and I played Playmobil with them before bed, and Mike started singing YMCA while making the cowboy and construction worker dance. And this is point in case how your children really tune into things you say and do, Mr K went this morning and got the bin out, and set up a stage, with an audience, and then asked me to play YMCA. We are minus the Indian Chief, but Playmobil sure makes one of course.

And a couple gems from The Princess:

"mommy I love your feet, can I smell them?"

And while riding in the van with big brother, after trying to hit him and getting in trouble:

*wistful sigh*.."I like to hit people." (well at least she's honest)

Trumpet Vine

2009-03-31T14:08:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to try this forever...and Walmart carries it in a ready to grow container for 8 bucks, so what the hell. It only lasts a year, but can grow up to 40 feet in tropical climates, so I figure if I get 8 feet out of it, I will be happy! The trumpets are 3 inches long, I really hope it blooms!

California Academy Of Sciences

2009-03-28T14:56:00.000-07:00

The Academy of Sciences looks SO amazing! I am very excited to go to Disney with the kids of course, but this place looks AMAZING and I am so stoked to take *myself* here. The kids can tag along too, I suppose ;) There is going to be a DEFINITE bonus to having 3 adults to 2 kids, I can have time to explore and read on my own if needed and catch up to the rest later.. this place looks one-of-a-kind!

African Hall

Lions, and cheetahs, and zebras, oh my! Take a virtual safari through Africa and encounter these animals —and many others—inside intricately crafted dioramas. Look closely as you wander through the hall, and you’ll find some live animals as well, including tortoises, lizards, and a colony of African penguins.

Altered State: Climate Change in California

Walk beneath an 80-foot-long blue whale skeleton, gaze up at a towering T. rex, come face-to-face with a live rattlesnake, and marvel at dozens of other California treasures. Then track the potential impacts of climate change in California and around the world, and learn what you can do to help. Measure the impact of your family’s every-day decisions on a carbon scale, help polar bears move from one ice floe to another in an interactive Artic Ice projection room, and share your ideas for treading more lightly on the planet at the Academy’s feedback station.

California Coast

It never rains at the Academy’s California Coast, an exhibit that highlights the state’s diverse marine environments. Watch waves roll onto a sandy beach, talk to scuba divers inside a 100,000-gallon rocky coast tank, play hide-and-seek with a giant Pacific octopus, and get a closer look at a Red-tailed hawk. You can even hold a hermit crab at the Discovery Tidepool and meet a 165-pound sea bass in the Tank of Giants.

Early Explorers’ Cove

Take your scientist-in-training to the Early Explorers’ Cove, a special exhibit designed for infants, preschoolers, and their caregivers. Tots can explore a 15-foot replica of the Academy’s 1905 research schooner, climb into a tree-house, tend a miniature organic garden, or crawl into a child-sized burrow. The exhibit is also well-stocked with books, toys, puzzles, and dress-up costumes.

Islands of Evolution

Visit the remote islands of Madagascar and The Galapagos through the eyes of Academy scientists, and discover why islands function as laboratories for evolution. Examine specimens collected during Academy research expeditions, including Galapagos tortoise shells and Darwin’s famous finches. Learn how scientists search for new species, and then put your new knowledge into practice, netting virtual butterflies with Wii gaming wands and setting pit-fall traps for virtual beetles.

Morrison Planetarium

Leave Planet Earth behind as you fly to the farthest reaches of the Universe inside the world’s largest all-digital planetarium. A live presenter will take you on a guided tour of the solar system and beyond, using current data from NASA to produce the most accurate and interactive digital Universe ever created. During a visit to the international space station, you’ll gain a new perspective on your home—the only planet known to support life.

Naturalist Center

Have a question about the natural world? The reference librarians and educators at the Naturalist Center can help you answer them. Bring in your leaves, feathers, rocks, shells, and other personal treasures for identification, look up the latest research on green technologies, or sign up for a special program in the adjoining classrooms and labs.

Philippine Coral Reef

Dive into the world’s deepest living coral reef tank without donning a wetsuit. Five underwater windows offer a fish’s eye view into one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. Find Nemo—and 4,000 other reef fish—darting through a technicolor forest of coral, watch garden eels emerge from their underwater burrows, and admire the brilliant hues of a giant clam. Up on the surface, follow a boardwalk through a mangrove lagoon, where sharks, rays and sea turtles cruise beneath your feet.

Rainforests of the World

Step inside a living rainforest, where water dripping from the mahogany and palm trees sets the beat for a symphony of croaking frogs and chirping birds. Peer into one of Borneo’s bat caves, meet chameleons from Madagascar, and climb into the tree-tops of Costa Rica, where long lines of industrious leaf cutter ants march along vines and hundreds of tropical butterflies flutter like colorful confetti. Finally, descend in a glass elevator into the Amazonian flooded forest—the land of anacondas, piranhas, and electric eels. An acrylic tunnel allows you to walk beneath the Amazonian river fish that swim overhead.

Science in Action

Go beyond the headlines and gain in-depth information about recent scientific discoveries around the world. Live talks by Academy scientists, audio-visual displays, computer stations, and podcasts provide a reliable source of timely and relevant news about the natural world.

The Living Roof

Stop and smell the wildflowers during a visit to the Academy’s living roof, a 2.5-acre expanse of native California plants. Part of the museum’s green building strategy, the roof provides superior insulation, prevents storm water runoff, reduces the urban heat island effect, and creates new habitat for native birds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. An engineering marvel, the seven hills of the living roof roll over the Academy’s major exhibits and echo the hilly topography of San Francisco.

The Swamp

Peer over the bronze railing of The Swamp tank if you dare—American alligators and alligator snapping turtles rule the water below. One of these reptiles, an albino gator with startling white skin, may steal the lion’s share of the attention, but it’s hard to ignore his neighbors for too long. Snakes, frogs, and salamanders live in smaller tanks nearby, and a biologist often brings a Great horned owl into the exhibit to meet visitors.

Water Planet

What does it take to live underwater? Find out in this innovative exhibit that includes more than 100 aquarium tanks filled with fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and other invertebrates. Once an hour, the lights go down inside the tanks, the room transforms into a 360-degree projection theater, and visitors are immersed in a five-minute video about the most precious resource on the planet: water.

California Bound!

2009-03-28T13:47:00.000-07:00

Its official! I have booked our hotel in San Francisco for 7 nights early June, then our hotel room in Anaheim right by Disney for the week after. Now that the stressfull part of finding hotels is over, I can start looking for the fun stuff! You would think its not stressful, but I am really picky plus hate spending a lot of money, so that limits my options. I did go a teeny bit more expensive in San Francisco, but the hotel is literally on the ocean, on the bay, and was so beautiful I had to stay there.

The kids and I are leaving with my dad on May 27th, then driving to San Fran, and Mike will fly down the Friday night to meet us. Then he has a conference the Saturday, and then Tues-Thurs the following week. Then off to Disney in Anaheim! I think we're even sneaking in a night in Vegas on the way home where dad will watch the kids while Mike and I go explore a bit. Fun!

I am having a blast looking up things for us to see, Mike has Apple Headquaters on his list to go and get his pic in front of LOL, I have the Winchester House and the California Academy of Sciences.

I am soooo excited to take the kids and to go on all sorts of adventures as a family!

My Sunday Evening

2009-03-22T18:38:00.000-07:00

Think the wine will numb the pain of the movie? I can't believe I made Mike go out and buy it yesterday, and I even insisted on the Blu-ray too. Just so I can moon over Edward's chiseled features in high def y'know.

I can't add in the pic of the long-suffering husband who is going to watch it with me tonight. I have PROMISED him that there is some vampire fighting at the end, that's the only way I roped him into it.

Dollarama Delight

2009-03-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

I looove that store! Not only do they have great workbooks/maze books/puzzle books for kids that Mr K loves, (and goes through so fast that I am glad that they are a buck each) there is always something else I find that rocks.

Yesterday I found a space border for Mr K's room, which is something I have been looking for forever. Most are either too expensive, too "old" looking (like for a man's den) or just plain ugly. These are the CUTEST little space borders ever, and he was SO excited to get them in his room! I was excited that I spent so little!

Tonight is Shumka and we are soooo excited to go! Mr K can't wait, and I am so thrilled to take him. I was looking into the kids camps that they do over the summer, and thought that it would be a great way to test if he really wanted to take the dance classes or not. There's one for 5 and under that I think he would enjoy a lot.

Description:

1/2 day of Ukrainian dance-related activities including 1 hour of daily dance instruction

other activities include costume-making and fashion show, rhythm and musicality exercises, indoor and outdoor recreation, songs, puppet shows, and Ukrainian arts and crafts

a different activity every 20 minutes!

I love that they will explore his heritage more, because I can be admittedly lax in that department lol.

Yawn

2009-03-16T20:52:00.000-07:00

Oh man, soo tired. This weekend was GO GO GO, just like that. Ok, well Saturday at my sisters was very relaxing, chinese take-out, the kids were totally entertained with the baby toys..cake and cookies and relaxing. Sunday was just plain old fun too, a pool party then visiting afterward.

I caught the kids cold, not badly tho, probably due to all the fruits and veggies we have been eating lately. Just sniffles and a headache. I haven't been sick in forever tho, and I let myself get run down sleepwise MASSIVELY this weekend, so that did it. Two germy kids and no sleep, no amount of eating healthy will help you.

We ran into Mr K's old preschool teacher at Superstore of all places today and funny enough she had left me a message 1/2 hour earlier asking what days I wanted the Princess in for playschool. So I chose Mon/Wed/Fri mornings starting next fall. I am really excited for her, we adore the teacher and The Princess already is familiar with not only her, but her classroom as well. And I can stay as much as I want with her as well. I am looking forward to visiting that classroom again with my next child, but does that ever make me feel like time is flying. My baby in real preschool next fall.

It was really nice catching up with everyone this weekend at both birthday parties. Made me wistful that we all live so scattered apart, some closer than others, but still, we aren't all in the same city anymore! I suppose tho, it just gives us more places to visit ;)

Hope you all have a great week, and a Happy St Patty's tomorrow, wear green!

6 Feet Under

2009-03-12T19:11:00.000-07:00

Amanda lent me this series, and I am hooked! Took me a couple episodes to really get into it, then definitely was hooked during the second season. But I actually am having a hard time getting into Season 3. The first show of Season 3 was a "huh??" head scratching, jump forward-in-time kinda deal. I've decided that I need to re-watch it, and then continue on from there. It kinda leapt ahead from the cliffhanger ending of Season 2, which is my absolute pet peeve. Don't make me work hard for it dammit!

Other than that, its an amazing show, Mike will come and watch with me and even is abreast of most of what's going on, and he's loved nothing since Buffy ended ;)

I highly recommend it, and I literally can't wait to see how it ends in Season 5. I am keeping off the internet and not reading the dvd boxes on purpose so it won't be spoiled!

Birthday Goodies

2009-03-11T11:02:00.000-07:00

I am really hard pressed as to which I love more, the portrait of me Mr K drew on his homemade birthday card for me, (I am going to frame it) or the blue topaz necklace that Mr K declared " I picked it out and Daddy paid for it " ;) from the kids as well.

Just another day to remind me how blessed I am :)

Lilies, Lilies Everywhere

2009-03-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

Sigh. -30 and I am going CRAZY. And I beg to differ with their temperature measurements, when I drove down Fox Drive this morning, there was an area where the van thermometer (which is always bang on with the forecasts) reached - 37!

I dropped the kids off at Uncle Wyatts and Auntie Christina watched them for me while I went into work. I did my fourth interview (for doing the same job, just a different position hours-wise) which was mostly funny because I just did it two weeks ago, and I have it memorized. My manager told me she thinks I hold the record for the most interviews in a year. I think she's right....

Anyways I have the position, I work Saturday 2-10 the first week, then Thurs/Fri 430-830, Sat/Sun 2-10. I don't have to fuss about babysitters at all, I only work 4 weekday evenings a month (and its a nice early ending shift at 8:30) and then if I want almost 2 weeks off, I take that one Saturday off. NICE. Seriously nice.

Then on the way home, we stopped at Superstore because we were almost out of blueberries and strawberries (major crisis in my house) and they had their bulbs out....so I bought 4 bags of glads and one of Oriental lilies that I am going to try again.

Then I got out to the van and looked at my receipt and the lily bulbs rang up at $1.99 instead of $3.99. So. Last year I paid $6-7 for 3 bulbs at Walmart. So 3 for $1.99 is beyond cheap. And I feel like I stuck it to Superstore, and that's all that matters in the end.(long story but lets just say it involved a manager and me getting mad at her last week)

So I went back and bought 8 more bags. LOL. Eff. I have 27 lily bulbs and 40 glad bulbs. And I remembered that I planted like 60 bulbs of something last fall. I am going to have plants overtaking my backyard.

We are hunkering down in the house this afternoon, Mr K is sick with a cold so we are going to rest up and hopefully all three of us will still go to school tomorrow for the afternoon. To think, they forecast +5 by Friday. Thats almost a 40 degree difference in temperature.

Official Milestone

2009-03-07T16:35:00.000-08:00

I'll drown my sorrows in a glass of wine as I write. We've passed a very BIG milestone of independence . The "attending a birthday party without your parents" milestone. WAAAAH!!

Yes, Mr K went to a birthday party at a gymnastic club with his classmates ALL BY HIMSELF. I worked today and The Princess wasn't invited (oh, that's another life marker too, when siblings start going to different parties than each other) so Mike had to drop him off and then went out with little sister shopping.

Sniffle. So it begins.

What's New

2009-03-06T13:07:00.000-08:00

You can tell when I work a lot, I don't blog and there is a dry spell on here! So obviously, I worked all last week, and then this week has been doing tons of stuff with the kidlets and getting back to normal.

I applied for yet another permanent position at work (didn't get the last one) and should be sealing the deal come next week. It alleviates the stress a lot without having to worry about Mike's job, mine won't be one that's cut, so we have that reassurance knowing that. I will work mainly weekends which frees up my week to spend driving Mr K to school and spending time with them and Mike during the weeks, which are hectic for us and don't need to be made more hectic with me going to work every night.

Speaking of school, I am happier every week with Mr K's school. They have been singing lately, (his teacher is the music/voice teacher as well) and he's even sung in front of his class. I am astonished and ecstatic at the same time that my quiet boy has the confidence to sing in front of his class. Then to come home and sing for us as well. I think my jaw hit the ground when he told me casually that he and another boy sang a harmony together for the whole class the other day. What was REALLY funny is that the beat or the tune, the chorus? (see? I need lessons, I don't know quite the word I want here) that he chose was from Rihanna's Disturbia. If you've heard it, you know, the Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum. So he sang that while the other boy sang the "so-so me" notes they have been working on. Then he taught The Princess on the way home, and I have been listening to that for a few days now. I just laughed at his song choice, he LOVES that song. My top 40 boy.

The Princess and I are also going to spend a day with him in his class next week, we are both more than welcome as long as The Princess isn't running around wild. I haven't spend the day yet seeing that I couldn't find a sitter, not knowing that his teacher doesn't mind at all that we both spend the day. So I am really excited to go, and most likely will be there once a week now since The Princess is more than happy to sit in circles and do crafts with the other kids and listen to the teacher :)

I also almost cried today when I dropped him off. A bigger kid (grade 5) came up to him and said "Hey! K! Gimme a high 5 !" and Mr K did. Then K turned to me and said "mommy, did you know that some of the big kids are my friends?" Some of you know that he had some problems before with being scared of the big kids and not wanting to go to school with them at his other school. So to see this turnaround made me so very happy for him :) They have a lot of kids who visit his class once or twice a week and I like that these are obviously positive mixing of the different ages.

We are in the midst of trying to plan a trip to San Francisco/Los Angeles because Mike has two conferences that he has to attend. Trying to firm up the conference sponsors (this is all through his website business) is stressing me out. We can't plan until they pay up and sign and seal the deal, because we are NOT going to San Francisco on a lark in June for the heck of it. I would go when its colder here! So waiting...and waiting....and seeing these great flight and hotels specials that I just can't book yet because we aren't sure what they are doing. So cross your fingers for me that they hurry the hell up! We are new at this side business stuff...practice makes perfect I guess. But at least we know to book nothing till the money's in the bank LOL.

Umm.what else..we're just so busy sometimes, and I never quite figure out what it is that makes us so busy...besides Mike having three jobs with his fake day job (as we refer to it) and his real job=his website and then writing his book and me running my butt off during the days and then working most nights. Oh, wait, I figured it out ;) Oh well, its all our choice to be this busy, so I won't complain. Much.

I bought this today because my effing treadmill is not working properly, which really started my morning off cranky today. Trainer Bob is going to kick my ass. I know it. I feel the pain already. Can I have my treadmill back please? Sob.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Occupant Restraint Month

2009-03-05T16:44:00.000-08:00

I see this sign every day on the way to Mr K's school and it never fails to make me shudder or be sad or both at the same time.

So I suppose that just like we should check our fire alarms for battery life, reviewing the seats and boosters in our cars is a good idea as well. On this site its also reminds us that as adults, we should make sure our headrests are adjusted for our height, its not just the kids!

Here's another site with a video . Nothing scarring, (of course, its sad) but it does well to remind myself how you DON'T have to be going fast to smash the hell out of a vehicle, just the average speed here in Edmonton is enough.

Ugh

2009-02-24T07:36:00.000-08:00

This movie SUCKED. That's all I have to say about that. What a disappointment it was.

Worth Every Penny

2009-02-20T20:18:00.000-08:00

I hate taking self pictures. I think of all those people on Facebook who take profile pictures and try to appear like they aren't actually taking a picture of themselves. "Oh, I am so hawt, you caught me!" meanwhile their arm is half in the picture.

Anyways lol I totally digress. Went to Pink Lime, (god I love it there) but had a 50% discount this time around thanks to a girl I work with, whom I now love deeply. And they gave me a cut and a fantastic color job.

There's the "oh, I am so hawt, you caught me on camera!" . Thats me in jammies and 2 glasses of wine-moving-on-to-mojitos pic. Not so hawt.

They give the best haircuts I have ever, EVER got in my life. Regardless of the fact that the first girl cut it crooked. I went back with the kids right before Mr K had to go to school Thursday morning and had them fix it. She was a newbie, I will cut her some slack. But the girl who fixed it, she is one talented cookie. Most of them are. I can't take pics of how awesomely layered and easy it is to do.

I was supposed to go to a girls night out tonight, but was going to go into work. Then I was not going into work.There have been sick calls and someone had a death in the family, but ended up that I didn't need to go in tonight after all, but I do have to come in Sunday. Ah, what can you do. How can you complain when someone has lost a fmily member, I mean really. I can have another girls night out.

So....a bowling party for a girl from Mr K's school tomorrow, work from 7-3 Sunday, then out for Khazanna's buffet and "He's Just Not That Into You" right after. What a good week its been!

Family Day

2009-02-16T15:57:00.001-08:00

Hope everyone is having a great family day!

I had a lovely morning BY MYSELF, while Mike took the kids to the museum, then out for lunch. Family, shamily, I wanted to go on the treadmill and listen to tunes, paint my toenails, read my magazine that I have been trying to read for 2 days now, and surf the net. That was my morning :)

My cosmos are sprouted, holy fast little buggers. Good thing I put them in pots! I also have some Black eyed susan vines that have sprouted, I am sooo excited for these, they are absolutely gorgeous in bloom!

My grow op..all four levels are plants now lol.

My anniversary/Valentines present from Mike. We don't really celebrate Valentines since the anniversary of our first date is February 11th, we celebrate both sorta combined lol! He spoiled me and surprised me with the purse I have been sighing over for a few months now :) Sometimes he pays attention and just gets things dead on right and this would be one of them. Oh, and I NEVER get presents like this, so this is definitely the stars were aligned kinda dealy.

So Happy 10th anniversary hon xoxo. Jeepers, a decade since we met!

And we have our new neighbors in, and lets just say I am reserving judgement. After a few swears already about their 2 dogs barking in the backyard today. I am going to have patience and believe that their house is just too messy and full of boxes to deal with two LARGE dogs in the house and that they are not going to make a habit of leaving them out most of the day. To bark and bark and bark. In this cold weather as well. Cause not only am I cranky, but Lord Lamplightin' Jesus, they have NOT YET MET Mr. Anal-Retentive-single-old-dude-lawyer behind us. I wince to think of the conversations that will ensue. Or my other anal retentive neighbor beside me to the north. Or the anal retentive army dude beside lawyer who's dog has never barked in its whole existence I am sure, nor craps on the lawn. It would'nt dare.

Huh, I live on like the uptight block. I fit right in! Anyways, I hate pet owners who leave their dogs outside to annoy the whole neighborhood. There is a reason I don't have one, thanks, don't force yours on me.

Ooooh!

2009-02-06T13:22:00.000-08:00

More exciting than reading Playgirl at this time of year ;) , Superstore was clearing them out at $6.98 each, as if I could pass up two gorgeous Canadian Gardening hardcovers at that price.

Reading.....

2009-02-04T12:48:00.000-08:00

Not only is the cover eye-candy, but its a REALLY good book! It is great to read about the guys in the Otherworld books to fill in the blanks. Its a prequel about Clay and Jeremy (the werewolves).

Mmmm

2009-02-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

Mike and I only had time to go to a movie yesterday (Slumdog Millionaire = FANTASTIC) so we didn't get to go out for the buffet at the New Asian. But of course, we still REALLY wanted some curries, so I made a big supper tonight.

I made the usual Butter chicken, tried the Biryani sauce from Superstore (not bad, you bake it in rice and I put chickpeas and cauliflower in it) and then made from scratch Palak Paneer which is my favorite dish at Khazna's. Its paneer cheese cubes in a spinach sauce, yum! The recipe is here and is pretty good, needed a bit more spices, I would 1.5 times them, but Mr K absolutely loved it, and he's not fond of the one at the buffet, so this one works for us.

And then easy peasy dessert, blueberries,strawberries and raspberries on a whitecake base with Cool Whip. And when I say whip I am pronouncing the H. wHip. Lets see who gets my humor lol.

Grow Op

2009-01-31T08:32:00.000-08:00

Only 15 weeks till May Long! Yes, I am counting down, I have it written every Monday on my kitchen calender.

So last year I wanted a 3 tiered indoor greenhouse, but they aren't at Canadian Tire this year. At least, not right now. And people wanted WAY too much money for the few I saw secondhand. So I bought this metal shelf, with shelves that can be placed upside down so that the edge is up (brilliant) and nothing will slide off of it. You only need the plastic cover to germinate the seeds anyways, so I started with my Rudbeckia which take the longest (10-12 weeks before they are ready to plant) and then will work my way down the list of seeds. I am mainly growing them in big peat pots this year, so I am less tempted by the larger plants the greenhouses put out. As if.

And it fits perfectly on top of my buffet, up and out of the way. When everything has sprouted and just needs sun, I am going to set it in the front window, (all that west sun) so all the neighbors can wonder what exactly I am growing ;)

I am so excited about my colored sunflowers, I LOVED the yellow ones last year, and I can't wait to see the red and the brown ones, I can just imagine the bouquets already!

Anyone want a pack of organic zucchini seeds? I bought two by accident, and didn't even pay for the second ones actually, they weren't on the reciept. So freebie seeds anyone? I certainly won't even use up one! They will mail nicely!

I saw the Nasturtium last year on the edible garden tour and can't wait to try them, you can eat the leaves and flowers in a salad AND are gorgeous looking.

Ginger Cookies Done Easy

2009-01-24T18:35:00.000-08:00

Yummy and as easy as..

1......

2......

3!
They hit the spot on a cold day inside with a sick little boy, AND the lack of effort was perfect for one sick little boy and his mother, both who had limited attention spans and a lack of time in general :)

My dad bought the Decadent Chocolate chip mix for the kids and THAT one is sinfully delicious!

The Weekend of Sniffles

2009-01-24T09:28:00.000-08:00

This is our weekend, relaxing in the house, Mr K has a cold with a wicked cough. Its nice being forced once in a while to just sit and relax and not run around. The Princess and I are going to pop out for blueberries (yes, specifically blueberries lol) and then go pick up a boardgame to play today with their ToysRUs giftcard from Christmas.

Blackbird has already posted about these but for those of you who don't read her blog, these Polo books are the most amazing books ever. Each page looks like the one below, hardly any words, most pages have no words at all, sequential blocks of action drawn well enough that even the Princess will look at them and understand what Polo is doing. Mr K will sit down for an hour and look at the two we have. Which is all he has done again this morning for the last hour lol.

School Video

2009-01-22T21:02:00.000-08:00

A video from the fall about Mount Royals' theme this year, those kids doing the talking are so darn cute! The teacher in the news clip is Mr K's teacher, who is also the music teacher there. Click on the link under the CTV video player for "Mount Royal Students Discover Sole." You can see what his teacher and parts of the school look like! Eh, the wonders of technology I tell you!

Video

Just To Make You All Cringe ------->

2009-01-19T20:09:00.001-08:00

LOL and what's scarey is that people will use that FOR REALS! ----------------->

Recipe For Jane

2009-01-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

Sorry to be such a tease Jane lol. If you click this link, there is a google preview of the book and the recipe is page 75 in that preview. I tried last night but of course they make it so you can't properly copy it and I was admittedly too lazy to type out the recipe!

Mincemeat Squares

Oh and as a sidenote, I didn't puree the mincemeat, we like it with the chunks in it, and they taste great like that, but its a personal preference I would think...

6 Photo tag!

2009-01-18T19:39:00.000-08:00

I have been tagged by Cori, so I will post the rules from her blog:

First, the rules are simple. As follows:
6th Picture Meme!
1.Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.
2.Go to the 6th Folder, then pick the 6th picture in that folder.
3.Post that picture on your blog and the story that goes along with the picture.
4.Tag 6 other peoples that you know or don’t know to do the same thing and leave a comment on their blog or an e-mail letting them know you chose them

I have very few pictures on my laptop, most are stored downstairs, so my 6th and last folder was from Solstice this year, and the 6th picture in is of the kids drying off the chestnuts that we then roasted in the oven. If I had been on my desktop, sheesh, the picture would probably been from 4 years ago lol!

Ok I tag:

Cindy @ Life's Journey
Karami @ Trevor,Karami & Deklen
Jane @ Escaping The City
Kandice @ Two Princess's
Blackbird Pie
Beckie @ This Is Us

Breakin' It In

2009-01-18T19:08:00.000-08:00

Cracked open my 150 delicious squares book and baked up some mincemeat squares.

If you love date squares and mincemeat, theses are a super yummy merge!

Shumka!

2009-01-17T17:06:00.000-08:00

I am soooo freaking excited! Mr K and I are going to see Shumka's 50th Anniversary at the Jubilee on March 19th, I can't wait! It is going to be absolutely amazing and I love that we get to explore this part of his heritage. He has watched the commercial linked below SO many times and is sooo excited to go! I shouldn't have told him, lol, he's going to drive me batty for the next 2 months. I got excellent seats, center on the first balcony and 3rd row up, perfect for a little boy to see.

Shumka

Auntie Kandice your ticketmaster giftcard that you gave us for Christmas was put to good use!

Nothing Worse Than...

2009-01-17T13:01:00.000-08:00

...losing a good neighbor. :( Even tho I knew they were trying to sell their house, it all depended on whether they could find one they liked near downtown. And they did, and dang it, here's hoping we get new ones that don't drive me crazy. It sucks because the kids played with each other and they are going to miss the little girl next door. ARGH.

The Scoop

2009-01-16T20:13:00.000-08:00

I've posted quite a bit lately but not really about all the changes our family has gone through in our quite literal New Year.

Most of you know that Mr K started in a new kindergarten at back to school time two weeks ago, with the school's focus being the Arts Core program here, which is arts-orientated programming that emphasizes the visual and performing arts: music, art, drama and dance. I am incredibly pleased. Just a simple way to put it. Its worth the considerable drive every day to take him there to see how happy he is in that class. I am laughing to myself as I think about it, but he has been so darn brave and funny and just my Mr K the last two weeks. Every day after lunch the school plays a classical piece by some composer after telling some history about them, and the kindergartens use scarves and dance around to the music. Well my boy had NO interest in it. None. In fact, he announced that it was "girl dancing" and he wasn't doing it. This might have something to do with the fact that there are 10 girls with fluffy pink scarves floating about his classroom, and one single other boy ;)

I tried talking his ear off about it. I tried bribery.Nothing worked. I gave up.I just gave up and let his teacher deal with it. And she did. By just letting him watch the other kids and not making a big deal out of it at all and then Thursday, out of the blue, he picked up a scarf (I wonder what color haha) and hasn't looked back. In fact, we went to Goodwill and now have scarf dancing in the living room, much to his sisters amusement. But it made me feel GOOD. It made me be able to rest easy about his new school knowing that his teacher handled it so well, and had the patience to wait 2 weeks and not force him into doing anything "because the rest of the class is". And it gave him such a boost of confidence. All I hear now is Mom! I tried it and I liked it!! (which makes me want to reply " I TOLD YOU SO!") But I am just happy that he learned a life lesson in such a positive way. I can spout (and I do) all I want to him about trying new things and being brave and getting joy out of them, but he learned this one allll on his own with us adults just waiting on the sidelines silently cheering him on. And I realized that that is one life lesson that no matter who tells you what, you just have to be brave and decide tackle it yourself to get that feeling of triumph and self worth. Because HE was the one who called the shots, he learned something huge...

I digress. To sum up, I love it, Mr K (now that he has the scarf dancing down pat) tells me he loves everything about his new school, the teacher talks to me and sends home little notes daily and always has lovely things to say to Mr K, I am more comfortable knowing how she handles issues like the one that came up, he's learning new songs and starting to learn about instruments and loves library time every Friday, I love that at Friday dismissals they play Celebration by Kool and the Gang over the intercom system and when I peek in his classroom he's dancing with his class, parents are grooving and its just so positive :) Everyone just kinda dances their way out.

And now on to The Princess. She had been on the waiting list for Fun Factory at the YMCA, and they gave us a call last week and had a spot for her. So she has started going every Mon/Wed/Fri afternoon. Day 1 I had to stay, then left for about 45 minutes, she was great when I picked her up. Day 2, I left when she went to do crafts, and I guess she had a REALLY hard time. Like hard time as in when she saw me at pick up time, she burst into tears and threw herself at me. She DID have a rough sleep the night before so I think that contributed a lot. She was a very sad little girl, but I was glad that one Y girl there let her hold her hand the whole time and The Princess stuck to her like glue I guess. Day 3 was today and she did great. I stayed for circle time, then left her again at craft time and she told me she wasn't going to be sad. Just in case, I came back an hour early and sat outside reading my book (finished the other boleyn girl, thats a gooood book!) but I watched her through the glass on occasion and she was happy and playing. She came out and told me how proud she was because she listened at story time and circle time and her comet craft was for Mr K. "I'm proud of me mommy!" And I was proud of her too. Mr K always has such few transition issues, but I know that she is cut from a different cloth and definitely needs me more. I think I will be reading outside her classroom for a couple weeks yet!

But then..dum...dum...dum...my evil plan is to go and workout when she is in class. Kill two birds with one stone. My mornings consist of getting up, bunny-proofing the kitchen and gating said bunny in there, feeding ourselves, all of us crafting at the table while Scooby hops around, maybe getting dressed at 11 ish....then leaving at 12. I am SO enjoying our relaxing, stress-free mornings before school.I did the treadmill a couple times but it left no time for anything else relaxing and fun with the kids before 12. So once The Princess is settled I am going to start using the facilities there while she's in class.

I am still only casual at work, hoping that will change sometime in February, there's a position I want coming up. My house isn't any cleaner than it was when I was working my permanent position LOL but I give up. Its just never going to be clutter free. Ever. I am already concocting plans and seeds and plants and looking forward to spring, I am glad that our new year is off to such a good start for us all. Oh, and I didn't make a single resolution by the way. Not one.

I think too the kids are going to start swimming lessons right away once we get our family Y pass (discount on The Princess's class and we get lessons free with membership, its a win/win) and then that is just about busy enough for us. I have no interest in cluttering up our week anymore than it is, we seem to have reached a really lovely routine with lots of family time left over.

I have plans to redo Mr K's room in a month or so, finally get him his bunk beds and set his room up how he wants, throw out that infernal queen sized bed, this will keep the spring fever at bay for a while at least.

Annnd that's about all I can think of for now!

I Am Hutterite

2009-01-13T12:53:00.000-08:00

Another thing I saw on the blooming NEWS last night lol, I think I will pop to Chapters and pick this up. Then lend it to my mom and see what she has to say as well. She probably knows exactly where this colony is since she taught on a colony in the Portage area when she was first teaching. (not the one in the book one tho)

I Am Hutterite

by Mary-Ann Kirkby

the fascinating true story of one woman’s journey to reclaim her heritage.In 1969, Mary-Ann Kirkby’s parents did the unthinkable. They left a Hutterite colony near Portage la Prairie, Manitoba with seven children and little else, to start a new life. Overnight, the family was thrust into a society they did not understand and which knew little of their unique culture. The transition was overwhelming.More than 40,000 Hutterites live on 400 colonies throughout Canada's prairie provinces and the United States. Spiritual cousins to the Mennonites and the Amish, this five hundred year oldculture with European roots has been in North America since the late 1800s, yet few outsiders know anything about its customs or traditions. I Am Hutterite takes us inside Fairholme Colony where the author spent the first ten years of her life. Her detailed portrait of Hutterian people opens a window on a closed community and reveals a way of life that seems extraordinary to the outside world. When Mary-Ann leaves Fairholme, she embarks on a mission to reinvent herself. She is put in the awkward position of denying her heritage in order to fit in with her peers. Her book details her painful and often humourous attempts to adapt to popular culture as she comes to terms with theheart-breaking circumstances that led her family to leave community life. As a television reporter, Mary-Ann Kirkby spent years telling the stories of others. Now she is ready to share her own. I Am Hutterite layers the rich traditions of colony life with the stark realities of intolerance and mistrust, weaving a gripping tale that tests the power of forgiveness.

Flu shot mismatched on B virus- YEARS of missing the mark!

2009-01-13T12:41:00.001-08:00

Article HERE
It appears there may be a partial flu shot mismatch again this year, with early data from Canada, the United States and Britain suggesting the vaccine component meant to protect against influenza B is not a match for the flu B viruses causing the most disease.
Predicting which family of influenza B viruses will dominate in a coming year – and therefore should be covered by the flu shot – is a challenge that has defied the experts in five of the last seven flu seasons, at least so far as disease patterns in North America are concerned.
The ongoing problem has prompted exploration of the idea that flu shots should be reformulated to add a second B component to a vaccine that currently protects against one family of B viruses and the two influenza A subtypes, H3N2 and H1N1.

I watched this on the news last night with my dad (god, while my dad is here ALL I WATCH IS THE NEWS lol) and of course then got into the discussion about this is one of the reasons we don't get the flu shot, because they literally guess (they say "forecast" I say guess) about which strains will hit. Also, in the news story, you just got this creepy feeling while watching them in their labs and listening that there is just a Superbug in the making. Seriously. I think by trying to outwit these strains every year, we are just creating THE BIG ONE. Shudder.

I also didn't realize that they had been missing the mark for years now...and of course, we can all guess why. The faster you manufacture the vaccine, the faster you sell it and the more money you make. I sometimes don't even want to consider who is pulling the strings behind the scene. I think that for high risk people that its probably a good idea....but that doesn't include any of our family.

Benjamin Button

2009-01-12T17:54:00.000-08:00

I saw this on Sunday night after a lovely dinner at Khazana's, and it was a really good movie. Reminded me of Forest Gump, deeper than most with laughs and tears and meaning to it.

So of course I had to read the short story, which you can go read HERE. And they are TWO DIFFERENT stories, I swear! The premise of reverse life is the same, but holy smokes, the stories could not be further apart! I actually really prefer the movie version, which in my opinion was a far more interesting story.

Anyhow, go have a read if you have watched it, and if not and you are seeing the flick, do NOT expect anything similar!

And So The Child Labour Begins.

2009-01-11T15:23:00.000-08:00

Hehehe Mr K had way too much fun vacuuming the stairs for me, I am going to enjoy this phase while it lasts. One day they just wake up and just inherently KNOW that its an actual chore, not fun LOL!

Funny Kids

2009-01-09T20:47:00.000-08:00

They never cease to amuse me.

Mr K " Mommy, the music at school today was wroten by some guy named Sebastion Buck"

(that being Bach, of course lol)

Then the conversation between the two of them, comparing their "school days"

K - " I, why didn't you sit at story time today?"

I - " I didn't want to listen"

K (all serious) "oh, but you HAVE to listen at story time. When your teacher tells you, you just run right over there and sit down."

I - (all horrified) "K! I can't run in school!"

(she remembers she can't run, but she wouldn't sit for story time)

There's more, I just can't remember at the moment, I keep laughing to myself over the Buck one. They were having quite the conversations on the way home today :)

Scooby

2009-01-03T18:51:00.000-08:00

Well, it wasn't another cat that we went back for, it was a rabbit that I fell in love with when we were at the Humane Society. However, two pets in one day was a little much to handle, so we got Buffy home and settled in, and then today, after a few days of planning and figuring and deciding we went back to get her.

Here she is lounging, she is a pretty large rabbit, really personable, loves being out of her cage and visiting, and is actually bigger than my cat.

We'll be building her a hutch outside this spring, till then Auntie Christina lent us her massive (good thing!) bunny cage where she is at the moment.

Our Newest Family Member

2008-12-31T18:42:00.000-08:00

We have been waiting for Christmas to be over to add a new family member since we lost our Luna. So today we headed to the Humane Society and found our girl, so here's introducing Buffy. Yes, I named my cat Buffy. We intend on getting another one and naming it either Scooby (Mr K desperately wanted to name her that but I told him we would get a male cat later one) or Spike to go with Buffy ;) I might have to let Mr K win tho since I got my way on this name!

She is the tiniest little thing, she's 1.6 years old and such a wee cat! She's curled up on my mom's arm at the moment all content.

Bookity Books

2008-12-30T15:32:00.000-08:00

Alrighty, I KNOW that there are lots of you who were given books or, like me, received a Chapters card (which is about my favoritest gift ever) and went straight away book shopping. So, what did everyone get for books, or will be getting?

I bought :

I am pretty sure there are more Philippa Gregory books in my future, she writes about the Tudor era which captivates me.

And of course the rest of my Twilight books as well. I read them all over the holidays lol.

The book below is something I am completely excited about, I LOVE the Kelley Armstrong books and now she is writing about the men from all her books, due this spring. Not only are they probably going to be awesome ( because once you are hooked into her created "otherworld", you are sunk) all her profits from this anthology are going to be given to World Literacy of Canada. I wasn't surprised to see that their overseas work starts with the women of the community for literacy, it makes sense that someone who features strong women as her leads in books would chose to endorse them.

Separated at Birth, I Tell You

2008-12-27T21:21:00.000-08:00

Seriously. Not only do we pick up the phone to call each other at the exact same moment this morning, we obviously shop together through our psychic connection.

I first noticed it at Kandice's house when I picked up her jacket thinking it was mine, but when walking through the Festival of Lights I heard Mr K from behind "Mo-om! You guys have the same jacket! That's funny!"

Just add it to a loong list of why people ask "are you two sisters?"

The Mom Song

2008-12-22T20:56:00.001-08:00

I stole this from Cindy's blog, I hadn't ever heard it before, worth a few snorts for sure.

My Evening in Pictures

2008-12-21T21:09:00.000-08:00

HEY YOUSE GUYS.

2008-12-20T15:58:00.000-08:00

Alrighty my laptop died a week ago, and I can't get my favorites off the hard drive that I saved from it. Yes I know, my other half should be able to do this, but something went awry and there are only a few blogs saved.

SO all you Janes, Brandy's Amanda's, Cori's and more, please email me the link to your blogs karlynn@telus.net.

Please and thanks!

Me

Merry Christmas to Me

2008-12-11T21:13:00.000-08:00

Yah, I am bad. But when I was shopping for others I bought myself a gift! I am going to re-read them, the only one I own is Breaking Dawn, and I have only read them once when borrowed from Amanda, I would like to re-read them all.

What I am Thankful For

2008-12-05T13:57:00.000-08:00

Well B asked on her blog what we are all thankful for, so here goes.

Top of my list at this exact moment are Caramel Correttos ;)

I am always grateful for my parents and siblings. My brother who babysat the kids on his day off this week without hesitating a single moment when I needed emergency babysitting NOW so I could go to work, my sister who even before she had children would visit all the time and take trips with us, and now comes with her son Deklen, my children love them and talk about them constantly, and my parents who love my kids almost as much as I do. And sneak them Kinder Eggs when I am not looking (what, you thought they wouldn't tell ? LOL!) And grateful that my parents did such a good job (accident? luck?) with all us kids that we are close and can depend on each other like no one else can. And knowing that my own children will learn by our example and know that no matter what, not just their own parents are their shelter and rock in life, but they have an entire "village" that loves them :) , makes my heart glad daily.

Oh, and the fact that my parents are watching the kids in January so Mike and I can get away for a weekend makes me kinda like them.

And every, single Friday evening, there is always this moment when I sit back and think of how grateful I am that I got through the week. That I fufilled my responsibilities at work, The Princess and I spent our Thursday at Mr K's school and I got my volunteer hours in, that we managed to have clean clothes and groceries in the house, and lately, its been one fieldtrip/playdate a week as well which means that they are getting out for some super fun. Notice I don't mention that my house is clean, cause, yah, that would mean I go without sleep and clean at night, because there are only so many daytime hours in a day!

On that note I am grateful my position at work is almost done and I can go back to casual until the position I want is up.

I am grateful that I live in a city where my schooling or unschooling choices are AMAZING!

I am grateful that my new year is going to be such a NEW year literally for us, with changes made for the better of our family.

And these are literally what I think of daily, things are incredibly busy, I honestly can't remember ever having so much going on in my life. I think the word non-stop applies to our life right now. So I am always thinking of the grateful side of things because if I don't, it would be waaay to easy to start complaining and then never stop!

Oooh and I am soo thankful for my new jeans that I bought with the giftcard I won at the Telus party!

So tag, your turn, what are you grateful for?

6 Down, 1 To Go..

2008-12-05T06:34:00.000-08:00

I officially have ONE triop left. I think I opened my big blogging mouth too soon, because I fed them yesterday before leaving for school with K, then came home to 5 dead triops.

THEN last night, I think the bigger one ate the smaller one because I don't even have a corpse!

EEeew LOL. Science rocks.

AHA! I Remember!

2008-12-05T06:07:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Amanda who has me blogging at 7 in the morning. LOL. Since of course things drive me absolutely crazy until I remember them, I had to remember what I bought last year by Melissa and Doug and where the heck it was made LOL! I guess I didn't post then because they were presents...

So if you are looking for safe(r) gifts for babies, and are still boycotting made in China, these are Made in Vietnam, and I also remember that all over the front of the package there was information about the safe wood used and the non toxic dyes used as well, since these are for 12 months and up. There were all sorts of other ones too, pandas and frogs and fish, that were made in Vietnam, you just have to look. I remember last Christmas consisting of standing in aisles reading boxes and packages in the store.

Also, this stacker made me very happy to be able to buy those same girls as well, ( a few months later when shopping with Kandice) a safe(r) wooden version of those classic plastic rings (that I wouldn't trust at all anymore, shudder) also made in Vietnam.

Healthy Toys

2008-12-04T18:43:00.000-08:00

I definitely don't have the time to be as prolific at posting as I was last year, and this year has been made easy by mainly buying Playmobil and Lego (made in Malta/Germany/not China and as safe as you can expect)

This website, Healthy Toys , is a wealth of information. I probably posted it last year as well, but they have tested even more toys throughout the year.

I was glad to see the puzzles I bought (Melissa and Doug) for a couple toddler who might chew them ;) were safe. Most of Melissa and Doug toys that I looked at (there are quite a few) are safe, which makes me happy to trust the brand a bit more.

Have a look, I always find it interesting.

More Aquasaurs

2008-12-03T08:41:00.000-08:00

They are getting MUCH bigger now, but we have 7 !! of them that are almost an inch long already...and I think they were supposed to start eating each other before that point! Seriously, only 1-2 are supposed to make it to adulthood, so we are waiting to see what happens. Oh, and we also have 2 waterbug creatures in there as well, and they aren't being eaten either.

MUCH cooler than sea monkeys! We watched one molt today as well, and there is a pile of exoskeletons at the bottom of the container, like a cool creepy graveyard almost. Tons of entertainment!

Holy Pain in The Ass Spiderman!

2008-11-20T15:46:00.000-08:00

This had to be the biggest pain in the ass to make, but of course, mom had to make what Mr K chose. I really REALLY wanted to make WallE, I tried SO hard to convince him, but he was stuck on Spiderman for his birthday. No idea why, he has no Spidey toys and has never watched it on TV. Maybe from the games at school? Who knows.

I can't believe I actually made it!

And the cupcakes for the kids who's parents don't want them having red dye..

Aquasaurs!

2008-11-19T06:32:00.000-08:00

These look like so much fun!! Auntie Angela bought them for Mr K for his birthday and I think I get more excited than the kids do. They can grow up to 2 inches long, MUCH more interesting than Sea Monkeys! We are going to get them started today....

Sigh

2008-11-13T19:29:00.000-08:00

It sucks that:

Mr K is still sick, or got sick again, today with a cold and a fever out of nowhere.
I've had sick kids for 11 straight days.
I got a speeding ticket.
My dryer broke this weekend right after The Princess started her projectile vomiting.
I am tired of this GI virus and not being able to eat anything but goddamn applesauce and Lipton soup.
We lost Luna, its pretty much official, she hasn't been seen for weeks, and she hasn't been turned into the pound or the Humane Society. We've combed the neighborhood too, no Luna. :(

But on the other hand...

At least I have two beautiful, wonderful children.
Mike is a great help with the kids..
I coulda had a bigger fine with my ticket....
We have the funds to fix the dryer, not everyone is so lucky.And its fixed. And the 12 loads of laundry are done and my house smells less like puke.
Uh..well the GI virus will go away eventually. And I had toast just now! yippee!

But I really don't have much to say positive about Luna, I had her before I had Mike, she'd been around our whole time together as a couple, pretty sad about that.

And I am so wiped out (prob why I can't kick this damn virus) after taking care of two sick kids, still working all my evening shifts but one, and now taking care of Mike since he got fixed at the vet's (lol I like saying that, cheers me up!) but at least my mother in law is here to help entertain the kids, and at least we can get all this sick shit over with before K's birthday and Christmas!

What??? It can't be all sunshine and speeding ticket posts!

My Get Well Present For Mike

2008-11-13T18:00:00.001-08:00

Well its been FOREVER since I have one of these! And obviously well deserved, from the speed I was doing! Well ok, I will argue the speed. I am not quite sure how I was going almost 70 going up Grierson hill right after turning the corner off the bridge. Seriously, how I managed to get the van going that fast up the hill to the Shaw center I'll never know.

So yes, Mike had the BIG SNIP TRIP this morning, then we went straight to the airport to get his mom. Poor man. This however, immeasureably cheered him up, which I proceeded to tell the nice officer as he ticketed me. Now after my beaking for years about his getting tickets, I have one, and I can't beak as much at him about his. Because I also didn't have current insurance on me, just the expired one. WTF Karlynn, you KNOW better!

Yah, its a good thing that I am darn good looking and had nice cleavage today. And luckily Mike had his crackberry so I called AMA and they told Mister Nice Policeman that I did indeedily do have coverage, but I was just obviously dumb as a stick, and to take it easy on me.

I really did have a great laugh tho, when he came back and handed me just the $113 speeding ticket and said "Well, the ticket for failing to produce insurance is $172, so really, when you think about, I just SAVED you 60 dollars today!"

Adopt A Family

2008-11-08T16:58:00.000-08:00

Well, its that time of year again, when I get greatly annoyed with the Salvation Army in Edmonton and have to try and find out if they are doing this program here again. Yah, that's not quite in the spirit of things, I know. But it irritates me that they have this huge,amazingly organized Adopt-A-Family event in Calgary (where we first started doing it before we were even married) and here? Phhht, you have to chase someone down, who is a different person every year so I have to call around and dig it out of people. AND Red Deer has it listed too for pity's sake! ARGH!

I'm going to (when I finally track the person down) ask them why its basically unknown and invisible here in Edmonton. Its a huge event in Calgary, (gee, and Red Deer too) and works like a beautiful machine there, it is something to behold I tell you.

So HERE , for those of you in Calgary who might be interested, is the link to the event, there are the pdf forms and everything you need to know.

Yes, I sound grinchy, especially after my last Christmasy post. I just got all excited because the Salvation Army's site is all new and updated and has those forms online this year, and there's NOTHING for Edmonton.

Sick, Santas and Serious Stench

2008-11-08T16:18:00.000-08:00

That sums up the weekend so far! The Princess decided last night to start throwing up with the flu (thus the serious stench in the house and the sick) and I HATE how that flu smell just permeates through the whole damn house. I have to wash everything to get my house back to normal.

The Santa's and their company were our one cheery spot this weekend, I bought them off Kijiji for $20, I seriously ADORE the plastic Christmas decorations...getting closer and closer to that plastic sleigh and reindeer...one year.... I don't like the tin things that are in the stores, they look cheap, not in a plastic cheap, but a fall apart kinda cheap...

Speaking of which, have I ever mentioned I work with a girl who's last name is Griswold? I have told her numerous occasions that I am jealous :) and she honestly wants to keep her last name when she gets married. I would also think her husband should be more than happy to take her name as his!

I think the yard is going to be crazy this year. I have gone crazy. I have too many lights and too many decorations. I still don't have 25,000 lights, but I am working on it :)

And holy shit, I aspire to do this LOL!

Wanna Get Rid Of That Candy??

2008-11-04T15:20:00.000-08:00

Hurray, someone WANTS candy, unlike ungrateful co-workers and stuffed parents (myself included!)

Streetworks is always grateful for the donation of left-over Halloween candy. Their clients value it as an incentive to use Streetworks services to improve their health. It can be particularly helpful for those who are struggling with drug or alcohol addictions where withdrawal symptoms can include hypoglycemia. The candy is helpful in smoothing this out and reduce their suffering while undergoing withdrawal. Candy can be dropped off at Plaza 124, 3rd floor room 300.

http://www.streetworks.ca/

A New Door!

2008-11-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

This was Mike's project to complete while I worked Saturday, my parents and sister were up and he had the help he needed to get it in while someone watched the kids and helped Mike putty the glass into the door.

Voila! This has been on my list FOREVER because the front area needed light sooo badly, but the doors are so damn expensive. My sister got it for free through her workplace, Mike brought it back on his Calgary trip with the kids and now its in!

Witches Hats

2008-10-25T17:22:00.000-07:00

This really is a craft more than baking, the original recipe calls for you to bake sugar cookies
(with cocoa added to make them brown) but I cheated due to time restraints. I am proud of the fact that I managed to make the damn things, never mind baking the bottoms!

The bottoms I bought chocolate covered digestive cookies, then mini cones for the top. Melt chocolate in the micro carefully ( I say carefully because you can trash it so easily, or at least I sure can) take your handy dandy pasty brush, and paint away. By brushing the chocolate around the bottom of the cone and cookie you seal them together really well. We put mini tattoos rolled up in each one for a surprise, the original recipe uses full sized cones and a chocolate covered cereal treat mix. When I attempt this next, I want to use gummy worms and assorted "eeeew factor" treats inside full sized cones. With the real baked cookie bottoms ;)

Easy, and LOTS of fun to do with kids. Mr K painted with chocolate, and sprinkled the tops and had so much fun. I had told him about the project the night before and the first words out of his mouth in the morning were "when can we make the witches hats mom?"

And this is something on my list to make, a melon brain! Brandy had it at her party today, which funny enough I was looking at online last night, desperately wanting to try out! Its sooo awesome!

Mac Commercials

2008-10-23T11:53:00.000-07:00

A couple more that made me laugh... I love these commercials.

Mulder Left His Calling Card...

2008-10-18T16:46:00.000-07:00

I just always get the goodies in the secondhand books I find, this time its a card for the Eidolon Project Canada.. Paranormal Activity,Research and Investigation.

All Mulder jokes aside : COOL!!

Website isn't the best but there are a few interesting things on there.

My Tacky Obsession

2008-10-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

They're tacky and retro tacky and a whole new level of tackified, but I LOVE these stools! I had one a long time ago that the cat got to, then my mom bought me a red one that I have in our room upstairs and then I found this one for 10 bucks today and couldn't resist. I see them so rarely that I just have to pick them up when I have the chance. ONE DAY, I am going to have a retro rec room with a lovely olive scratchy material rounded couch (ah too bad they threw out my grandma's) and some other retro sheer TACK Lol.

The Weekend

2008-10-12T13:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving weekend to everyone! Hope you are as stuffed and happy as we are! We had Wyatt and Christina over for supper on Saturday, so I made more food that I would have for just us, and of course, being the Martha wanna-be I am, loved every minute of the fussing and baking and cooking. I could do without the cleaning, so I think that I REALLY want to be Martha-who-has-a-maid-, plus Martha-who-has-someone-ELSE-to-run-to-the-store-because-you-forgot-effing-gravy.

I made my sweet potato casserole which only Kade and I like. So not sure if I will make it again for Christmas, but man, I think its fantastic! Sweet potatoes baked with milk and eggs and brown sugar to make it a little sweet, then a crunchy pecan topping on top. YUM!

I understand the use of buffet's and sideboards everytime I have people over, its totally another counter in my kitchen, which I always need. This time I made it the dessert buffet, and thanks to Dad's fantastic port that he made (this is next on my list to make) we even had a dessert wine. Oooh so fancy schmancy for just us LOL!

Then today we decided to go thrift shopping and Mr K was the deal finder, he found this mummy under a table, dragged it out and came running over "Mommy! I found a blow-up Mummy!!!" and of course I bought it, $19.99 for what turned out to be a completely intact, brand new Halloween blowup! Love it!

I am far too lazy to type out all my book finds so took a picture, which might have taken more time in the end, but I still *think* it was easier. We also found a huge kids Atlas which Mr K loves, and about 6 Christmas kids books as well that I am going to tuck away for few weeks yet.
I LOVE finding the ghost story books there, at $2.49 they are an entertaining read. Ooh and I picked up a Christmas craft book too, whee!

Ok, and this book made Mike and I laugh in the store, its PERFECT for a gag gift for some guy at his office! If you click on it and read the guarantee on the front its funny too!

So all in all we had a really good weekend, I didn't bother taking tomorrow off since its stat pay for me and Mike is home anyways, so I'll be in at work.

Finally!

2008-10-10T16:50:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting for days for this picture, I have been dying to see how it looked, and she looks gorgeous, and like any mama who's enjoying a quiet moment of breastfeeding.. true! You're just used to the famous face, but she actually looks pretty tired and the hair isn't perfect, but she's radiant. What a classy picture, I would love to see the rest of the photos. Hurray for beautifying and normalizing it even more <3

I Am a Fire Dragon!

2008-10-10T14:44:00.000-07:00

I always knew of course that I was year of the Dragon, but now I found out I am extra cool. We are learning about China since Mr K is obsessed and I came across this, so he's not the only one learning!

THE FIRE DRAGON 1916 AND 1976

The Fire Dragon is a powerful force to be reckoned with. This is a Dragon doubled! The Fire Dragon can move from calm and collected to combustible in a matter of seconds. In some ways the Fire Dragon is his or her own worst enemy. These Dragons cannot help feeling they are valuable and all-knowing. (aha hahahaha!) When they are right their vehemence and vigor is an asset to the cause, and though they value objectivity, they do not always employ the best decision-making measures, and sometimes jump to the wrong conclusion. They also suffer from recklessness and quick tempers. Yet, when they do keep their temper, emotions, and rivaling spirit under control, they emanate a commanding influence on other people.

Ants for Auntie

2008-10-05T19:38:00.000-07:00

Har de har har at my title ;) but Karami, here are some pics for you. The first one is from the day after we started them:

...and now this is a week later.

Tired Mike

2008-10-05T15:52:00.000-07:00

Snoring on the couch after a weekend with the kids, alll by his lonesome :) Tough work. Snort.