last weekend of jan 2007 in review

Wow, the weekend flew by! On Friday, Mackenzie’s school had their monthly assembly and we were invited to go to see her accept her Student of the Month Award. I had a conference to go to so I couldn’t make it, But CJ, Sebastian and Omi all went. I’m so proud of our Boo. 6 months ago there is no way she’d want to go up in front of all these people. On Friday, though, she told CJ that he couldn’t come with her and that she had to go by herself. Here are all the kids at the assembly.



and here’s our Boo walking up to accept her award.


and finally up front receiving her award.


After the assembly, Omi took both kids home with her. She took them to the library, got k’s hair cut, took them to Swiss Chalet and then had them sleep over at her house. Meanwhile, I TOTALLY enjoyed my afternoon to myself. I bought some supplies for scrapbooking and then came home and made some things for a scrap exchange I am participating in. Then CJ and I went out for dinner (mmmmm sushi) and then went to our curling game. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that curling with a good buzz is actually very fun. I even played one of my best games. Note- in the future get shit-faced before curling (ha ha… okay maybe not THAT much). Saturday I went grocery shopping and then came home and set up my new “craft area”. CJ put this desk that we had in our basement in the guest room for me and I set myself up in there. It's an awesome area - everything is at my finger tips, the room is super bright and best of all when I'm done I can close the door and leave everything out.



I did a couple more pages too. As soon as my cricut arrives I am going to start on a baby album that I am making for some friends who just had a baby boy 2 weeks ago.Here’s a page I just did. I’m happy with it.


Okay, so Saturday afternoon CJ and I picked up the kids from Omi’s and then came home and just hung out all evening. We let the kids stay up late, and went through all our old CDs and listened to music and danced.


We also had some fun with the timer feature on the camera.


Okay, so yesterday… day started with some hanging around and eating a big breakfast. Then we hit Canadian Tire and bought some real skates for Sebby. Then went to Omi’s house and let the kids nap. Cj spent almost 2 hours shovelling all the ice off her driveway. Once the kids woke up we all went skating. It was a lot of fun. Seb was a bit cranky – maybe his new skates hurt or maybe it’s cause he’s getting a cold? But Kenzie did great. They had pylons there and she was able to hold onto one and skate by herself. I was impressed. After skating we went back to Omi’s and had dinner. She also invited Glenda and Tony over. It was a lot of fun. Good food (AMAZNG FOOD), great company, lots of wine. What a great way to end the weekend. Unfortunately today is Monday and to be honest it’s a bit of a let-down after the fun weekend Oh well, we get another one in 4 days…. I can’t wait.

I’d like to leave you with this picture of our gorgeous daughter.

DHL Customer Service

1. Last week I check the on-line tracking of my package. It says that there has been an attempted delivery last week - in fact TWO attempted deliveries. But somehow I never got a notice. It gives me a number to call.

2. I call the number. Automated phone tree. None of the options apply so I wait. I’m asked (automated voice) for the zip code of the delivery. I live in Canada. We don’t have zip codes. I wait. After a few seconds. “That zip code is not recognized. Please try again”. I wait. After a few seconds. “That zip code is not recognized. Please try again”.

3. Finally it rings and I get a human. I explain my situation. She listens intently only to tell me “I’m sorry. That is an international address. I only handle domestic. Please wait while I transfer you to an international customer service representative”.

4. I’m transferred. Explain my situation again. She tells me that they attempted to deliver the package twice. I explain that I never got a notice and that I want to know where it is now. She tells me to call my local (Markham) warehouse and they will be able to help me. She gives me two phone numbers.

5. I call first number – get an answering machine. I leave my name and number – “please call me back”. This was last week.

6. Today – still no call back. I call again. Answering machine. It didn’t work last time so I try calling the second number. I’m in another phone tree. Again, no options apply. I wait, phone rings, and rings and rings. Answering machine picks up only to tell me that the message box is full and can not accept any more messages.

7. I call the first number again and leave another message. Please call me back ASAP.

8. After not hearing for 5 hours I call the 1-888 number again. (See #2 above – same process). On the phone with the international operator I explain that I never received a notice. She argues with me saying that I did. WTF???? Then she tells me that I have to pick up the package. So now I’m pissed but trying to remain calm. I ask her what the address of teh warehouse is. Her reply?... “I’m sorry, I don’t have the address. You will have to call the local warehouse.” And she proceeds to give me the same two friggin numbers of the Markham warehouse that I have called already (See #’s 5, 6 and 7). I am about to blow a gasket!


The package contains 4 travel mugs. I paid $20 to have them delivered.

I've been tagged

So apparently there is an internet/blogger tag game going on and I was tagged by Steve. If you are tagged you have to write 5 things that most people don’t know about you. So here are my five things.

1. I am actually really enjoying being back in Canada. The only thing I worry about is that CJ is happy.
2. I almost went to the Ontario Science Centre for grade 10 but instead I went to Germany for a student exchange. In retrospect I think I would have had more fun at the science centre.
3. I did fairly well in university except for one course – calculus III. I got a “J” (incomplete) because the day of the exam I was stoned and thought the exam was at 2:00 when really it was at 9:00 am. I wrote the exam the following semester and got an A.
4. I hate traveling. I have been to a lot of places but I never really enjoy it. I would be happy to be home ALL the time and just have people come visit me.
5. The thing that is motivating me to pay off my credit card is that we can then get our basement finished. I am really really excited about that.

And to play it forward I am tagging the following people whose blogs I read.

Nikki (thanks for starting to blog again)
Bek
Allyson
Becky
Ash

how could I have missed this minor fact

For the past week when I imagined us on the weekend skating, I would envision CJ and I on the ice, skating easily, helping the kids keep their balance … pulling them along the ice and just having a jolly good time. How is it possible that I forgot I DON’T KNOW HOW TO SKATE! Even when we arrived at the skate trail I was full of optimism and excitement to get on the ice and start skating. It wasn’t until I took my skate guards off and put my foot down, and my foot slid at breakneck speeds away from me and I landed on my butt that I remember that I can’t skate. I am still amazed that this minor fact could have escaped me for so long…..

Anyhow, with that in mind, I would like to say that our first skating experience was relatively good. I was able to move on the ice (granted, without any style whatsoever and with my arms out at my sides like I was a giant bird trying, but unable, to take off). CJ was a star and apparently does know how to skate. He spent most of the time bent over at the waist (his poor back) carrying/pushing one child or the other around the ice. My mum was also terribly disappointed that after not skating for 30 years she had lost her knack. The kids were good sports. Kenzie really wanted to do it by herself but unfortunately she didn’t quite have the balance yet. Seb was happy as anything to be pushed around on his little double bladed skates. All in all it was a lot of fun and we are going to do it again. I would like to go skating with CJ first to get my skating legs. I think that next time we will also go in the arena rather than outside – at least that way we’ll have the boards to hang on to.

if at first you don't succeed

So we decided to try tobogganing again today. Andrea, Chris and Isaac came over. And we all headed out together. This time both kids had a lot more fun. #1) it was warmer out, #2) they were wearing their new balaclavas (sp?), and #3) Isaac was there. We had a lot more fun.







After the sledding we spent some time in the playground. Whoever said playgrounds were for summer didn’t know what they were talking about.



The cool thing about bundling up Sebastian really warmly is that he can’t move so we don’t have to chase after him. We just pick him up and pop him down somewhere and he’s stuck until we pick him up again.






Only problem is that he’s easy to forget about.



These pics totally crack me up….

canadian winter fun

We woke up this morning to a beautiful, sunny (but COLD) day with a good 4 or 5 inches of new snow on the ground. We had plans to go shopping but couldn’t pass up this opportunity to go tobogganing. So we got dressed, (I so wish I had a snow suit like the kids) and headed over to the park (it’s so perfect to have this park right outside out front door).



Unfortunately neither child was prepared for, or enjoyed the blast of snow in their faces as they went down the big hill with CJ.

CJ and Seb at the top of the hill….


And on their way down….


So after a brief tobogganing stint, we headed back home. Away from the wind, though it was a lot of fun to play in the snow. We made snow angels, the kids went down the slide landing in a huge pile of snow…







We ended up having a lot of fun. I have to admit I enjoyed coming back inside to a cup of hot coffee (kids had hot cocoa). Afterwards we headed over to play it again sports and picked up some skates for CJ and me, and a pair of bob-skates for Seb. They are basically double blades that you strap onto his boots. I can't wait to try all these out tomorrow.

OMG... adorable

check this out. These skates are just to darn cute. Poor Seb, he was so upset at the store that he couldn't get some too. Kenzie is wearing the smallest size they make. We will have to hit Canadian Tire to see if they have some sort of a skate for Sebby. We're hitting the ice on Sunday. wish us luck.

I think she's gonna be a natural.

could I be any luckier?

I think not!

common courtesy

When you are in a public rest room, in a stall, and someone else walks in, isn’t it common courtesy to make some sort of noise to let the newcomer know that they are not alone? Because say, for instance, that this newcomer sits down and is quiet for a few seconds to “assess the situation”. If this common courtesy is not carried out, said newcomer might hear nothing and therefore assume he/she is alone. Hypothetically, this newcomer could, um, “pass gas”, in PRIVATE. If this person then hears some quiet shuffling in the stall next door he/she could become terribly embarrassed and feel humiliated and in a way, violated. I mean really… is it too much to ask?

shoot... have I said too much?

our weekend - continued

Well I forgot to update on the rest of our weekend. Saturday afternoon Michele and her husband Jamie came over with their girls and Linda came over with her daughter Megan. Megan is a little peanut. She is kenzie’s age but the size of Sebastian. But she is the most outgoing little kid ever – so cute. Linda and Michele are friends from my internet mom’s board. It was great to meet Linda and to see Michele and Jamie again. The kids had a hoot playing together as shown below….


Although the big girls kept locking Sebby out of Kenzie’s room. This is what happened when I asked then to let him in.


Luckily, Seb found a willing audience with the adults who watched him dance downstairs. He then proceeded to go play by himself quietly before we noticed that he was using Michele’ cheesecake as playdough… OMG – how embarrassing. Anyhow, we enjoyed a yummy spaghetti dinner (thanks CJ, honey) while listening to the kids tell knock knock jokes…. Reminder: next time put the kids table in a different room.


On Sunday we made some homemade playdough. It was super fun and I personally like the texture of the homemade stuff better than the bought stuff. The afternoon was spent hanging out and not doing too much of anything.

I am getting really tired of Sebastian being sick all the time. He’s had a really tough winter with one cold after another. Right now he’s got another one… this time with a bad cough that has been keeping him up most nights. CJ is an angel and has been getting up with Sebby and letting me sleep. I hope Seb sleeps well tonight so we can all have a good night’s sleep. I am hoping we can get the kids into bed early so that CJ and I can watch the American Idol premiere in peace. That should be amusing.

Saturday - half day update

First of all - Happy Hockey Day in Canada!! For anyone who has access to CBC you should watch the hockey coverage. It's being presented from Nelson, B.C. - the small town of about 700 where my dad lives. And how perfect since it's Dad's birthday today. Happy Birthday Opa :)

so this morning I picked the kids up from my mom's house (they stayed there overnight since CJ and I had a late curling game last night - we tied but had a great game). On our way home we stopped off at the local arena where they were hosting the Bunny Hop Ringette tournament. The bunny league is the 7 and under league that Kenzie will be starting in next fall. This year her "big friend" Jenna was playing in it. We caught up with Jenna after her first two games



it is so cute watching these kids play. They are 5, 6 and 7 years old and they skate better than I ever could.





I think I have Kenzie convinced that she can play ringette without princess skates - so long as she can use bright pink laces on her hockey skates.

After watching for a while we headed home, had lunch and went down for naps. I was just going to get a drink when I found Kenzie like this..... I think that even with her curtains and blinds closed her room was a bit bright for her.





So now we have about an hour of quiet time while the kids nap before our guests arrive. I'm looking forward to a fun afternoon and evening.

Life's ups and downs

Another week has flown by. Life becomes so much more hectic when the kids are sick. Omi came over and took care of Sebastian on Monday and Tuesday this weekend because he was sick – and very grumpy. Then CJ got sick too. On Wednesday CJ stayed home with Mackenzie because she had a fever and was feeling crappy. Yesterday I was home with Mackenzie because, in the morning, she said she still felt crappy. She seemed to recover miraculously as soon as CJ took Seb to school and I called into work to say I wouldn’t be in.

Okay so she could have gone to school and I could have gone to work, but we ended up having a really fun day. We headed out to Michaels and got some crafts stuff for her and Seb (she always has to buy something for her brother too – I think that’s darling) and some scrap booking supplies for me. Then we came home and got to work. I had so much fun scrap booking and Kenzie was great company and seemed to enjoy making her own pages.

Here are some pics of the products. I am pretty pleased. I'm onto my second album now :)

After her nap we headed out to pick up Sebastian. On the way we stopped at the post office to pick up a surprise parcel. It was a gift from the Lacey’s – a darling shirt for Kenzie (it has 2 butterflies and flowers on the front) and a super cool rocking guitar shirt for Seb which is the softest thing I have ever felt in my life. Nabila knows me so well – guess where she got them from – Boden of course. You can’t go wrong with mini-Boden. Thank you so much Lacey’s. I took pics of the kids yesterday (Kenzie wanted to put on her new shirt in the car – I made her wait till we got home) but haven’t uploaded them yet. I will soon.

By the way, the kids are being so damn cute lately they are all into giving each other hugs and kisses. Now don't get me wrong - they still fight plenty. Kenzie is very bossy and sebby is very stubborn - not a good combination. But they have their good moments. (note, shortly after this picture was snapped, Sebby bit Kenzie - that was not a good scene).

WE ahve a super fun weekend planned. Omi is watching teh kids again this afternoon and tonight. After work i am going to hot teh mall and then head home for a nap. CJ and I are curling at 10:00 tonight YAWN!! Tomorrow I'm going to pick up teh kids and we are going to meet Brian and Sue at the ringette tournament. It's teh Bunny Hop - so all the under 7's will be playing. It is bound to be supe cute. I am hoping to get kenzie excited about playing so we can sign her up for next year.

After naps we are having friends over for dinner, drinks and playing. There will be 5 kids under the age of 4 and 5 adults - it should be a blast!

random thoughts Jan 9

1. I think this is going to be an awesome year for us all!

2. This morning Kenzie said she wanted to go skating. I need to do some on-line searching for "princess hockey skates" (per the request of Princess Mackenzie).

3. Sometimes it's just not worth investing the energy and emtions into some friendships.

4. Going out for dinner with mum tonight. I'm looking forward to it and i am determined to order a heathy salad.

5. I hope Seb gets over his cold fast.

6. I think it's super cool that Steve works for the best employer. Steve - you rock!

7. I'm sad the buckeyes lost. :(

8. I hope my meeting this afternoon doesn't go too late.

Help Riktor

(stealing from Michele's blog)

I am passing this on here from a friend of mine who is maintaining the site www.helpriktor.com. I can't even imagine......In a nutshell -

"a little boy in one of our playgroups, not even 3, started having headaches around the time his new little brother was born, and hospitalized with complications. They initially chalked it up to stress because of the baby stuff going on. It progressed rapidly. He lost 30% of his body weight in 4 weeks (31lbs - 21lbs). Can't walk, eat, get out of bed, go potty anymore.The day after Christmas, they found a large mass in his brain on MRI. A few days later, they found he also has tumors in his spine.He had surgery for the brain tumor yesterday (12 hours of it) and they removed most of that mass, but he will need chemo for the remainder of it, and for the tumors in his spine.The mother was the breadwinner, and now she is in Oakland (over an hour away) with Riktor in the hospital and a brand new baby to care for. Dad lost his job due to missing work over all this. They could use some help, in a big way.We set up this website for him: www.HelpRiktor.comIf there is anything you can/want to do - great. Or, just forwarding it on to get the word out would be great."

How handsome is he!

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After