new job

so I just got a new job. It was actually initiated through a recruiter, Chris. He called me first to see if I'd be interested in managing a new office the firm was opening in downtown Toronto. I said no because downtown Toronto is too long of a commute to do on a daily basis, especially during rush hour traffic. He then asked where I lived and when I told him, he asked me if I’d be willing to talk to the firm about a position in their head office which is actually about 15 minutes drive from my house and half a mile from CJ’s office. He started telling me about the company:
- Relatively new, small (100 people) consulting firm;
- Reputation in the industry for exceptional services (which I proceeded to verify by talking to some of their existing clients)
- Rated 4th best employer in Canada based on amazing benefits such as:
o Ability to work from home
o Flexible hours
o ability to take days off and make them up during the week without taking vacation
o Emergency daycare for all employees
o 4-day work weeks during the summer
o Annual bonuses for EVERY employee
o Flat corporate structure
o Employee-owned (shared offers to EVERY employee)
o Extra vacation days for employees who volunteer in the community
- Focused on environmentally supportive design and sustainable transportation

So of course my interest was piqued and sent over my CV. After a fairly length interview process they presented me with a fantastic offer. It’s a position that is totally exciting and challenging for me. I am excited and nervous at the same time (but that’s the way work should make you feel right? A friend of mine said to me “ if you feel comfortable in your current position, it’s probably time to make a move, because soon you’ll be bored”. Which I agree with). Not only that but the salary and benefits were pretty attractive too. So I decided to make the move. This is only my 3rd job since I graduated 15 years ago. So I don’t move around a lot and I’m nervous about starting at a new place again. But I just couldn’t pass up this opportunity.
One more thing… every one I spoke to at the company, from the receptionist, to the HR folks, to some VPs, to the president… they all exude enthusiasm, friendliness and excitement. I am totally psyched to be part of that.

So, November 3rd I’ll be starting the new job. Wish me luck.

amazing

We just got back from watching these amazing kids.

I smiled and clapped and cried for the last 2 hours. If you ever get a chance to go... you must.

purge

I need a major purge in my life. In every aspect. First of all I’ve realized that I am over extended so I will be purging in the area of “personal commitments”. I need to be able to focus on my family and spend time with CJ, Kenzie and Sebastian – I miss them.

School council commitments will need to go first. I sent a few folks an email this weekend to say that I will not be able to be on the executive or the council this year. I know I’ll get flak but that will pass( I hope). The next thing will be the outdoor classroom. I will make myself available when the school is ready to move forward. But I will not be chasing the teachers, principal, school board etc to get decisions made etc.

Next is the house… things need to go. I’m going crazy with all the crap we have all over….I am craving organization – I want our tupperware draw organized, our bills paid, the laundry done etc.

As soon as I can get mum (aka Omi) to take the kids for a half day, CJ and I are going to go through their toys. We are also going to go through our own things – closets, kitchen, bathrooms etc. If I haven’t used something in the last year it’s getting thrown out or given away.

This weekend CJ started us off in a huge way… he cleaned up the backyard. He took down the giant pool, put away the swinging chairs, put away the sandbox, cut down the sunflowers, pulled out the weeds etc. What a big difference in the backyard. Thanks CJ honey!

So… fingers crossed that we’ll be able to get some of this stuff done over the next couple weeks.

So, new topic. This weekend was fun. Friday night I had a ladies’ night out. On Saturday the kids had gymnastics and the Sophie came over for a visit. Then Helen invited us over to Jeff and Daphne’s (her in-laws) for some swimming. The kids had a blast swimming and I was really proud of Kenzie she is doing front crawl now. In the evening Celeste came over so that Angela and Guy could go out for dinner. So we were all pretty beat by the time we went to bed.

Today the kids and I went to the park (while CJ was working outside). Then we had naps, then Kenzie had a playdate (at Emily and Abigail’s) and finally we had dinner, baths (well the kids) and just hung out. We are now watching some sponge bob and soon it will be time for bed. Tomorrow we start another work week. There is some news in that area coming soon. ;-)

Here are some pics from this morning.

my neice

typical day

This morning I woke up feeling like crap. I was out with Sue, Helen, Jacque, Vikki and Bev last night and didn't get home till after midnight. I was feeling a little worse for wear when the kids woke up at 6:00am this morning. But the day was still good. When we got to gymnastics Dave asked CJ to come to a poker tournament this evening. So Helen asked what I was planning to do... since I had no plans we agreed to do something. She and Gay were going to get together already so I told them to come over and we'd order pizza and hang out. So at 6:00 they arrived... within 4 seconds we had 9 kids in the house but they headed straight downstairs to play so we were free to relax. Gay brought over B52 fixings (ha ha ha that reminded me of my early 20's) ... i brought out the giant cosmo bottle. We called Sue and told her to come over. Soon we had a party going on. here we are...

the ladies.





the kids





It was s great evening. it's now 11:00. The last guests just left, CJ just got home after having a great evening. The kids are still awake but being good.

A few fun things to remember... Helen's "green" garlic bread and her losing her car keys (in her purse, locked in her car).

and here are a couple videos.

school

Kenzie got perfect on her first spelling test



Sebby is already doing great!

various

1. I've been pretty emotional today. I cried when I talked to my neighbour on the street. I cried when I read an email from Helen. I cried when the kids were acting up and trying my patience.

2. I honestly don't know if anyone other than me reads these posts... lol. In case anyone does and you are interested in buying some eco-friendly products, can you look here? Our school will get a portion of all sales from this link and the money is going towards out outdoor classroom so I am hoping some folks will consider buying something from here.

3. I actually had this crazy thought today - that I actually like working with Mr. RT.

4. Tomorrow's friday. In the evening we are doing "bean-counting" (counting and tallying money from the hot lunch program) and then going for a drink. I am looking forward to that (more the latter part).

5. I feel really anxious and unsettled at work these days.

Playdate!

what do you think Seb is thinking?

kids' celebrity junkie

I have a confession (or two)...

1. I really like the Miley Cyrus song "7 things"

2. I am excited to watch the VMAs tomorrow and I really hope Britney performs and I hope she kicks ass!

First day of School (2008)

So there we have it. Both our kiddos are now officially “in school”.

Today was the first day of school. Kenzie was a bit nervous about being in grade 1. I understand that. It’s a big change from kindergarten. In kindergarten have recess in the “kindergarten pen” – basically a fenced in play area that keep the kindergarteners in their own area away from the rest of the older kids. They are also given more support once the school day ends – i.e. parents are expected to pick the kids up at the school or, alternatively the kids are assigned a bus monitor (an old student), who takes them by the hand and leads them to their school bus, where they are seated right behind the driver. In grade one though, all those protective measures are no longer there. Kenzie will now be going to school full days, 5 days a week. She will have recess with all the other students in grade 1 through 8. She will be expected to take care of herself.

So it didn’t surprise me when she was a bit apprehensive. Things got a bit better when she found out last week who her teacher would be. Mrs H. was also her SK teacher but was moved this year tpo teach grade 1. So Kenzie was thrilled to be with Mrs H. again. It was also great to find out that she was in the same class as her friends, Zoe, Emily and Mark.

Now Sebby, was nothing but excited. No worries with this little guy. He couldn’t get to school fast enough. He was so proud to have his own backpack. Yesterday he had practiced putting on his new (light-up Spiderman) indoor schools and writing his name.

So at 7:40 this morning we headed out and walked to school. But first I had to take a few pictures.







Walking to school I thought again how lucky we are to live so close to the school. It made me think about how nice it would be to work from home or be a stay-at-home mom. The kids could come home for lunch or walk home after school.







Look at my super duper handsome hubby. (and Kenzie isn’t crying – she just has the sun in her eyes)



Once we got to school, we found out that Sebastian actually only had a half-day today (orientation). So he was devastated that he had to wait another 2 hours before going to his class with his buddy Big Sebastian who is in SK. But it did allow us to focus on Mackenzie. WE had a bit of time to walk around the school before the kids actually went into class.







Our little Boo did great. When the bell rang, she marched right into school with her friends.

I can’t wait to see her after school to see how her day went.

Soon it was back to school for Sebby. All the JK kids and parents met in the library. The kiddos were walked to their classes by the teacher’s assistants. Sebby was so sad to be leaving me…



Okay maybe not… I know he’ll have a great time. I can’t wait to pick him up to see how his day was.