Over Indulgence

This weekend was a pretty fun one, but it did have its moments.

On Saturday I took Jason to buy the hardwood & a "first" happened. Jason actually was friendly & played with a stranger. I was talking on the phone with my father-in-law about a transportational difficulty & Jason cavorted with the nice gentleman at the store. Shocking!

While we were gone Sydney & Brad had their "special time" and Sydney informed me later that she never wanted to have special time with me again. Well- isn't that just what every Mom wants to hear?!? Not sure what I did to deserve such a statement. I also am not sure what we are in for when hormones start playing a role, but last week was a very "dramatic" week. I swear the gray hairs that are sprining up on my head (grrr!) are the direct result of my frustration with the "attitude" that is starting to develop & she hasn't even gone to school yet!

Saturday night we attended a wedding for a guy that Brad & I work with. It was a really nice time, but I chose this night to request that Brad be the DD. Considering I have been DD for 4 years now, he did owe me. Typically by not being a DD that allows me to have more than 2 drinks over a 4 or 5 hour period. The problem is at best estimate I had at least triple that & man, oh man, did I pay for it.

The wedding truly encouraged drinking- never seen anything like it- but it was very fun. It was a civil ceremony & drinks were available during the ceremony. You also got a shooter right when you walked in & all through dinner the waiter was willing to go to the bar for you on top of the wine he was serving at the table. Add to that the woman sitting beside me was drinking & I think I was subconsciously pacing myself with her- BIG MISTAKE- she is obviously a "better" drinker than I & I am sure that she did not pay for it in the same manner I did.

The saddest part is that we had to leave the wedding at 11pm to get home to relieve our babysitters because Dale had to go to work for midnight. So, I managed to get myself in this state in only 6 hours. The next morning I told Brad that he was going to have to go alone to my Mom's with the kids because I didn't think I could do it. It was really pathetic. After a couple of wakeful hours I realized that I could stand without having to rush to the bathroom & could face the ribbing that I would undoubtedly get from my family. Surprisingly it wasn't too bad- my husband seemed to get the most enjoyment out of the experience. Probably because he knows that he is good for about another 5 years before he will need to be DD again.

I am happy that we did not have the camera out to get the horrendous site that I am sure that I was, but I am regretful that Brad & I didn't take a picture before we went out. I can't remember the last time we had our picture taken together.

So, the only pictures I have are from our belated Easter.

Yes, that is Natalie sleeping right below all the commotion.
She seems to be a pretty content, laid back little lady.

Jason of course was his sociable self and was attached to me most of the day.

Proud Grandma & Ben

And the hunt is on!!!

Tyler was trying to help Jason out by pointing out where the candy was, but Jason kept trying to give it back to him. I think he thought that it was Tyler's.

Six More Days...

In less than a week we will have 2 more nieces. Michele is scheduled for her c-section next Tuesday, but is praying that the girls decide to move it along before then.

I cannot wait to meet Grace, or Rachel, or Madeline, or Olivia- whatever the names I am sure they will be darling!

Poor Michele is not moving too far or too fast these days & is looking forward to normal movement again.

Easter Recap

At the end of the day we asked Sydney what her favourite part of the day was & her answer was...church. Wow, not the answer we expected but I sure liked hearing it considering how much I know she loved hunting eggs.

Jason has a new word. Ehggg!!! Really loud & really exaggerated. It did not take him long to catch onto things.

Yes, you will note that we still have a plywood floor.

Saturday Egg-stravaganza

Today was busy, busy, busy. In the morning we went to a local church that was having crafts, egg hunt, lunch & a movie for ages 2-11. Sydney & Max seemed to have a really good time & liked each of the activities- especially the egg hunt.


They tried to do some games which was just an excuse for the organizers to completely stress themselves out. Coordinating a bunch of kids of varying ages into teams for games??? Not an easy task. So, they did the smart thing & just did one game- for fun- no competition.


When the kids were to line up for the egg hunt I was convinced that Sydney was not paying attention to the man trying to explain the rules. She was too worried about where Max had gone to, but as soon as the man said that kids ages 1-3 could go- she yells, "I'm 3 & was off like a bullet". I guess she was only paying attention for the important part.


After the egg hunt was lunch & a movie. They had technical difficulties getting set-up, so while they were figuring that out they had a talent contest. The man asked if anyone had a song to sing or a joke to tell. I couldn't believe it but Sydney was the first one up there & sang Humpty Dumpty. Max too got up to tell a joke. Funny kids.

After those activities were over it was off to Sydney's last gymnastics class. I am glad she had fun during it, because I don't think she actually learned anything from the experience.


Once we got home, Sydney finally got to ride her bike that she got for Christmas. There were snow banks surrounding her, but at least the sidewalks were clear enough for her to go out. We definitely need to take her to a bike shop to have her properly fitted for a helmet. The one she has is supposed to be for 5-year-olds, but it seems way too small for her. Jason & I took advantage of the time (& also to keep him from freaking out that he could not ride the bike) to go for a walk. He spent the walk pointing to every truck and bird he saw. Still not that intelligible in his speech, but at least he now tries.

There's only one left...Brad

The last week has been another week of sickness in our house & this time it wasn't just Jason. On Friday night, Jason didn't want to eat supper & so I took him away from the table. We were sitting on the couch when he gave the fearful cough so I stood up & then out it came. We saw everything he had to eat that day at Grandma & Papa's. Again I went & sat in the tub with him until we were sure it was all done, then cleaned it up & gave him a bath. About 45 minutes after he was down we were back in his room cleaning him up and his crib. Poor little guy was half asleep & throwing up.

On Monday when I picked Sydney up at Grandma & Papa's, I found her lying on the couch. She had been there all afternoon- very unlike her. She said her tummy was upset, so we brought a bag just in case. She was fine all the way home & while we picked Jason up at daycare, but once we got home she threw up all over herself & of course the car seat. So I had her crying because she was a mess & Jason crying because I was paying too much attention to her. After she had her shower she informed me that "I feel much better after I puked" and informed her dad of the same when he got home. We kept her home from daycare on Tuesday to play it safe & she was running out the bottom end as fast as she had been coming out the top end, so it was probably a good idea.

To manage the day, Brad worked from home in the morning & I worked from home in the afternoon. But by 3:30pm I was hugging the porcelain bowl myself & preceded to do the same for the next 3 hours. The worst part of it all was that I had to go to Quebec City yesterday to testify in a case (not against us). I was not too impressed to be going in the first place, but to have to go when I was not in control of the fluids in my body made it even worse. Add even more displeasure was that my ride to the airport was picking me up at 5:30am- meaning a 4:30am wake-up call. Wednesday was a very long day, but I was thankful it was not longer. The snow was really coming down in Quebec & the flight scheduled for 7pm was delayed- so I was praying that the same fate would not fall to my 5:40pm flight! But, flight was only a little late (to de-ice the plane), my ride was waiting for me, & I was home to my couch by 8:30pm. This morning Jason was up much too early for my liking, so I brought him into our room & he looked at books while I huddled underneath the covers behind him. He was reading aloud to himself & sounded so cute that I assumed he must look cute too, so I asked Brad to grab the camera & here is the result- very cute.


I asked Brad if the kids seemed to miss me & the answer was actually "no". Again one of those answers that you are only sort of happy to hear. However, it seemed that this morning they were making up for the fact that they were OK without me last night. Sydney was a grumpy girl who hardly smiled all morning- so she had her first nap in a long time. Jason would not let me out of his sight for a moment all morning, but thankfully was much better this afternoon. Presumably he trusted that I was staying. But our little boy has caught yet another bug. It appears that although he was puking on Friday, he has now caught part of what Sydney had & he had multiple stinky, watery diapers today.

Please let this be the end of it!!! Brad seems to have escaped this last round & I hope that fate continues!

This was our picnic snack today- once both kids were happy. Sydney picked out her clothes today & is wearing as much yellow as possible.

This was Sydney on Sunday at Sunday school. I taught the class for the first time. Teaching a bunch of 3 & 4 year olds is a little chaotic. You will note that again she is wearing yellow.

Snowed In

This weekend we went to see my Mom. Not surprising to anyone who was in Southern Ontario-y we got snowed in. We went up on Friday night & intended to come back on Saturday because I was suppose to teach Sunday school at 9am Sunday. It became very obvious on Saturday morning that I was going to need to find a replacement because I was not going to be getting out of town for two reasons: (1) lots of falling and blowing snow and (2) Jason had the stomach flu. Poor little guy was sick everywhere & we had to hang out in the tub together for awhile until I was sure he was done. I had bile & curdled milk all over me & him- ugh!


When Jason was down for a nap, Sydney & I headed out to do some errands & go for her first "paid" haircut. Her hair was driving me crazy & I have been pumping her that the next time she gets her hair cut that Nana wasn't going to be the one to do it. Then of course when we were at Mom's I thought we could get her to do it- but no way. I told Sydney that it was going to be someone different- so that's what it had to be. She now has more layers & the curls are much curlier instead of a wavy mess (especially when her Dad just combs it straight in the morning instead of trying to encourage the curls). Sydney loves her curls, so she was happy that her hair was even curlier after her haircut. Wonder how long that will last?


Jason's weekend was spent attached to me or sleeping. I hated to send him to daycare today, but I had to go back to work & he really did seem better- just not much spunk. I called a few times through the day & was assured he was find & thankfully tonight he still seemed much better. He was playing instead of wanting me to hold him- although I really did enjoy the extra cuddle time this weekend.

And what was Brad doing while we were off gallivanting? He was working again. This weekend's task was a tough one. Ripping up the ceramic tile in the kitchen & front entry way. What a mess our house is again. I will be so happy when it is all finished, but the dust in the meantime is taking some getting used to. Considering that he really doesn't even "want" the new kitchen, he is getting a lot of crappy jobs in the process.

Springtime in North Carolina

On the weekend I went with 2 friends to North Carolina to visit our friend Wendy who moved there just before Christmas. It is amazing what becomes a luxury to you as your life changes. For 2 1/2 days we were only accountable to ourselves. We did not need to worry about kids' schedules, we did not have to coordinate what we wanted to do with what would make the kids happiest & we got to spend time being...girls, not Moms. It was GREAT!!! Don't get me wrong, I love being a Mom more than anything. But to be able to step away for a few days with friends & just be a girl was fantastic. We talked, we shopped, we were tourists, we shopped, we ate, we drank, we shopped. It was wonderful.


Our trip there was not as smooth as we would have liked & ended up sitting in the Detroit airport for 4 hours because we missed our connector due to our flight being an hour late. Grrr! But when we arrived we were happy to find SPRING in Charlotte. Good bye heavy coats & snow! On Friday we were tourists and went to Biltmore Estates- the largest home in America- and wished that we had more time to spend. It was beautiful, but we had to rush through the end of the tour of the house because we had booked the wine & chocolate tasting session. We didn't want to be late for the wine!!!


On Saturday we shopped more than I think I have shopped in the last three years combined. It was incredible. By the end of the day, not so incredible in a good way. We realized that we had spent almost the whole day indoors when it was 20 degrees outside!!! We did sit outside for awhile at lunch while we were waiting for our table, but that was pretty much it. Oh, before we left we were outside for awhile watching Ellie ride her bike- but other than that? We were indoors. We got some really great stuff though! And the three of us heading back to Canada had a lot to show for our efforts.


Sunday we were up bright & early and Jason made us a wonderful waffle breakfast before we left. We had a few extra minutes that we did go for a miniature walk on the boardwalk near their home so that we could touch nature for a little bit before we headed back to the SNOW!

Of course in order to have this fantastic weekend away, I depended on my wonderful husband to 'single parent' for a weekend. I left Thursday afternoon & returned around supper on Sunday- so Brad had 2 full days of the kiddos to himself & I think they had a really good time. Before I left Sydney asked me if Daddy could go & me stay home, so I was happy to see that she had so much fun with her dad for the weekend.

Waiting four hours? Have some wine!

Thank you to our hosts for sharing their beautiful home. We will be back!