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.