So much to say...where to say it?

Good God. It is hard work to set up invites when you go private. Or I am just really, really lazy.

Let's go with lazy. I am too lazy to go through 2 different email accounts and search out email addresses. I don't keep an address book in my email, you see. Why? Because it requires work on my part. Not even hard work. Just work. If you know anything about me by now it is that I am laaaazzzy.

You should also know by now that William and I tend to fight. And that is what happened on Saturday afternoon. A blow out over William's usual pet peeve, the house. So I sent an email to the addresses I did have in gmail (which makes it way easier than my shaw account does!) saying that because we had split up I was going private. I fully expected that in the next few days I would have a lot of bitching to do. Maybe I jumped the gun... I do have a lot of things and thoughts to work out. And I am very likely to attempt some of it on here. William and I had a pretty good talk this morning and have agreed that we definitely need counselling. Do we give up a relationship and 2 parents together for our daughters over the state of a house? I know that I never want to be talked to the way he talked to me yesterday. I never want to say the things I said to him either. This is where counselling comes in. Somewhere, somehow, we need to learn to be a partnership. We need to learn to treat each other fairly. I am not looking for perfection, I just want to be happy. I want my children to be happy. I refuse to raise my children for any longer in an unhappy home.

So I will have to decide what to do with the blog. I would like to keep it open, I know there are a lot of lurkers and even though they never comment (HORRIBLE!) I do appreciate the fact that they come here day after day. William reads here sometimes, and I know he probably doesn't want me writing about him. But I say what I always say...what is written here is my truth. It is how I work things out for myself. I really am not a fan of wordpress, and once again I am too lazy to start another blog. I don't know. I'll figure it out and let you know. It'll be a couple of days though, I work New Years Eve (until 11.30...bastards!) and New Years Day.

Oh, and you guys, thanks for the emails and the facebook messages. They meant a lot.

An Update

So it's a hernia. Paranoia for nothing. An overactive imagination would be great if I actually knew how to use it for good. Instead I just used it to make myself sick to my stomach. Literally.

Anyway. I will have a referral for surgery. At the Mis. Where I work. Fuuuckkk me. Nurses, OR porters, doctors...all will see me in my naked unglory. I'm getting ahead of myself. I have a referral to see if I need surgery. Elective surgery in Alberta? Well I could be skinny before it is actually done. Something to aspire towards I suppose.

I did not ask about the anti depressents. I should have. But it was not the doctor I normally see there. It was a man. And the clinic, after being closed for 3 days, was packed. I waited the length of time it took me to read 100 pages in my book. (Trade size, smallish print...an hour maybe? I don't wear a watch.) And when I got into the office I said "I have a couple of things, I'll be quick, I know you are busy." And had he said "Don't worry about it" I would have listed all my issues. But he did not. So instead I asked about the possible (now definite) hernia and a sick note for my now gone bug. I called sick into work for today yesterday. He said the receptionist would write one up. So when I went to leave I gave her the little sticky note with the date (seriously? he couldn't have just done the same thing on a medical pad and signed his name?) and she said "That will be $10." What the? I have never in my life paid for a sick note, and I'm not starting now, I don't give a flying fagoozy what Alberta Health says. $10 for a 2 second note on a piece of paper worth not even a penny? Whatever. So I say that I will just tell my boss I don't have one. $10! Seriously! I've never heard such silliness in my life.

I'll be back there next week to see the other doctor for the meds. Who has never charged me for a sick note before. Meanwhile, I am going on the internet to search out a nearby doctor who is accepting patients. And who is not a quack. That is of great importance. Never ever pick your doctor based on the University he graduated from. Just because one graduates from UCD and has a lovely Irish accent does not make him a lovely doctor.

Sick and tired

*WARNING: Whingy post ahead.*

I am off to the doctor in the morning. I took a walk over to the medicentre this morning but it was closed yesterday and today. (I don't go to my family doctor because he is a quack. If anyone knows of a good doctor in Edmonton who will not say "That is a parenting issue" when I question him about my then 6 year old daughters daily temper tantrums or that fair haired children get sick more often than dark haired ones and who is actually accepting new patients please let me know.) The medicentre is literally a block away from my house and by the time I came home I was winded.

Seriously? What the?

If you recall in my birthday post when I said I was weepy I still am. And no, I am not pregnant. The thought had crossed my mind. Especially with the hard belly that looks like it is about 4 months along. I think it's a hernia. I'm pretty sure it's a hernia. When I am very paranoid it becomes a tumour. I joke about it but the thought of hearing it is something very very serious has put me off from going to the doctor for over a year.

Stupid? Yes.

Initally I put off going because I was quite sure my weight would be brought up. A matter of my intestines and whatnot moving around to accomodate all the fat therefore causing a hardish tummy rather than just a flabby tummy. Does that even happen? Certainly for pregnancy, but for fat?

Now I have to go. I know she will bring up my weight, but I have been in so much pain the last few weeks that I can suck it up and hear all about how fat I am. In fact, I will bring my weight up first so that she doesn't have to do anything but agree with me. Better I comment on it than someone else. (Which is why I do it so much on here.)

Here is my written out list for the doctor, so that I don't forget anything:

Stomach pains...top of belly button popped out (I know...gross)...hernia?
Back pain...increasing...get out bed/chair like I am 95 going on 120.
Tired. All the freaking time.
Depressed. Crying. Stressed out. Constantly yelling at 2 oldest children. Do not have energy for 2 youngest. Can not clean house...tired after sweeping kitchen floor...need to go sit down for 10 minutes before starting again. Can not deal with the mess that is my life. Falling apart. Falling afuckingpart.

I'm also asking to be put on effexor. I am not a big fan of pills, I have a really hard time swallowing them but I just can't handle things right now.

I am dreading tomorrow, mostly because I really am paranoid. In my head I am quite sure that it is a hernia. But on my birthday, when I was so miserable all day long and William apologized for ruining my birthday (which he so didn't) it all came out...how scared I was that there might actually be something really wrong. I didn't even realize until I was crying in his arms that it was my fear of this that had kept me from the doctor. That my joking about it really wasn't joking about it.

I hope I'm just paranoid.

Whoring my loot

That Chick wants to see what we got for Christmas. And I would show pictures but I am as sick as a dying dog and I just do not have the patience to wait while this piece of crap decides whether or not it will upload a picture or two.

Remember my Christmas list? Guess what I got that was on it?


NOTHING!

A great big fat zero. Not even the sex.

This is what I got:

2 Phillipa Gregory books (The Virgin's Lover and one other.) Suddenly, I am into all things Tudor. Thanks Debbie!

a nice big Winnie the Pooh mug from Taylor.

a gigantic Mr. Big chocolate bar from Taylor. I'm too sick to eat it though, just the thought of it makes me queasy.

a teamaker. Like a coffee maker but for tea. I quite like it, but I find it makes the tea a bit too strong for my liking. I am going to have to try it with loose tea.

sheets. 460 count sheets. Which I can't use, because William has psoriasis and tends to destroy sheets.

the movie Roxanne (because it was filmed in Nelson, where we went this summer), the movie Where the Heart is and the Dove campaign You're Beautiful CD because it had some great songs on it and some green tea bath salts. I bought those myself and told Taylor to wrap them.

a $30 gift certificate to HMV. This will pay for one season of Kate and Allie. Well, almost, it's $32.99. Plus GST.

In my stocking I had an electric toothbrush, the Feist CD (I really love that 1234 song), some Lindt chocolates and an Old Navy keychain. I bought my stocking stuffers myself as well.

I'm a grumpy fuck today. I probably shouldn't have posted this in this mood because I am coming off as ungrateful. And I'm not really. I am happy with what I got. Even if I had to buy half of it myself.

It's a Christmas Miracle

People! Look it! Here I am and with video. Had I known my computer would be so co-operative today I would have uploaded the picture of the fantastic ornament I received from Lisa in Julie's ornament exchange. I'll try that later this week. See, it really is a Christmas miracle. It's almost on par with walking on water or, dare I say it, immaculate conception. I've already done that, of course, having conceived Sophie in a month in which I am quite sure no one in my house was having sex. Including me. I'm babbling. Forgive me. It is now 12.20 on Christmas Day. I am operating on very little sleep as I have been wrapping presents well into the night ever since Friday. Last night there was a little crisis with two of Saoirse's presents from the big fella. Crisis adverted though. They were found safe and sound at my friend's as Taylor had accidentally given her a bag of my stuff along with the one bag she had in my garage. This was discovered at 7 am, a full 3 hours after I realized they were missing and after I spent 20 minutes on the phone with the night staff at Zellers discussing whether or not they carried a Princess laptop and the Princess dance studio so that I could run over in the middle of the night to spend another $120 I do not have.

Anywho...I leave you with a song by Saoirse. You can't actually see her, it's way too dark. I really need to figure out how to use this video camera feature. But she sounds really cute! She learned this song at school and when it was time for her concert she just stood there...I have 3 or 4 videos of her just standing there during all the songs. So did the 2 kids on either side of her, I'm pretty sure I got the only 3 kids who didn't move a muscle. However, she now graces us with this dong daily, and once yelled it walking down the mall, much to the amusement of some shoppers.



Where is Santa? from Emma on Vimeo.

Because that's just the way my life is going...

My computer's dead. I am officially computerless. Blah.

Thanks for the birthday wishes in the comments and on facebook.

I've been weepy all day. I don't know what my problem is.

Right now, I just want to be on a deserted island with a good book and no people.

See you in January maybe. Unless I get really, really lucky.

A little trivia contest

In honour of Frannie, who loves contests and giveaways I offer you this on a very, very small scale.

My daughter's school is named after someone from the court of King Henry VIII. Tell me who it is, what fate befell him/her and what you think her school mascot would be.

Any correct answers will be put together and the winner drawn by Taylor this weekend.

The prize will be sent in the New Year and you know all it's going to be is cards or something similar. Maybe some Canadian chocolate too, if the winner happens to not be from here.

And the prizes from the last little contest? Have been purchased and will be mailed to Chris and Karmyn this Thursday. Yeah, it takes me forever but eventually I do it.

Duh...I guess I should have said email me the answer because one could just copy the answer they see. emmamcdon@gmail.com Sorry to have deleted your answer AFF! But I'll remember what you said!

Bugger bugger

You know there is only so much yelling, crying and banging your head on the keyboard before you finally say you've had enough and give up on trying to post pictures of your favourite ornaments for Kaytabug's turn at hosting Fun Monday.
So I will take this moment to apologize for anyone who came here looking for a fun Monday post and did not find anythibng except for my usual drivel.

I would have shown pictures of Taylor, Saoirse and Sophie's first Christmas ornaments. I do have a son too, but as he will tell you he is not of much importance in our family and that is why his ornament has disappeared. This is so not true. I quite like him at times and I always love him. I have no idea what has happened to his ornament. It was crappy anyway. I think I picked it up for 50 cents at K-Mart back in the day when K-Mart was in Canada. It was a big blue ball one with Big Bird on it I think. And it said son. Hmmm...maybe it wasn't even a baby's first Christmas ornament. Poor bugger. Perhaps I should go on ebay and see if I can find a baby's first Christmas ornament from 1996.

I also would have shown you my very favourite ornament, which actually belongs to Taylor. It is a worm reading a book in an apple with a big bite taken out of it. It is dated 2000, the year she was 5 as she had started reading just before her birthday that year. To this day she is still a bookworm and everytime I see that ornament I think of Taylor at 4 with a Barney board book in her hands (the first book she ever read on her own), at 5 reading Junie B. Jones, at 7 reading Harry Potter, at 9 devouring the Dear Canada series ( I read these too! The one I linked to is my favourite) and at 11 loving Jaqueline Wilson.

I would have shown you the cutest little stocking ever, that Liam did receive for his first Christmas, from my mum's best friend. It has an embroidered hockey player in the Oilers colours with the number 22 on it (Liam's birthdate) and his name on the top of the stocking. Taylor has one too, but it is Liam's I would have shown you. Since I ripped him off in the first christmas category.

But who wants to read about ornaments when they can click to another site and see actual pictures.

Bah humbug.

While I wait for my camera...

This is supposed to be my Fun Monday post. But you know, technology and I? Not the best of friends. Why won't my camera let me pick and choose a handful of pictures? I know it can be done, I've done it before but no such luck today. It's either one, or the whole lot. So I have the one, which has nothing to do with today's Fun Monday topic of Christmas decorations, and I'm currently uploading the whole lot so I can get the 5 pictures that make up my Fun Monday post. Give me a couple of hours would ya? My computer? Slooooooowwww.

I was asked to post pictures from the Christmas party so here is the lone one that made it on to the computer:



So you thought I was exaggerating when I said I was fat did you? Yeah, I wasn't. But you know, whatever. I'm trying to accept me for me. And this? Is so not me! I never wear makeup and my hair never looks nice. And here? I think I look pretty fucking good.(But excuse me double chin and freaky smile? What the?) And that William...he cleans up pretty nicely. Oh, and I did end up getting blonde highlights and I had my eyebrows done. It was a lovely afternoon of being pampered.

The party was pretty good. Except that for some reason we weren't on the guest list. And so we had no seats at any table. We ended up at a table full of head office staff, at opposite ends. But it was okay. I talked to the couple sitting next to me and William talked to the couple sitting next to him. Our table won a prize (a box of Lindt chocolates each) for the best singing performance. We did Frosty the Snowman in rap. I sort of thought we sucked, but I think they were really looking for funny. And it was sort of. Even though they didn't have us on the guest list, they did have a card for William which contained $100 and a Christmas ornament.

He had to check today to make sure the kids were on the list for next week's Christmas part, because can you imagine taking a 3 year to a party and having her watch all these other kids get a gift from Santa while she has nothing? Luckily they were on the list, but it's odd that we weren't because he handed both forms in at the same time. Oh well, it all worked out in the end.

Tomorrow

I am so, so excited about tomorrow. It is William's staff Christmas party. It will also be our first child free night since the arrival of Saoirse, as my mum is having all 4 children for a sleepover. A birthday/Christmas gift should arrive early in our household, one should hope.

William is somewhat dreading tomorrow. He is not one for parties or crowds at all really. He is only going because he knows I want to. I am saying that after the amount we have spent he is going to go and stay until the end. It is at the Country Club so he needed a suit. Along with that he needed a new belt and a decent tie. I think he probably purchased his last tie in 1987...not pretty! He also needed dress shoes. I needed (well, wanted) a dress. I really lucked out as my friend Shelley found one that had been marked down from $90 to $15. It's nice and it looks alright on me. I suppose that for $15 I can not expect it to make me look skinny and gorgeous. I suppose that wouldn't happen even at $1000. I am what I am, she sighs.

I am taking the girls to our community league Christmas party tomorrow morning, which Taylor's Pathfinder unit is hosting. I will bring them home at 12.30 and then I am off to the hairdresser. I couldn't get into my regular gal, I guess phoning a week ahead doesn't work during the Christmas season, so I am trying a whole new place. I'm hoping my hair works out okay. I will go with the collar length layers that won the poll, but I didn't think I would have time to have it coloured. I am also having my makeup done for me. I don't wear makeup normally. In fact, I do not even know how to put on eyeliner. Yes, I am a capital L loser. I may get my eyebrows done too, another thing I have never done.

Now to just be able to get a picture of the two of us together would be fantastic. They are very few and far between and I usually delete any because I always look like a fat sack of shit. Hopefully, tomorrow I will not.


Oh and guess what? William said I could get him a Tivo for Christmas. He laughed when I asked if he would like one, because he is not a stupid man and he knows it is really for me. But I am fairly nice and will let him use it occasionally, he can record some of those silly sci fi shows he watches and all those Liverpool games on Setanta. Since we pay $14.99 a month for that one lone channel he had better take advantage! As long as they don't interfere with my shows of course. Because even though it will be his Christmas present? We both really know it will be mine.

Forgotten on the wish list

Can you believe I forgot to mention that I want a video iPod and a TIVO?

Yes, Tivo has finally made its way into Canada. And I want one. I want to be able to program in Melissa Gilbert's name and have every episode of Little House on the Prairie and every cheesy TV movie she has ever done recorded for me.

William! Don't forget to read the one below. The one with 13 other gift ideas on it.

Thursday Thirteen- 13 things I might just want for my birthday and/or Christmas

And I'm not fussy...I will take the following for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter and any other gift giving holiday. In fact, I will take them for no reason at all.

This list is being produced for one person specifically. He knows who he is. Don't tell me I haven't told you what I wanted.

Obviously I don't expect everything on this list, though if you happen to find a spare couple of thousand dollars I would be quite thrilled to see it all under the tree. Or wrapped on my birthday (which just happens to be in 10 days, hint hint.) But like I said...not fussy.


1. How I Met Your Mother Season 2 on DVD. How I love this show. And it's cheap, cheap. Can be from one of the kids. As can...

2. Kate and Allie Seasons 1 and 2 on DVD. Why is this fantastic example of the greatness of 80s comedy not on Dejaview or Prime or the I-refuse-to-call-it-Peachtree-TV TBS? I lurve this show. Which is why I would also like...

3. Kate and Allie Season 3 on DVD. Did I tell you that I love Kate and Allie? I really, I really do. But not as much as I love...

4. The Facts of Life Season 3 on DVD. Remember how I spent last Christmas week watching the first two seasons of this and the only (though really it should still be on the air, it was that fantastic) season of Freaks and Geeks? Wouldn't you like to see me lying on the couch for an entire week again? Ah, good times.

5. The Cricut Complete. This is, at $399.99, my most expensive request. I surely do love my scrpabooking supplies. And apparently I'm a bit of a scrapbooking loser if I don't have a cricut. And! it is on sale until Friday for the low, low price of $299.99. Just saying. And it even comes with the mats and tools and a couple of cartridges. Just saying.

6. A Project Organizer. Since I requested this last year and DID NOT GET IT, I am requesting it once again. The flyer from when it was on sale is still on the fridge, just to remind you of its craft holding goodness. Oh how I love this. Love, adore, would sleep with if it wasn't so big. Now if only I had my own scrapbooking room. That would be the bestest Christmas present EVER!



7. A gold membership to Urban Scrapbook. For $50 you would be giving me the following yumminess: 10% off each purchase, 25% off on my birthday, double reward points on Thursdays, 15% off all classes, 2 free classes a year and more.

8. A gift card to Urban Scrapbook. Because I would like to take advantage of that discount.

9. A gift certificate to Second Cup. Their green tea lattes? A thousand times better than Starbucks.

10. Homicide: Life on the Streets the Complete Series on DVD. Only $293.99. Well, it is my all time secind favourite show. And Homefront? It isn't on DVD yet.

11. A new blog template. Let's admit it. This one sucks. I needs me some help. Paid help. And while we're at it? I'd like my own domain actually. I've stuck with this blogging thing for nearly 3 years. I think it's here to stay.

12. A new kitchen table and 6 chairs. Slightly more expensive than the cricut I guess. I'm sort of fancying the pub style. Our current table is so waonky it has caused crooked lines on some of my cards. At least I'm blaming the table. Plus we only have 4 chairs and now that Sophie is out of the highchair (YAY!) I am sitting on a folding chair. Not so yay.

13. S-E-X. Sigh. Isn't it sad when you have to request sex as a gift? Yes that's what having a toddler in the bed does. I am requesting this for both my birthday AND Christmas. I know. It's asking a lot. I bet you can pull it off though. How convenient that I have booked my birthday off for the staff kids Christmas party.

Wordless Wednesday- The Asthma Attack

"Uncle Thom! Uncle Thom!"

This is from this summer when we were visiting my brother in Nelson. He made us so many delicious meals, here he is preparing one while Saoirse seeks out his attention. I often wonder how often food is dropped on the floor and picked back up to be used, here is my proof that at least one person does it. At least he washed it. Not very well judging by the length of time though.


Uncle Thom from Emma on Vimeo.

A Curse Upon You

When I go to work on the weekends I hope and pray for a slow evening so that I can read blogs. There are some blogs that my slow-ass-still-need-a-new-one computer just can't handle. Why I don't know, but for some reason the old girl just shuts down completely. Which is a shame, because I love both of those blogs.

So anyway, I look forward to getting into work and turning on the computer when it slows down. These are normally the first two blogs I read and over the course of my 2 days of nonwork, I hope to get through my blog roll. (Which reminds me I totally need to update my blogroll, I keep losing the all the little pieces of paper with urls on them.) And even comment sometimes, because I have become the blogosphere's shittiest commentor. I'm lucky a few people are still reading and commenting.

I get to work and it is dead. Love this! Do you know how quickly 8 hours can pass when you have a computer in front of you? I turn on the computer, erase the user name, out in the default one and type in the password.

What the fuck? "User access denied." The other computer said the same thing last week, but I did not worry too much because I always use this computer, my favourite computer with the nice comfy chair.

Excuse me, but do they not realize I have computer related things to do, blogs to read, card designs to look up on Splitcoast, the retired list is out on Stampin' Up. Do you not realize I enjoy being paid to mess about on the internet? $18.29 an hour isn't actually worth doing physical labour for.

I come to find out that my punisher is only a unit clerk. I'm assuming she must have went to higher ups first before she changed all the codes, but I am seriously unhappy and laying all the blame at her feet. She doesn't like us at all. She once took the handsets from the phones away so that we could not use them. Another time, she put a note saying "Porters, do not use the phones." Sometimes we need the phones to call a unit. It's not like I only use the phone to call home. True. Sometimes I call a friend or two as well. Apparently she thinks we have germs. Duh. A hospital is a pretty stupid place to work if you are a germaphobe. Unlike her I am unwilling to wear gloves for 8 hours. I hate the gloves actually, and only wear them when I am dealing with a patient with contact precautions. But I do wash my hands between patients, or a the very least use microsan.

So instead of catching up on blogs this weekend, I cut out 7 stamp sets, wrote out 20 cards, stamped 45 envelopes, addressed some of them and read my new Jodi Picoult novel, Perfect Match. (which I misplaced yesterday...where could I have put it? It was on my sofa the last time I saw it. Help me out here, I am having withdrawals.) I also spent some time cursing this unit clerk, with the wish that her over processed blonde hair will maybe fall out of her head.

Christmas cards continued...

I still need addresses. Just saying.

emmamcdon@gmail.com

30 down, absolutely none to go!

It's over, it's over!!!

I thought I did pretty good until last Friday when it all started falling apart and for the most part I have just been churning out shite since.

But now it's over and I don't have to worry about getting a post out ever again.

Do you know what this means? It means I can actually start reading blogs again. I am so, so, so far behind.

It means I can post at the other one where I have a ton to say.

It means that tomorrow is December 1st and my birthday will be only 15 days away, and Christmas will be in 24 days.

It means I better start buying my 2 oldest children presents.

It means I better mail my Christmas cards.

But I better finish them first. And my stampin up order needs to come in today so that I can make the non religious cards for those I know with other beliefs.

Can I tell you how excited I am about this order? 30% off plus free shipping meant I got way more bang for my buck. Oh you'll be seeing pictures you lucky ducks.

Who in their right mind wouldn't want to see my 7 stamp sets and 9 packs of designer paper?

Oh happy days.

Goodbye NaBloPoMo.

It was fun. Mostly.

Hello posting whenever I feel like it. How I have missed your sweet, lackadaisical ways.

Thursday Thirteen- 13 Fundraisers for the 2007/08 year

Fundraising. It's never ending. Some causes are worth while, some not so much.

1. Chocolate almonds. These were for Saoirse's playschool. I was required to take 2 cases EVEN THOUGH MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT STARTING FOR ANOTHER 2 MONTHS! My mum sold one in her office and we ate the other one. Yep, $75 worth of chocolate almonds right onto my fat ass. And I wonder why it is in the state it is in.

2. Mint cookies. Damn Girl Guides! No one wants the mint cookies! Again, these will end up padding my bum. That would be great if I tended to fall an awful lot but I don't. Another $48 down the drain. They are currently sitting in the cupboard. I wouldn't mind so much, but the majority of the money does not stay with the unit. Only a very small percentage does.

3. Sports tickets raffle. Saoirse's second major fundraiser. The raffle winner receives tickets to games for all of Edmonton's sporting teams- the Oilers and OilKings for hockey, Eskimos for football, the Rush for lacrosse and whatever other teams there are. Soccer, baseball, basketball. Teams I've never seen anyway. I have to sell $80 worth of tickets. I thought it would be hard but my friends Nancy and Shelley both bought $20 worth, I bought $20 and my mum and Jen made up the other $20. Easy peasy.

4. Sausage fundraiser. This is for Liam's school. They were selling sausage, perogies, cabbage rolls and beef jerky. The forms and money were due yesterday. I did not participate as I was in the midst of THREE hockey related raffles.

5. Oilers raffle. Liam's school is raising money for new chairs. Exciting no? This is a pretty good raffle...1st prize is a jersey autographed by all the Oilers including everyone's favourite Avalanche player, Ryan Smyth (apparently some people just aren't over the fact that he was traded), 2nd is a basket of Oilers merchandise and 3rd is $100. The draw is at Liam's Christmas concert and if I am as lucky as I was 2 years ago at the concert then I have a chance. (I won the 50/50...$205!)

6. Sig.n of H.ope campaign. This is a charity related to C@tholic Soci@l Services . Among some of the schools there seems to be a bit of a competition to see who can raise the most money. Last year, Taylor's school came in third even with their fairly small population. They are aiming for first this year and are having a few different events. Tomorrow is movie day, where they pay $5 and spend 2 blocks watching a movie. They are having a maid/butler day where students from each class are auctioned off. There is an in school raffle to win skybox seats to an Oilers game. The big raffle is an autographed Oilers jersey with second prize being 2 tickets to Van Halen. Taylor is loving all these "Fun"draisers.

7. Cookie/ cheesecakes sales. Liam's school's spring fundraiser. God, that cheesecake is delicious. I bet it would mail well. Okay probably not.

8. Spring Tea. Saoirse's third major fundraiser. I will be required to bake! Or buy baked goods to be sold at the very least. I am required to work at this tea. My daughter will sing cute songs (or just stand there while the other kids sing.) I will be required to buy something to put into the raffles that will be held. I will be required to spend many dollars on tickets so any one of my 4 children may win a raffle prize. One year, when Taylor was in 4 yr playschool I think, we won half the raffle prizes and the big raffle prize of a boy's bike. The next year? Liam cried when we won absolutely nothing.

9. Social Justice fundraisers. Taylor belongs to this club at school. For the most part they do things like make sandwiches and squares for the homeless who go to a local church. They have two big things coming up though...hampers for the Battered Women's shelter and a raffle in February for the people of Darfur.

10. Girl Guide cookies. The spring comes and so do the vanilla and chocolate cookies. These ones are easy to sell as I have at least 3 friends who like them. You so know who you are and that I will be ringing you the moment I have that box in my hands.

11. Monthly hot lunches. Taylor's school is introducing these on a monthly basis for the first time. Liam's school has always done them. They don't charge a fortune like some schools I could mention (Taylor's old one) but they still make a bit of money on them.

12. Optional playschool fundraisers. Jeesh, that playschool. Anything for a penny. The first was a hockey pool which I did not participate in. The second is a coffee sale and since I don't drink coffee I doubt I'll do that one either.

13. School photos. What? You didn't know that when you purchase your school photos you are actually making your school money? Yep, you are. A dollar a package. If I recall correctly schools can opt out, but I don't think many due. 300 students buying pictures is 300 extra dollars. I guess not all photography companies do this, but since Lifetouch is North America's biggest school photograper I would assume a good chunck of schools are making some money this way.

Wordless Wednesday- I think it's here to stay (probably until April!)

Making the honour roll

I am sure that in the past I have blogged about how disappointed I have been in Taylor's efforts at school and the report cards she has brought home. She's a smart, smart kid but lazy, lazy, lazy. And her marks in Grade 5 and 6 sometimes reflected that. But the effort comments always refelected her laziness. Effort inconsistent, effort inconsistent. Doesn't do homework. Disorganized (well, she is her mother's daughter!)

Now she is junior high and the school she is at has awards for each of the 3 terms. The first term is honours, the second is most improved and the third is for community spirit. I think. Something like that.

I really wanted Taylor to make the honour roll this term. Well, for the whole year ideally. So I made her a deal. For every core subject (Language Arts, Science, Math, Social Studies and French) mark in the 80s she would get $25. For marks in the 90s she would get $50. She is saving for a lap top so there was definitely a goal in mind. Her effort had to be conisdered consistent or applies extra effot.

Her report card came home yesterday and I was pretty happy with it. 3 of her core subject marks had dropped (from the 90s into the 80s) from the interim report last month, and one had gone up. She was told to expect the marks might drop a little bit as the first month had been review.

I now owe her $150, as all of her cores were in the 80s and French, her lone $50 grade, was 90%.

I've never paid for good grades before, and it's not something I would agree to do normally, but I really do think that she needed that push. And while I would like to see all her mark in the 90s, because that is where she should be, I can't complain about marks in the 80s. Not once in my junior/ senior high days did I come anywhere close to making the honour roll. I really don't know where that girl got her intelligence from.

Fun Monday - Unfinished Projects

That Blue Momma! She could have made this Fun Monday up just for me, for I am the queen of unfinished projects. My very first cross stitch, started at the age of 18? Sitting in my cross stitch box in the basement? My cross stitch map of Ireland? Left in Ireland (or maybe England) 6 years ago. All of my scrapbooking projects? They are in various areas of my house, partially finished, almost finished, barely started. Such is the world of Emma. You don't even want to know how many drafted posts there are on here.

And apparently my Fun Monday itself has become an unfinished project. Here it is, 20 minutes to midnight, and I have yet to post it. I am waiting for the camera to upload the picture, but I screwed up somewhere and instead of it just letting me download that one picture, I had to do the whole memory card. Currently it is scanning verrry sloooowly for duplicates and since there are some 1000 duplicates, I'm anticipating a long wait. And while I've been waiting I've been working on the project itself. The Christmas cards. I've changed my design, and I like this one a lot better. I've made one and now am working on cutting all my paper. I'm hoping to get at least 10 done tonight.



**UPDATE: I'm still waiting. It's 1.14 am. This thing is going nowhere, but I've almost finished 20 cards!!! Yay me! They are very simple, so I suppose that helps. I hope to start mailing them out this week. I am not sure about card etiquette in the world of blogging. If I know spouse and children names do I make the card out to everyone, or just the blogger? This is a hard one for me, because I feel as though I know some of the families out there when really I don't. Where is that Emily Post book on blogging? Any advice will be appreciated!

Wishing

I wish I was a better person.

I wish I was strong.

I wish I knew how to make things better.

I wish I knew how to love better.

I wish I could understand the torment.

I wish I didn't cry at the drop of a hat.

I wish my house was a calmer place.

I wish that my children wouldn't remember the words they heard today.

24 down, 6 to go.

Tonight was supposed to be the night I got a huge chunk of my Christmas cards done. It was way too busy at work. I made...one. One freaking card. So evenings and Sophie's nap time will be given over to card making I think. Otherwise you all will be getting the store bought variety. And since I have spent thousands of dollars on my supplies I probably ought to use them.

Saoirse's birthday party tomorrow. Am much stressed. Money has disappeared. Where to? Don't know.

Birthday Loot Bags and other stimulating stuff

I did some Christmas shopping tonight. I noticed a 50% off the lowest price sign in the window of Garage and I lucked out with 2 pairs of pants and 6 shirts for Taylor for a grand total of $50.34. Not bad. But Garage's clothes are made for the anorexic set I think. Taylor is a pretty skinny kid and she is in a medium there. She fits a size 0 pant at Old Navy but a 3 at Garage. Would it be so hard to have it so that the same person fits into the same size everywhere?

At Old Navy I got Liam 2 shirts, I think he will quite like this one. As I was waiting in line, the girl behind me said "You're missing the crown of of your claddagh." And in the 9 or so months since it myseteriously disappeared she is this first to have noticed. And so, what was wrong with the picture on Wordless Wednesday was the my crown is gone on my ring. I received that ring for Christmas just after I turned 15 and so I have had it for 19 years this year. I just can't not wear it. I feel naked without it. I'm slightly amazed that I still have it, I don't hold on to jewellery very well. It was lost once, during a mad makeout session when I was 15, but the mother of the fella found it a few weeks later under the sofa. Ah, those were the days.

Anyhoo...I think I've pretty much finished the girls. I would like to get Saoirse the game Hungry, Hungry Hippos and Sophie needs some clothes. Other than that they are pretty much done. Except for the electric car from Santa. And I tell you, Santa better get his butt in gear, there is only 2 more paycheques til Christmas. Tonight I picked up Sophie a Fisher Price nursery doll (I had that one in my hands, but changed it for a bald boy) and a FP musical teaset. She will love them both I think. I did not get them as many toys as in years past and I hope that I do not go crazy in December. But I probably will not have that chance as I have nothing for Liam but for the 2 shirts and some dominoes. He wants games for his Wii and some new controllers. Taylor wants a video ipod. They definitely get less as they get older, but the gifts are also way more expensive. Kids...they ain't so cheap.

When I came home I decided to do Saoirse's loot bags. Do you remember when loot bags consisted of cheap plastic toys and a lollipop? Not anymore. I have been buying since July and today I realized I didn't have as much as I thought. I mean, they are pretty good but they aren't filled with Old Navy pajamas and Disney store socks and a pair of shoes (that's what Sophie got in a loot bag at my friend's sons birthday. Saoirse didn't get the shoes, but she did get the jammies and socks.) I did get some little Ariel dolls for really cheap at the Disney store, along with Thumper and the heffalump from Winnie the Pooh. For the boys I have the large stuffed Buzz Lightyears...they were on sale for $2.49! Anyway, I am not sure why we spend so much on loot bags these days. When Liam and Taylor were getting older I managed to get away with just a burned CD of favourite songs. Cheap at less than $1 each. And the kids loved them. I'll do that next year I think for Saoirse, just of Disney songs and whatnot.

Her birthday party is this Sunday. Hard to believe Christmas will be in exactly one month. We don't have snow yet and at just around freezing it isn't even that cold and my tree's not going up until mid December so I am not feeling very Christmasy. Maybe I should grab the Christmas CDs tomorrow. I'm a bit annoyed that the schedulr for Christmas week isn't up at work yet. I really want to know if I am going to be working. And if I am? Prepare for me to be quite miserable. I so do not want to work. It pisses me off that people who don't even celebrate Christmas have asked for the day off and they will get it over me because of their seniority. Blech.

What a crappy post. It would be one I wouldn't bother if it weren't for NaBloPoMo. I'm quite in shock I've made it everyday thus far.

Thursday Thirteen- 13 names that people in Alberta really used on their children

(Otherwise known as "How To Get Your Child Beat Up in the Schoolyard.")

This post was inspired by Jen from Just Another Jen who did a post about odd NFLer's names. I commented that my mother registers babies and she really gets some doozies. When I was little my favourite was "Paris Eiffel." Recently, she had a young girl who gave her baby 26 names, starting with each letter of the alphabet. Yes, people are crazy. When I was searching for names for Sophie last year I used the Service Alberta website of all the first names used in 2005. Needing something for Thursday 13, I decided to take a peek at the 2006 list.

I tried to stay away from names that were reflective of the heritage, for while they may be strange and unpronounceable to me (much like Saoirse is too others) they obviously mean something to those parents (much like Saoirse does to me.)

The Boy Names:

1. A.K.I.L No, I'm not joking. That is really some childs name. I wonder what the initials are meant to stand for.

2. Aryan At first glance, not a bad name. It's just that suddenly visions of Hitler and men in white robes and pointy hats came to me. I wonder if it is supposed to be a play on Aaron? 10 babies have this name. I suspect at least one or 2 have slightly more than racist parents.

3. Coo-nah It's just a bit weird.

4. Diezel-Blaze The parents of this child were on the news when the CTV did a report on the Vital Stats list and of course they focused on the unusual. I don't know if it's so much unusual as childhood torture.

5. Jacob-Danny-Micheal Perfectly fine names on their own, but stick them altogether and you have yet another bullied child.

6. Ulysses Quite possibly big fans of James Joyce. Or Greek mythology. Maybe even spacecraft.

The Girl Names:

7. Charlatan Essentially they are calling their child a fake. Or they were really big into The Charlatans UK.

8. Dusty-Storm Why, oh, why would someone do this to their child?

9. FleurdeMay Oh I wish they gave you the date of birth. I'm betting this baby was born to French parents on the first of May. A flower for spring and the Virgin Mary and all that. I think this one is very sweet. I don't imagine 8th grade boys will feel the same way.

10. Irish Even with my obsession of all things Irish I think this is a silly name. We did have a kitten once that Taylor named Irish and that made me cringe. Poor kitten, I stepped on its head and killed it. 2 2006 babies have this name. 6 were called Ireland. Which I did throw out to William to see his reaction. Much as I suspected, he was not in favour.

11. Paradyse At least spell the word correctly. Paradise is bad enough, the other is just cruel.

12. Tuba What. were. they. thinking? What makes someone name their child after a gigantic musical instrument?

13. William A nice name for a boy. But then Taylor used to be more popular with the boys and now it's the other way round. Who knows what could happen to William in the next hundred years?

Other contenders for my 13 included: boys- Adonis, Amadeus, Excell, France, O'ryan and Victordean. Girls- Autumn-Jewels, Morningstar, Pari-K, Peaches, Spirit, Starlight and Trail-Dance.

Wordless Wednesday- What's wrong with this picture?

Pensieve's Poetic License - The Limerick

What made me think I could do this? Excusing high school English the last poem I wrote of my own free will was in Grade 9. I had a binder full. They were kept until I was 19 and moving out on with my then boyfriend. I didn't want him to laugh at my corny poetry. Which is sort of a shame on my part, some of it wasn't that bad and there was a fantastic poem about my Granda. Well, it was fanatstic when I was 14.



Some people have great imaginations. Robin is one of them. Imagine getting bloggers to write poetry. I'd never have thought of it. But then, some would tell you I don't think much.

Here is my foray into the world of limericks:

There once was a girl called Jill
She was a right little pill
She pooped in the bath
Oh, how it made her laugh
Though it made her mother quite ill.

Nothing rhymes with Saoirse, did you know that? Except for porscha. And Saoirse really did poo in the bath (when she was about 8 months old) and when I turned to look at her (I was cleaning the toilet, don't judge...I was multi tasking) there she was with a fistful of poo in her hand and a fair bit in her mouth. Have you ever scooped wet poo out of a baby's mouth with your bare hand? It was not pretty. And I, for one, wanted to throw up.

Fun Monday - A Trip Down Memory Lane

Karisma is the host of this week's Fun Monday and her challenge this week is this:

"I want you to take a trip down memory lane, and keep right on going, right back to your childhood. And I want to hear "THAT STORY". You remember the one? Yes, you do! The one your parents, siblings, extended family or friends, would never let you forget, live down or get over!"

This one really is a challenge for me, because I was a pretty quiet child and not apt to get into very much trouble or do anything to out of the ordinary.

I thought and thought all week and all I could up with were these few things, none very interesting I'm afraid.

-When I was about four or so, someone was holding me and normally never having such reach I decided to play with the thermostat. It was the middle of winter and I turned it all the way down. Needless to say the whole house froze that night and in the morning my mother couldn't figure out who had turned it down. Neither my brother nor I had the height to reach it. I am quite sure the blame went towards either my dad or his Uncle Jackie, who was visiting from Belfast. You know, the things men do when they are drunk. I think I told her when I was about 12. Now whenever I complain about how cold her house is she reminds me of the time I tried to freeze us all and surely I should be able to handle the slightly chilly temperature she keeps her house at.

- At about 7, I slammed a slab of wood down on my brother's hand, causing him to lose one of his nails. We were fighting of course. My mother likes to remind me of this when I tell her that I have never met two children who fight as much as Taylor and Liam. And while I may have caused my brother a little physical harm (or a lot) and while we did fight quite a bit, we never hated each other. Taylor and Liam? Hate each other. I would lie to my parents to keep my brother out of trouble. Taylor and Liam? Live to get the other into trouble.

-At 10, my brother and I were playing with a ball in the basement. My mother collected toby jugs and had one on the TV down there. I threw the ball and it knocked the jug over (a blessing really, those things are ugly as sin.) My brother wanted to just hide it and not tell her, which normally I would have gone along with (see! protecting each other!) but my friend had just told me a story about getting in a lot less trouble when she told her parents the truth right away so I said "No, I'm going to tell her." Up the stairs I went. Let me just say, I wish we had hidden the jug. Did I ever get in shit! So much for being truthful. I remember this myself, when I am trying to get the truth out of Taylor and Liam. Just tell me the truth, for Godsakes, and you probably won't even get into trouble. Nope, they would rather lie. And keep lying, even when I know the truth. Like Liam and the stolen money.

-At 14, a group of my friends and I skipped school and went to the open house of one of the high schools. We weren't supposed to be there, it was a day for the public junior high feeder schools and we were from the Catholic school. We got caught coming back to school by our scince teacher. Parents were called. I was the only one who got into any major trouble, I had to miss one of the girls birthday parties and the John Cougar Mellencamp concert. The other girls? Nothing! The three I was going to the concert with still got to go, all of them were at the party where they spent the evening talking trash about me. Junior high was never the same after that. Thank God I only had three months left to go. This was the only time in my life that I considered running away. I wanted to see if they would feel bad if I was missing. Funny, one of them is now on my facebook list. i still wonder why she invited me to be her friend. And why I said yes.

And that's it. We don't talk about anything that happened from 15-17, those years do not make for pleasant memories for my mum!

I hear a rumour that next weeks' host is Saoirse's future mother in law, Blue Momma. Looking forward to seeing what she comes up with!

Christmas Cards

I started my Christmas cards tonight. I figure if I can get 3 hours in a night at work I may actually be able to get them done in time by the end of November. Well, I only work 2 more shifts in November so maybe not. No, I can do it. Maybe I'll have to stop reading blogs.

Anyway, I would like to send you a card. You may not want me to send you a card. Let me know. Some addresses I have, some I don't.

There's a good chance I may just end up buying a package from WalMart Hallmark. I really love their commercials. Or I may come across the supply from years past.

Or I may actually make them. Who knows? Isn't Christmas all about surprises?

So yeah, let me know. My email's in the sidebar, slowly making it's way downwards because of all the crap great stuff I have installed. Or you can leave me a comment. Yes, no, you're a loser, whatever. No don't call me a loser. I might cry.

* I do know that Christmas is really not all about surprises. I don't want to offend anyone.

I have just reread this post and I think I come across as slightly deranged. I am not. I am tired maybe. Though I don't know why. It was dead tonight. And I watched a man code in the ER. And they really did jump onto the stretcher and start banging his chest. And all the while I thought was just done on TV. He died. It was sad. One minute you're having coffee at Tim Horton's with a friend, the next you are dead in a hospital emergency room.

Do you know what I did all night? Stamped, read blogs, played Solitaire and read my new book (The Other Boleyn Girl). So good. I think I actually worked for 2 hours in my 8 hour shift. Definitely not more than 3.



It was a weird night.

Mopey

Today was not a fun day. I don't know what's wrong with me...I'm so down. For no real reason. I was grumpy this morning because William left me a note saying he was coming home for lunch. And it's not that I don't want him to come home, it's just that today was his work's monthly barbeque and he planned on going but changed his mind. I worry about how anti-social he is. He doesn't want to do anything. Even his work Christmas party, he just wants to eat and leave. I know he suffers from anxiety and I know he doesn't like crowds but it is so hard for me to understand. And it frustrates me. It frustrates me that I don't get him. (But his new job...I sort of like them. A monthly barbeque, Christmas parties for adults and one for kids, $20 a week just for showing up on time every day. Nothing wrong with that. A bonus in the New Year, I hear too. Yep, I sort of like them. Not sure that William feels the same way though.)

I was grumpy because my dad showed up unexpected. I hate that. It's not that I don't love my dad it's just that I hate people just showing up. Especially at 8.45 in the morning when I am snoozing on the couch with Saoirse and still in my jammies with unwashed hair. And when they stay for 3 hours when I have a ton of stuff to do and am babysitting to boot.

I was grumpy because Sophie was absolutely miserable today. I was trying to clean out my linen closet (not on my list, but still needed to be done) and she was all over me whinging and crying. I was a bad mother today.

I was grumpy because I just can not keep up with this house. A giant blue bag of recycling sat in the kitchen for 3 days before I finally took it out myself. I wanted to see how long it was before Taylor did it, since she says recycling is her job not the garbage. And the garbage! How long would it have been before one of the other able bodied people in this house emptied the can? Would it have to be overflowing to the floor? The lid wouldn't even close when I did it today. I am tired of cleaning only to have Taylor and Liam walk in the door and within 15 minutes it looks as though they have undone what I did. I really need a bigger house. I need more people spread out space. I can't even turn in my kitchen without bumping into someone. If you read that Fun Monday from ages ago you know how small it is.

I was grumpy because this evening I wanted to take Taylor to the mall for new boots. Then Liam decided he wanted to come and get new runners. And I decided to take Saoirse. Saoirse asked for 4 different things and cried each time I said no. This is a new habit and it is driving me crazy. I did not get Taylor boots. I did not get Liam new runners. He wants Pumas. I said why didn't you tell me before Shelley went to Las Vegas and I could have asked her to pick them up. So much cheaper there than here. I said if he wants them then they have to be a Christmas gift. I am not spending $100+ on shoes a month before Christmas and not making them a Christmas gift. My mum is going to see if my aunt is going to Seattle and will she pick them up. I did however get myself a new winter coat. It was on sale but I forgot the $10 gift card. I also managed to get Taylor some Christmas gifts. 5 pairs of panties from La Senza girl (but I think they might be too big), along with an interchangable watch in 2 shades of purple (her fave) and silver and some body butter. Then at Zellers I found the first season of 8 Simple Rules, which was something she had asked for last year. Now the only person who has no gifts is Liam. Well I did have one but his father bought him the same thing and won't return his. And his father! Did he ever piss me off last night. Frickin ass.

Just realized I have NO gifts for Liam. Ah crap. Damn William for being so nice and giving him the Wii!

I think I am going to get my grumpy ass off the computer and go and read. Thanks Debbie for mentioning my brand new bought-because-you-liked-it book on your blog.

Conversations with Saoirse - Part 2

Mummy: Who do you love?
Saoirse: Sophie. Taylor.
M: Daddy?
S: Yep.
M: Nanny?
S: Yep.
M: Mummy?
S: Oh no, I don't love Nanny.
M: You don't?
S: No. I just like her.


As she is walking out of the kitchen I say: See you later...
S: See you later.
M:...alligator.
S: I'm not an alligator!
M: It's a saying. I say "See you later alligator" and you say "In a while crocodile."
S: But I'm not a crocodile either.

For ages she has been calling Sophie what I thought was "silly goose." Yesterday I found out what she is actually saying. They were playing with playdoh and Sophie kept trying to sit in Saoirse's seat.
S: Sophie, sit down you silly goof.
M: Silly goof! I thought you were calling her silly goose.
S: Her is not a goose! Hers a goof, like Goofy.
M: Oh she's like Goofy?
S: Yes, but I'm not like Mickey Mouse.

Keeping the peace:
Sophie wants something that Saoirse has.
S: Sophie, no! No, Sophie!
Sophie persists and is all over Saoirse.
S: Okay Sophie, you can have it.

Coming home from school today we cross the street and are outside our backyard.
She yells to Taylor who is inside with all doors closed so no chance of hearing.
"Tay! Taylor! Taylor! Woohoo Taylor!"
I love that woohoo.

Talking to Sophie: Awwww Sophie...Sophie, you are such a beautiful girl.

Thursday Thirteen #1- 13 Things I need to do around my house

I'm jumping on the bandwagon. I like to do that sort of thing from time to time. I would have done it earlier but I am just too lazy.

Which leads me to the thirteen things I need to do around my house. Because apparently here is no such thing as teamwork. And that magic fairy? She's still hiding. Probably in the house of some clean freak. And really, I am far too lazy to do these things on a regular basis therefore maintaining some semblance of cleanliness.

Were I very brave I would take pictures of the squalor in which I live.

Please note that this list does not include the things I do every. single. day. Laundry, dishesX3, vacuuming the livingroom, sweeping the kitchen floor, picking up toys, putting away coats and shoes that are left where ever with a devil may care attitude. You know, the usual.


1. Organize my basement. Right now it is a mess of packed and half unpacked boxes, clothes that no longer fit my children and other assorted junk. Taylor and Liam have a TV room of sorts down there and it is sometimes neat, but mostly not. The room is currently doorless, as in a fit of rage at it being an absolute mess, William ripped it off. Had he been thinking he might have unscrewed it, but boy was he mad. And I couldn't really blame him. The storage area is becoming somewhat unwalkable. I have every intention of doing the basement, but I know that the moment I see a giant spider (or even a small one) I will be off and running. It is also a job I cannot do with Sophie around. I could do an hour a day while she naps, but I think the smartest thing is to take up my friend's offer to have them for a day. But I'd probably just blog.

2. Get all the laundry put away. I'm great about doing the laundry, but it will sit folded in baskets for ages. I made a start on it today, but of course there are loads in the basement to bring up and the whole vicious cycle starts again.


3. Wash the shower curtain. I have a cloth curtain and as I was getting in the other day I realized that it is appallingly dirty. Now this shouldn't seem like a big deal to do, and it isn't, but washing the clothing and towels of 6 people seems to be a neverending job. And the curtain just isn't as important as my daughter having a B.O. free gym uniform for school or me having scrubs for work.

4.Clean out the fridge. I did this one! Srtike one off the list. I did actually intend to take before and after pictures but forgot the before so the after seemed rather pointless. Oh God, it was atrocious. Spills everywhere. The fridge appeared to be full of food, as there was no more cramming space but once I had thrown away 3 grocery bags of out of date bottles, containers of moldy food and flat pop bottles it is quite empty and ready for my trip to Costco on Saturday. And it is lovely and clean. And will stay that way, even if it means putting a lock on it to keep everyone else out. I did just realize that I still need to clean out the freezer. Bugger.

5 and 6. Clean out the kitchen cabinets and scrub the fronts. Almost everytime I open the cabinet door with the girls plastic dishes I end up catching a plate or bowl. My tupperware cupbard? Not a lid in sight. My lazy susan cupboard has no room for the huge box of bulk organic rotini and 12 giant cans of roma tomatoes my brother brought me from the Kootenay Co-op in Nelson. The cupboard doors are atrocious. And I didn't do them all that long ago because they were built up with grease when we moved in. What the hell does my family spill everywhere? And how do they spill so much?

7. Sort out my stamps and scrapbooking supplies. All of my stamps have found a new home on the landing going to the basement. It's not ideal, but they are out of the way of the livingroom yet close enough for me to grab is I should need them. But they haven't been sorted from when I came back from my weekend away. They are all over the place and I like them sorted into catergories. Because there is a hidden anal rentitive inside of me. I just don't have the get up and go to actually become one. In my bedroom closet there is an entire of rubbermaid box- one of the big ones- full of paper and stickers. Must be sorted. Must find time. Must not sit at computer so much.

8. Clean out my bedroom closet. Not only are there scrapbooking supplies, there are containers of jumpers, too small clothes that I have got to admit I am never ever going to fit into again, blankets, office supplies and other things that I just seem unable to throw away. Must learn to let things go.

9. Deep clean the kids' bathroom. I only cleaned this bathroom 2 weeks ago, and good God it is a mess. Now, I know 2 weeks seems like a long time but the reality is Liam and Taylor are 11 and 12 and should be old enough to give the toilet seat and sink a wipe on a daily basis. They are supposed to alternate Saturdays for a proper cleaning but never actually do. The amount of toothpaste Liam uses astounds me. There are clumps of it in the sink and on the counter. When I cleaned it I only swept the floor, I didn't wash it. Tonight I was forced to use that toilet and as I was sitting there I was amazed at the baseboards. I've never seen the likes. They will be scrubbed like mad soon.

10. Clean Taylor's bedroom Remember this picture post? Yeah. I'm still waiting. It's worse now, way worse. She says to me that I just don't know how hard she has tried. If hard equals not at all then I do know. So I'm tired of waiting and excusing and yelling. I'm just going to do it myself. And out will go almost everything. Somehow I expect she will still be able to make a mess. She's like that.

11. Clean the girls' room. This won't take me very long, there is just a build up of laundry and a basket of toys that I no longer wanted in the livingroom. They just need to be put away along with some lego and train tracks. Saoirse and Sophie are actually really good about cleaning up (believe me I learned!) and so I will get them to help. I also have a bunch of clothes that no longer fit Sophie. She'll be handing down to Saoirse before long I think.

12. Clean out the garage. Like the basement, there is an awful lot of unpacked boxes hanging out. William is of the impression that if I haven't looked at them in a year I don't need them and they should just be dumped. I wish I had this attitude but I know that there are about 6 boxes of kids books and almost my entire collection of books by English authors. I need those books. Maybe not right now, but one day. I have until March 24th to empty every box otherwise he is just throwing it all out. And he probably would too.

13. Dump the man and children and have a day to myself. I will do this when the house is done. I'd like to say by Christmas but it's me we are talking about. I can get everything done by then but for the basement and garage so I am aiming for Mother's Day. Who wants to clean a cold garage in winter? I am going to book Mother's Day off, tell everyone that all I want is a day to myself and relax in the glory of a clean, organized house.

If anyone has some mad organization skills I would muchly appreciate any hints.

Ladies Night Out

Did I tell you guys that once a month a group of friends and I go out for dinner, leaving our respective partners to deal with the children? We do, and it is a great night out. I don't suppose I have to tell you everything I do, but I like to keep you informed on my day to day life. You are quite lucky that I don't post each time I use the bathroom because really my life...sorta dull.

There are 6 people in this group (we're even on facebook...not that we use it, but we should) but tonight only 4 of us made it. Shelley backed out at the last minute due to school related child issues, honestly she's a better mother than I because I would have said have this done by the time I get home or there will be hell to pay and Sue's daughter's dance class was having parent watch night.

So Nancy, Michelle, Jen and I went to Joey's Grill, which is much more appealing than the name sounds and spent a fantastic 3 hours eating, chatting and laughing.

We all ordered souvlaki and Jen (who just happens to be the thinnest of us all) was the only one to have salad as her side. The rest of us had skinny fries. Somehow I doubt they really promote skininess. Unless they are showing just how thin my arteries are getting due to the build up of fat hanging about due to my consumption of such foods. The fries were good though. And the souvlaki was delicious. The pita was so soft, the taziki was scrumptious. If I ordered it again I'd leave out the hummus though, I'm not a big fan and I could taste the grittiness of it.

Highlight of my night? Towards the very end, when our bill had been forced upon us, Michelle realized her son had called her about 8 times. She called home and he said he wasn't feeling well, that he had a headache and a fever. He calls back a few minutes later and Nancy answers the phone. "Hi!" she says and she is laughing. You know the silent laugh where you are trying so had not to laugh out loud? She then says "95? That's good." Jen and I are laughing as well, trying to keep quiet so that poor Connor doesn't think we are laughing at him. Nancy is laughing so hard she passes the phone to Michelle. She tells us that when she said that temperature was good Connor said "No it's not! I'm burning up!" and eventually said "This isn't my mom, put my mom on." You know when you have to really pee and you laugh and sometimes a little comes out? Well, that didn't happen to me. Because although I was laughing so hard and I really needed to go I freaking squeezed those muscles like I have never squeezed them before. Because if I hadn't? My seat would have been wet. And peeing in a restaurant when you are 33 years old? Well, it just isn't on.

Next month we are having a Christmas gift exchange. I am bringing my camera and taking pictures. And then I am posting them on here. Do you think I should ask permission or should I just stick them up? Jen did put me on facebook even though I specifically said "Do not tag me!" (Too those of you who saw that picture I am so so sorry!) so for sure I can post her without asking. Though I doubt she could take a bad photo. Bitch.

No one loves you like your sister.

I thought I would dread having two girls so close in age. But these two? They love each other like mad. I love how Sophie throws her arms around Saoirse. They do this all the time and call it dancing. All the laughing is Saoirse, the little yell at the end is Sophie. Normally she is much, much louder. It was quite a pleasant surprise to come home from a crappy evening at work and see this clip.


Dancing Girls from Emma on Vimeo


Alissa? Terri? You guys both use vimeo. Give a girl a hand and tell me how to uplad the video directly into the post? Pretty please!

Fun Monday - Take 30 Steps

Our host for this Fun Monday is Hootin' Anni and her challenge was rather, well...fun. Not that the others aren't of course, it is just that some require me to think. And me? Not always a thinker.

The challenge was to take 30 giant steps in any direction, taking any turns needed, then to stop and take a picture. You are then to to turn around and take 15 baby steps.

I started from my computer and as my main floor is not huge I turned at the stairs. I did try taking 2 stairs as my giant steps but I think I slightly strained a muscle. Something hurt anyway. So I counted each stair as one step. I turned on the landing and took the final 7 stairs. Straight ahead would have taken me into my bedroom, to the left would take me to Liam and Taylor's rooms. I turned right, which is the longest bit of hallway, the way to Saoirse and Sophie's room, and the kids bathroom. Let me tell you, I was seriously hoping we wouldn't hit 30 near the bathroom, becuase that thing is not too pretty. Although I did clean it last week, so I don't think they have caused that much damage yet. Step 30 puts me dead smack in the middle of the girls' room. Straight ahead would have been the window, so with a slight turn to the right this is the picture you get:

This shelving is over Saoirse's bed. The top shelf has a Curious George stuffed animal, along with the Curious George topper from her cake last year. The globe she received for her birthday yesterday. I bought it years ago when I worked at Hallmark. It was for Walt Disney's 100th birthday. I have been holding on to it all this time, just waiting for a lover of all things Disney. The bottom shelf is 3 Irish beanie babies and on either end are 2 holy bears, the one on the left is the St. Patrick bear and the one on the right is the Irish Spirit bear. One year, at school we did a holy bears fundraiser and we bought 14. Including for some unknown reason a Scottish one. I think I meant to order the St. George and screwed up. As per usual.

I turned around and took 15 baby steps. This led me to my bedroom. I think maybe my steps weren't babyish enough. I probably should have ended up at the bend in the hallway. Anyway, I took a picture of one of my 2 pet peeves (previously mentioned on this blog), William's flags on the wall. This is his Liverpool one. I much prefer it to the Northern Ireland one. My bedroom is not a rec room, or a games room but I guess until I get one of those two this is where they are staying. He is not keen on using the garage as his room. Though I think they would be perfect there.


Saoirse's birthday post is below!

I don't know who told her she was allowed to grow up.

Three. Such a big number. Sigh.

I came home from work last night at about 11 and I had to wrap all her gifts. I spent a good half hour cursing Taylor and Liam as I couldn't find any tape. And I used to have about 20 rolls. All gone. I ended up using a glue stick, which was not fun at all. I loved the card when I made it on my weekend away, but when I looked at it last night I wasn't as keen. I had made a fantastic one back in July for a birthday party and this one is very simple compared to that. I don't think I ever took a picture of that one. I made about 10 like this one, and now I am not sure I want to send them out to the bloggers they were destined for.


I do like the inside sentiment though:


I sent Saoirse and Liam down to the basement to get Taylor and while she was gone I brought her presents down from the bedroom and set them on the couch.


This contains an Ariel pool party doll that she had been asking for. It is what she is taking to school on Tuesday for show and tell.


Sophie was very keen on playing with the as yet unopened boxes. I think the expression on her face is pretty cute.


These are the clothes she got. I was actually supposed to post a picture of her and her toys but messed up my numbers. Too lazy to go back.


One of the gifts from Taylor, Liam and Sophie was a princess set with purses, sunglasses, earrings and combs and brushes. She wore these glasses to the grocery store later on.


This is the best picture of her in the birthday girl shirt. I am so not a photographer and she is so not a poser.


In the evening my mum came over, along with her godparents Shelley and Ed. This dress up outfit was one of her gifts from Shelley and Ed, along with light up slippers and a wand as well as an Osh Kosh shirt, socks and 2 pairs of leggings that Shelley picked up when they were in Vegas last week. If I lived in the States I would have the best dressed kids.


Shelley and Saoirse. When they were coming up the walkway Saoirse ran to the door yelling "Anutie Shelley, Auntie Shelley" and was so excited to see her. This is huge...normally she is quite quiet. And even with Ed around she was still talkative and playing around. Big changes at the age of 3.


Blowing out the candles on the cake. I think I got this shot right after the candle went out.


Saoirse, William and I. And the giant Barbie balloon. Quite often Saoirse will ask for one of these helium balloons at Wal-Mart or Safeway and William always says "On your birthday." He took her to Safeway today to buy makings for pizza (her chosen meal) and they came home with this balloon. $8. They would have been better off going to the dollar store nearby. It is cute though.


She had a really great day. After everyone had left she asked if she could have her birthday again. Isn't she lucky that we get to do it all again in 2 weeks with her friends? If I ever get out the invitations that is.

Remembrance Day

WE REMEMBER...

100,000+ soldiers, sailors, aircrew and merchant seamen who died in two World Wars.

We remember more than 500 who fell while serving in Korea.

We remember Canadians who freely joined the Americans in Vietnam.

We remember more than 100 who have died on peace support operations since 1945.

We remember the more than 70 who have fallen during the current conflict in Afghanistan.

Today we salute the memory of those who sacrificed their strength, health and even their lives...

so that we may live in a free country.

*Can not claim most of these as my own. I believe in borrowing. Others may call it stealing.

And happy birthday to my lovely Saoirse (freedom on Remembrance Day...how very fitting.) 3 years ago at this very moment, 12.53am, they were prepping me for an emergency section. 56 minutes later you came screaming your way into the world. And didn't stop for 2 hours. You've been the center of attention ever since.

Birthday pictures later! Cause you know you are dying to see her in her birthday girl shirt.

Randomness and some winners

On Sunday Saoirse will be 3. At Gap Kids I found a fantastic pink shirt that says Birthday Girl with a cake on it. I figured she would be able to wear it at least 3 times- on the big day itself, to school on Tuesday where she is the special helper and has her first ever show and tell and to her birthday party in 2 weeks. And then it'll be passed on to Sophie. Nothing like recycling. For her birthday she is getting an Ariel doll, lots of clothes (because that's just what a 3 year old wants), the movie Ratoutille and some more princess things. I'm sure there's supposed to be something else in there. William cleaned out our closet and now I can't find any of the gifts. I'm going to have to tear it apart before Christmas I guess.

Today, I talked to Blue Momma. Hehe! She made me laugh. I was a little worried I wouldn't understand her accent cause holy feck is it strong! The first time I rang she wasn't home and it took me a while to figure out just what that message said. But it wasn't too bad. I think she had a harder time understanding me. I talk too fast apparently. What did she say? "I'm Southern, I don't think that fast." That made me laugh. She's super easy to talk too, I think we were on the phone for an hour and a half so if you get the chance to speak to her take it up. Now who else can I harass via the telephone?

The "winners" (because really the prize might be shite) in the Canadianisms post were Karmyn and Chrisb. I've got Chris' address, but I need yours Karmyn. No wait forget it, I just found it. So I'll be sending something out next week. Or so. I'm not one to be trusted to send things out on time. They were the two who gave me the most answers and a lot of translations. I was going to put all 19 up, but the book (How to Be A Canadian) is upstairs. And I am lazy. And watching 20/20 which is making me cry. And I just want to post this thing already so that I don't have to worry about it all day Saturday. Don't want to miss a day of NaBloPoMo! And I just don't have time during the day. We are off shopping tomorrow morning for Saoirse's Christmas gifts. My mum is taking her out to buy pick her birthday gift so we thought we would take advantage. It's impossible to get out without her usually. I hope to hit Toys R Us and Canadian Tire. Canadian Tire has some great 50% off deals on toys. What was I getting at? Oh yeah, after I get home from work I might add the translations.

If I Were Rich

Quite sometime ago Beccy tagged me for this meme of sorts. I've been saving it for NaBloPoMo. 2 memes in a row. Honestly.

If I won, say, $11 million like this fellow from small town in Alberta just did (a town of 125 people, which now boasts 2 lotto millionaires as some guy won $8 million a couple of years ago. Obviously the place to buy your tickets.) I would do an awful lot with that money.

First off, I would design my dream house. Each of the kids would have their own nice big bedrooms. I would have my own craft room and library (as mentioned in my last post.) I would have an indoor pool so that no one would see me swimming away my fat ass. It would be on an acreage as that would be William's preference over the city.

While I waited for this fantastic house to be built I would go on an extended holiday to avoid all those people calling me for money. We would go to Australia, England, Ireland and Disney World. Disney World is for Saoirse of course. I may also harass every blogger I know.

Or better yet, I would have a little blogfest with all my favourite bloggers. Where would we go? Perhaps I'd do a poll and we would go to the most popular destination.

I would also make sure all my family and friends were taken care of. I would buy my cousin in England a house and one for William's step daughter Sam in Australia. I would buy my mother's retirement home in Spain. I would pay off the mortgages of my friends here.

Do I have any money left? I am not sure how far $11 million goes. Obviously, I would bank some so that we could live quite happily and comfortably off of it. That would be the first thing I did, not wanting to waste any of that interest you know.

One thing I would love to do is be a foster parent. I know! I hardly have the patience for the children I have. But I have always felt this is an area I would have done very well in. And if money and space were not an issue it is something I would definitely pursue. I think I would prefer short term care to start. It is very heartbreaking to think that there are children with parents unable or unwilling to take care of them. I know I'm not the world's greatest mother, but I am pretty certain my kids know I would go to the ends of the earth for them. I would like those children to know that feeling too. Because while they were mine? I totally would do anything for them.

I'm tagging Blue Momma for this one, who is the person who tagged me for the previous Crazy Eights post. Which I forgot to say. Because I was tired and did it in microsoft word and then copied and pasted and forgot to add her link. But that doesn't mean I don't heart her, cause I do.