I love having a babysitter!

So we have never hired a babysitter. We always depended on my Mom and a few friends when needed. Now that we are in a different city with no family and no friends to rely on we were forced to turn over our son to a stranger in junior high school. I was terrified. I was dreading the crying and separation anxiety reaction...not to mention what my toddler would be feeling (ha ha).

I got a good recommendation and found the perfect babysitter. She's in grade nine, showed up at my door with glasses and braces and instantly I knew...she's gonna be great. Her entire persona screamed responsible, gets good grades, total sweetheart package. And she was terrific...and we had a whole Saturday afternoon of fun at West Edmonton Mall.

I called her again 5 days later for this weekend and booked her in advance for next weekend...why did I wait this long for....FREEDOM?

I think it's good for Jacob too. To know that we go away but always come back. And that even when we aren't around that he's okay.

Post cereal needs a new marketing staff

On Saturday my husband and I were driving to West Edmonton Mall for an afternoon of material overload. On the way, Tony pointed out a billboard for Shreddies and I still can't stop laughing when I think about it.

It said, " New, Diamond Shreddies!" and had a picture of a Shreddie with a golden aura around it to exude its brilliance.

We started discussing what that 'think tank' boardroom discussion must have been like...

"We need to get people excited about Shreddies again..."

"Hey I have an idea...let's promote its dual personality by revealing its "other" shape....the diamond!"

The whole room must have ooooed and ahhhhed. People are sure to eat it if they think they are eating diamonds instead of squares!

Seriously, who are they kidding?

Future Dwight

One of my favorite television shows is "The Office" and one of my favorite moments is "Future Dwight."

Future Dwight Clip

Maritime trip with my sister

Last summer my sister Alison and I did a trip around the East coast ending in Cape Breton for my Brother's wedding.
She surprised me and rented a convertible and we toured around listening to my iPod and taking in the sea air and terrifc views. We had a great time.

I am officailly domesticated.

So a bunch of cute Grandma's that sew and quilt are taking me on as their next challenge. I got a personal lesson last night from a pro and I am making my first quilt. It is a quilt for Jacob with plenty of cute flannel fabrics that have boy pictures all over them. My goal is to have it ready for his 2ND birthday at the end of June.

I bought a big mat, a very large ruler, and rotary cutter. It took me 4 hours to cut all the squares. If I didn't have the rotary cutter it would have taken me 12 hours. And now I have to cut just as many squares out of the batting. That is a lot of cutting!

Well I am excited to make Jacob his "blankie." I know it will be good if he loves it as much as his Winnie-the-Pooh Bear.

This probably comes as a shock to those of you who really know me. That is because I don't sew. Nor have I ever sewn. I don't even know how to thread a sewing machine. The "Grandma's" are gonna love me...I am going to soak up every word they say.

I will let you all know how bad I am once I actually get to the "sewing" part. Until then, no problem.

Easter Egg Hunt

Easter weekend was fantastic. I made a ham dinner that was so tasty that even my toddler ate some! We did a little easter egg hunt in the house and backyard for Jacob and he was so cute looking around for his eggs. He thought it was a terrific game and I saw him putting them in places around the house this morning and then going around and picking them up again.

We Bought A House

So we bought a house, subject to inspection.

It's a bi-level with 3 bedrooms up and two down. 2.5 baths. HUGE yard. Seriously old lady style which will all be changed of course. The only thing we really didn't like about the place was there isn't a garage. But we can live without a garage until we put one in...if we put one in.

I feel like a big weight is off of me now that our house is sold and we have chosen the next "project." But now its starting to all sink in and the fact remains. We have to move....again. And then Anthony's contract is up in a year so if we decide to go back to Calgary...we will have the pleasure of moving...again. Fun, fun, fun!

One great thing about moving is you have an opportunity to get rid of your junk. I am seriously losing sentimental value on things that I have to pack and unpack repeatedly if I am never using them.

We need a holiday after this is all over. Anybody want to watch my child for a long weekend? I'll pay good money to have a break from my busy, messy, toddler!

Little Friends

I watched another toddler today who doesn't ever get left. His Mom was in a car accident and has to get physio therapy so I watched him for 3 hours while she drove into the city and had her appointment. I thought it was going to be easy when he happily kissed her goodbye and ran off to play with toys...but was I mistaken.
Five minutes after his Mommy left he had a total meltdown. He was running around my house screaming for his Mom and Dad. He then hid himself in my bathroom by wedging himself between the toilet and the bath tub.
I tried to bribe him with toys, cookies, a juice box...anything to distract him from his feeling of abandonment but nothing worked. Finally I had to just let him ride out the emotion and come to terms with his reality.
Thirty minutes later and still whining, Jacob went over to him and talked to him in his own little babble...and then the crying...stopped. They came out together and started to color on a giant note pad I had laid out as a possible "distraction" and he was fine after that.
I couldn't understand what happened but I think my little guy has a bit of a peace maker inside him. His words didn't make any sense to me but to this little boy it was all that he needed to hear.

President George Bush Moments

"Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." —Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004

"Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?" —Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." —Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004

"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002

Click on these for a couple of minutes of laughter!

Funny

More Funny

My favorites are "taking the high horse" and "its your money, you paid for it" and last but not least, "I know we are going to fail."

Victoria, BC

I HAD THE GREATEST WEEKEND!!!!

I drove to Calgary Thursday evening and showed up at my friend Beth's house for a surprise trip to Victoria. We left the next morning and came back Sunday night. The weather was great and we had so much fun.

The highlights of our trip:
1. Sunny weather, ocean air, green grass and flowers
2. Sunday brunch...orange creme brulee
3. Shopping in the 'Lulu Lemon' and its sister store which sells street clothes called 'OQOQO'(for moi) and at 'Le Mama' a cute boutique for expecting Mothers for Beth
4. Sleep (need I say more?)
5. 3 days of girl fun and girl talk including time at the spa, watching movies, and reading fashion magazines

The only downsides to our trip:
1. It wasn't long enough...I needed just one more day!
2. The uncomfortable beds at the hotel.
3. And coming home to cold blowing snow. My drive home last night was a little scary. But after Red Deer it was fine.

We decided that this needed to be an annual thing. Leave the boys behind and have a weekend to relax.