to sleep like a child

Just talked to CJ on the phone and he told me this. The roofers are currently walking all over our roof, pounding away and ripping off our current roof with giant pitchforks and throwing the pieces into a huge bin in our driveway. The carpet team is hammering away installing new carpets on the landing just outside the kids bedrooms. Both kids have been sleeping for 2-3 hours now. HA! If only I could sleep like that.

rainy sundays

A bunch of women from my internet board are coming to Seattle next weekend. We are having a gift exchange the first day with the theme being "funky accessories". So today Kenzie and I went on a hunt for some funky accessories. And where else in Seattle would we go to find these, but.... Capitol Hill... the Capital of funkiness.

Unfortunately it rained the whole time. Fortunately Kenzie and I still had a great time.

You know what they say about kids making you stop and appreciate the little things. Well sure enough she did. She enjoyed jumping in the puddles, stopping in front of each property to read the street numbers that are in the sidewalk with tiny tiles. We enjoyed drinking hot chocolate and going to the little Sunday market. We stopped at the dancing footprints and learned how to do the Tango. :)

Oh yes,,, and we found a funky gift.

garage sale success

So our garage sale was supposed to be today from noon to 8, and tomorrow from 9 to 4. This was clearly indicated on the signs, the newspaper ad and the notice on Craig's list. So when do you think people starting showing up?

Let me tell you... at about 9:00 am! Only three hours before the sale started.

anyhow, by 12:10 we had already sold two couches, our bedroom set and a number of other items. You know what really sucks. When people ask to buy something you have some sort of a "connection with". You give them a decent price and they haggle with you until you're practically paying them to take your stuff away. I found the whole process somewhat sad and demoralizing. In any case, by 4:00 we realized that our merchandise supply had dwindled to an embarrssingly low level.

By 5:00 we decided to call quits on the sale and cancel it for tomorrow. I am glad. Now we get to have fun instead of see our stuff "stolen" away.

Here are some pictures. We had quite a few people come. I'd say about 50 folks showed up throughout the day.





So, I went to the doctor today. My back has been really bad. She checked me out and took some X-rays. Turns out that it's just a bad sprain and should heal by itself within 4 weeks. Luckily the doc took pity on me and gave me some good meds to help me through the next few weeks.

That's it for today! I'm psyched that this is a 4 day weekend!

Omi is here

She is here ... and I am glad. Despite her meddling and sometimes irriating quirks, she really is very helpful. And she adores her grandkids. Anyone who loves my kids that much is going to be loved by me. She arrived on Tuesday night and has spent the last 2 days cooking, cleaning and taking care of the kids. and man, is it ever nice to have some help.

I am sure CJ is happy too since for the last 4 weeks he has been doing all of the above while packing our house and preparing for the move (yes, he is superman). Today he weed-whacked and mowed the lawn of our neighbour who apparently doesn't know how a lawnmower works. She hasn't cut her lawn since about May of last year. I bet his efforts added a good 10K to the value of our house. ha!

Here are some cute pictures from today.

they both look a little stunned, but it's a cute picture none the less.


HA! The looks on the kids faces are priceless.


this picture is hilarious


our little priness. My mum brought her this dress. I think it's darling.

sappy post

So, last night I was lieing in bed when I was overcome with this tremendous feeling of love for CJ. I tried to pinpoint the "reason" I love him. Was it because he is kind? loyal? protective? hard working? moral? smart? sexy? a great dad? the best chicken barbequer? an amazing friend? supportive? funny?

nope. It is just because.

He is all those things above, but my love for him isn't dependant on any of those
characteristics. It just is.

oh my aching back

Something is up with my back and it's not good. It started hurting on Sunday morning. By the end of the day I could not get off the couch without CJ's help and even then I had to try moving 5 different ways before I could get up without screeching.

Yesterday.. it was better... like it had never even hurt. It was as though I imagined it all.

Today.... I am in pain. When I'm sitting it feels like a burning sesnsation in my lower back. I have little shots of pains that go through my legs (outside thigh) every few minutes. When I walk it really hurts... it brings tears to my eyes.

I hate doctors with a passion. I do not want to go.... so can anyone tell me what's wrong and how I can fix it?

Thanks

btw, I work with my back to the window. I felt like I was being watched. I turned around to see this. I nearly shat myself.

things are happening

- the painters are painting
- CJ has his passport
- the real estate agent is sending links
- my mum arrives tomorrow
- CJ has packed up 80% of our "junk"
- had a great time hanging with the wheelers this past weekend
- garage sale this coming weekend
- I'm starting to lose weight! WOOT
- roofers coming on wednesday
- new carpets next week
- it's been raining so the flowers are growing
- June 2 is coming fast!

There is a ton going on these days but I am starting to feel a bit better about everything. I guess I am feeling like everything will be okay and that things will get back to a "good" normal again soon.

this picture cracks me up.

WTF?!?!?

Can someone please explain to me how Air Canada gets away with these ridiculous prices for flights. The cheapest flight I can find for Mackenzie (who, by the way is 3, and weighs 40 pounds) from Seattle to Toronto (direct) is over $1000! That is friggin ridiculous. So much for splurging on a ticket for Sebby too. I guess he'll be sitting on my lap. This is gonna be one fun flight. [insert rolling eyes emoticon here]

Against all odds, I'm in a good mood

It's Monday morning after being awake since midnight (I couldn't turn my brain off) and I am in a good mood!

I have coffee, I brought in some fresh lilac from the garden and I have NO MEETINGS today!

Some random thoughts follow:

1. Congratulations CJ! You did such a fantastic job yesterday. For those who are wondering, CJ ran his first "official" half marathon yesterday. He has run 13+ miles in training but never in an official race. Despite his cold he ran teh whole thing and finished in under 2 hours. I am so proud of you, honey. AND I am sorry I was such a complete grumpola yesterday the morning. Here's a picture from after the race.


2. Congratulations Sam and Charles. You make a beautiful couple and you are both wonderful people. I am so excited that I will be going to your wedding.

We had a surprise wedding shower at our house on Saturday. I do believe that Sam was surprised (Good job Charles). If she had known, I'm sure she wouldn't have arrived so dressed up, or wearing those shoes :)





who is this devilishly handsome man?


3. To my friends. Thank you to those who have been so wonderful and supportive since we announced that we were moving. I really appreciate it. I hope you all know that CJ and I love you guys so much. When we were talking about moving, the biggest issue working against a move was ... well you guys. You have been our family for years and we love you. We have a history and closeness that comes from riding the wave together (through ups and downs). I hope that you understand our motivations for moving and I hope you know that we are devesated to move away from you all. I know this sounds a bit touche but I hope we stay in touch. I will do my hardest to keep in touch with all of you through phone calls and emails and I really hope you do the same. We also really want to try to make a trip out to Seattle at leave once a year. Please don't be angry at us. We are sad too... very sad. In the effort to move closer to our family (biological), we are also leaving a family behind.

and just because I can, here are some pictures I took yesterday. It was a beautiful day and I can still feel the sun on my face and it feels good!

date night

CJ and I are going out tonight. I am giddy with excitement.

things that bug me

- garage sales
- dressers
- bargaining
- gossip
- guilt
- sick kids
- people I don't trust

a wise woman once said to me

"what are they going to do, fire you?"

dieting

I know several women who are unhappy with their weight. Some could lose a few lbs, some look perfect the way they are, and some are skinny little things. I have watched some of these women struggle with their diets and be unsuccessful. I have seen some lose tons of weight and now they look and feel great. I know some women who are 110 or 115 lbs and think they are fat and are trying to lose weight.

All I can say is that I find it so hard. I want to be one of the skinny ones. 3 years ago I was thin and felt good about myself. I want to feel comfortable in my skin again. I hate feeling "icky"... I hate feeling like a failure because I can't reach my goal.

That is all. feeling a bit down tonight, I guess.

Sebastian

friends

I have always appreciated our friends tremendously. But because of our current situation I appreciate them even more. This morning Karen came over. We enjoyed mimosas and doughnuts while the kids played... what could be better? This afternoon we were invited over to Steve and Nabila's. I was a little apprehensive cause Sebby didn't nap this afternoon and I was afraid he'd be crabby. But he was a happy camper, Kenzie and Julian had a blast playing together, and CJ and I actually got to chat with Steve and Nabila and Dave (Dave, you are the best dad/granddad! Nabila and the kids are so lucky to have you).

Steve took some pictures tonight. I always looks forward to seeing them. Steve is, seriously, the best photographer I know. Steve you just have a great eye for pictures.

Thanks S&N.

Here's a pic I took today. My baby looks like a little boy :(

Tonight was good

it was a LONG day today. Neither CJ nor I slept well last night so I was TIRED today at work. But at 4:00 CJ and the kids picked me up from work and the weekend had begun. We came home and played in teh pool that had been sitting in the sun warming up all day. We had FUN.... so much fun.





This is CJ showing me the size of his pee pee in the cold water :)


My handsome men.




Then we decided to grab some mexican food with the Wheelers. Unfortunately every mexican restaraunt was so full with a wait, so the Ingram family went to Newport Bay instead. We sat outside under the umbrella, and we had snacks and a couple drinks and just a really nice time. Sebby went to bed immediately as soon as we came now, and now we're watching some Survivor.

It has been a "better" day. I am glad.

tough night

tonight was a tough night. I hope there aren't too many other nights like tonight.

CJ bought this fairy outfit for Mackenzie. I LOVE that he did that for her. It's even better when you find out he bought it from the Orvis fishing store. lol

Spring in Seattle

I'm working from home today. I am currently in our home office listening to the birds singing outside. The kids are sleeping. It's a GORGEOUS day today. I can't wait to go outside and play after I finish up my work and the kids wake up. Right now I am so overwhelmed with work though. I need it to ease up before I have a breakdown.

Yesterday when I got home we had a family game of "tag" outside. I had so much fun. Even though CJ cheated. I swear he climbed up here when Kenzie was "it". Now really. How fair is that?


Next, he blocked my exit down the slide when Kenzie was right behind me. Once I was tagged he threw Seb in front of the slide to "pad" his escape.

Sebby's "it".


Kenzie's "it"


I love spring and summer. Sam & her company are doing some work on our yard out front now and it is looking good! I am excited for when she puts the mulch down. I think it'll look fantastic!

I will leave you with a sweet picture of blowing bubbles.