I'm raising the cuteness factor

{but I may be a tad biased}

Don't say I didn't warn you...

P.S. You may also find yourself succumbing to optical overstimulization - I couldn't make a decision.

Told you.

Mad Dash Monday

I was finally able to get some nice weather to get a photoshoot done with our family and with a friend of mine who wanted me to get pictures done for them for Christmas cards... This afternoon I have another one, which includes a pregnant mommy so I am totally looking forward to some uber fun shots!

Met a spunky, spry lady who is a patient at the doctor's office I work at.  She was born in 1919! If her husband had not passed away last month they would have been married 68 years this week.  Wow!  When I grow up I wanna be just like her!

I'm needing to find a new sitter for my kids for the couple hours after school I still work.  My sitter has had a rough go this Fall with her parents: her mom just had surgery and her dad was diagnosed with agressive cancer.  She was not only my sitter but is also my friend.

The engine mount on the regurjamobile {aka my car} is the newest thing to be added to the ever growing list of needs.  If this car were a horse I would be taking it out to shoot so we could put it out of its misery.  However, this weekend, we (meaning a friend of ours) may have discovered why the car is surging.  I simply need to wait for my husband to get back home so he can change those parts and see.  Fingers crossed {if I believed that that would work}.

Signs my children are growing older

My youngest son, Bug, just finished studying for his first school exam EVER.  It is in Social Studies.

Jellybean just spent the evening cleaning and re-organizing her room.  She did a fabulous job! She even threw stuff out and for this de-cluttering mama, she made my heart skip a beat. {wink}

Rush is preparing to go to a kegger.  She thinks I don't know. HaHa!

Jellybean has begun doing her own laundry and has been doing a great job of it - other than banging the heck out of the top of the washing machine, thinking it was broken when all along she simply had not pulled the button out.

Bug has been going through growing pains of his own - with choosing who he should and should not spend a lot of time with, as far as influences.  Yes, some of you might think that at 7 years old there is no way we should be putting that on him and, in a sense, you are correct.  However, we will sit with him and discuss things and ask him questions to see if he thinks they are really people he wants to spend a lot of time with.  We never tell him he can't spend anytime with them but we get our children to decide if they like the person they are, things they do and attitudes they come home with if they spend too much time with particular people and then we get them to figure out if they think they should spend less time with them or not.  I don't think it is ever to early to guide your children into personal accountability. {thoughts?}

Note: I've been quite busy lately - mainly "mind busy" and I notice that I really haven't been my usual funny self.  I've said this before but it was coming back... I don't know if I am feeling pressure to write so I just write and don't worry about what I say or what but I wanna get the fun back in dysFUNctional. {grin}



Anywhoodles, I am going to bed.  Tomorrow begins the start of a new week, new adventures, new projects and new visions... I may need my rest. {wink}

98 Days

until Christmas Day.  I am not including today because it's half over.

I don't know about you, but I don't plan on going overboard with gifts this year.  We never really have in our family.  Christmas, to us, is so much more than the gifts.  Don't get me wrong; we still buy gifts but we most certainly do not go into debt overspending.

Our children will get gifts from us - some practical and some fun.  The older kids will probably get gift cards. Impersonal?  Maybe. But they are out and on their own and have a much better idea of what they will need or want than we will(and let's not forget know proper sizing) and I am not one for buying something just because it is on sale and I can give it to everyone.

My dad doesn't like us spending money on him... so, for our parents we take nice pictures of the kids or the whole family and, there you have it, a nice, inexpensive gift they will enjoy.  Christmas cards this year will be the same as last... I am taking the kids out, hopefully tomorrow, and having a nice photoshoot with them in order to get our cards ordered.

B.D. & I, I don't know what we are going to do for each other this year or if we will get a shared gift for each other or if we will just put money on a bill and say "Merry Christmas". I'm really beyond that this year.  I really just want to get our one last debt paid and get some money saved to buy me a better car.  (I am tired of the regurgamobile and ALL of its many problems)

Anywho, this whole post wound up way more serious than I intended for it - I think I am suddenly in need of a nap {grin}.  What do you do to plan for Christmas?  To keep it within budget? Are you an early shopper? A Christmas Eve shopper?  Did I catch you off guard with the whole 98 day thing (which by the way I had to count to see how many actual days there were left)?

Fare Thee Well Summer. It's Been a Slice...

We've had loads of fun this summer.

Picnics with friends

Scootering (is that really a word?)

Biking (after getting it back from the thief who *ahem* borrowed it)

 Hiking (on the swinging bridge)

 Fishing 

Canoing (and boating)

We leap into Fall and a great start to another uber great school year and another uber great season!

Thanks for all the fun, Summer 2010; you were great while you were here.

We have dubbed this summer the year of the splash park but as it was the sitter who took the kids while I was at work, there are no pictures.

At the car wash

My children were involved in a car wash about a month ago. {yes, I realize I am slow.  Do you realize it will be Oct before I get my first day of school pics up? I aim to be consistent - consistently behind seems to be the flow right now. grin}

I will let the pictures do the talking...

There were several children there helping but I only wanted to put pictures up here of if other people's children weren't facing the camera.

I Am

Canadian  Well, yes I am Canadian but what I meant to type was...

I am a ninja.  I know.  You all ready knew that.  It's pretty hard to keep something like that a secret.  Me and Clark Kent have bonded many times trying to figure out new ways to keep our identities secret.  Anywhoodles, here is how I became known as a ninja (I am a particular "brand" of ninja too).

Bug and his friends have gotten into a stage of life where all they want to do is play ninja.  Tonight, as I was tucking Bug in bed he said "Mom when I was opening my eyes, you looked like a ninja."  "Buddy," I said, "I am a ninja."  His eyes grew big as saucers and he said, "You are!?!!?"

"Yes, baby, I am.  I'm a mommy ninja."

"That's so cool, mom. I kinda thought so..." And off he went to sleep, knowing he was well protected by {insert cheesy super hero music here} Mommy Ninja...?  Mama Ninja...?  Ninja Mom...?  Ninjommy?

Jamie Oliver's Classic Tomato Spaghetti

Serves 4-6

2 cloves of garlic

1 fresh red chile

a small bunch of fresh basil

sea salt and freshly ground pepper

1 pound dried spaghetti

olive oil

1 x 14-oz can of diced tomatoes

4 oz Parm cheese

Peel and finely slice the garlic. Finely slice the chile (half and seed first if you don't want the auce too hot). Pick the basil leaves off the stalks and put to one side; finely chop the stalks.

Bring large pan of salted water to a boil, add the spaghetti and cook according to instructions. Meanwhile, put a large saucepan on a medium heat and add some olive oil. Add the garlic, chile, and basil satalks and give them a stir. When the garlic begins to brown slightly, add most of the basil leaves and the canned tomatoes. Turn the heat up high and stir for a minute. Season with salt and pepper. Drain the spaghetti and transfer to the pan of sauce and stir well. Add more salt and pepper to taste (if needed).

These can be added to your tomato sauce when it is finished. Stir in and warm through.

*Add a handful of baby spinach leaves to the sauce at the same time you add the pasta - when the leaves have wilted remove from the heat and serve with crumbled feta on top.

A time to sow and a time to reap

and a time to prepare some things in advance...

"Peanut butter AGAIN!!!!"

If I don't take time to do some prep work for school lunches that is what I will hear. I find that being able to utilize an hour or so one day a week really helps me to not have to rely on the standard P.B & J sandwiches for my kids' lunches.

So, yesterday I did just that.  I currently have 5 bbq turkey buns and 13 cold cut subs in my freezer just ready to be taken out and topped with scruptious veggies.  I also pre-made snack bags of baby carrots, pepper strips, grapes, almonds and mixed nuts. 

Most evenings we don't get home until quite late and if I can do this little step to divert some of the nightly chores (other than minimal assembly) all the better! For myself, I find it way easier to grab a couple buns or bags of soup or burritos (etc) out of my freezer, add a couple veggies, a fruit and a juicebox.  Doing it this way, school lunches take 5 minutes (during the weeknight) to get into lunch kits. 

Yay for time savers!  What's your best time saver?

Nanook

{Inuit for polar bear.}

We will miss you.

I got an email from my step-mom, one to all my siblings and myself (why an email? Somethings are way easier to type once than to have to hear yourself say over and over).  They had to put Nanook, or Nook as he was lovingly called, down.  Sometime ago Nook injured his lower back; it healed up to the point of him having a good (not great) quality of life - good: without pain, happy but perhaps cautious. While out at the lake, he re-injured himself. He lost control of all of his "functions"; he was in great pain. 

"Dad and I decided we had to put him down. It was the hardest decision to make."

The words in Jude's email even read sad.

"Fred says 'No more dogs'.

The kids and I had our cries. They lived the life of having a dog vicariously through Nook and they loved him as much as he loved them...

Rest well, dear friend. You filled a need in Dad and Jude's life, filled their home with love, were a great companion to my dad and took such good care of him.  Good dog.  Rest well.  We miss you...

Update on THE "Buginator"

We saw our family doctor today; who told us that Bug has some inflammation and, at this time, that is all they can see.  He is to keep off his leg for all of today and, again, tomorrow and is able to try to start walking on Saturday.  We've pre-scheduled an appointment for Tuesday for the doctor to re-check him, early enough in the day that we can get another set of x-rays done (and in time to see them and take action) if needed.

He is a typical boy - hating that he can't be on the go-go-go but most definitely enjoyed wheeling himself around the grocery store in the courtesy wheel chair... slamming into stuff and running people over.

I'm needing to find something to help him release some of this energy without him moving alot.  Last night we drew on each other with face paint... Tonight... I don't know...  Truly I am tired from carrying around an extra 50 lbs...  (definite incentive to maintain and possibly lower my weight... I could NOT carry another 50 lbs all the time!)

I am so thankful

On Tuesday night some friends decided to put some meals together for me as I have been working late, getting the sitter home and having meetings right after that.  They saw my need and made a plan to help me.

I am overwhelmed by their goodness.

As it turns out, due to Bug's mysterious injury, I have not had to go to work but these meals are still so appreciated at a time like this.  Bug is a healthy 7 year old boy and lugging him around to get him to the washroom or to help him switch positions, etc has been taxing on my own body.  My heart has always been soft for families that need to deal with something like this everyday of their lives and now that my body has "felt" their pain I am reminded and would really like to issue a challenge to you all...

If you know of a family (someone in your neighborhood, from your children's school, whatever) take the time to make an extra casserole or a batch of cookies or something to help ease their burden.  An extra 30 minutes out of your day could mean the world to them...

I am reminded of something the people of our complex did for one of our neighbors just last week. A man ran out on his wife and their 3 girls, leaving them with no furniture, money or food.  By the end of a 24 hour period the people in this bay had fully furnished her entire house, filled her fridge and cupboards and supplied her girls with some school supplies.  I am not sure if there was additional financial help or not - but she went from nothing to everything in just as many hours.  She was overwhelmed by this amount of help from strangers.

You never know the magnitude your small gesture can make in someone's life.  There is power in many small things adding together...

*** Updated*** Battery dying...

***Updated****  Ok, I got the computer fixed and the battery all charged up.  Bug's radiology report came back - through the swelling, it doesn't appear that there is a greenstick fracture or any dislocation.  GREAT news!!!  Only thing is now no one has any idea as to why my dear Bug can not walk.  He has tried...he most certainly has given it his very best.  He is a "manly" man and doesn't like the fact that his mama has to carry him everywhere (He would prefer that to be a choice not a need {wink}).

We have an appointment with our family doctor tomorrow morning.  My employer has been phenomenal in supporting me throughout this day and into our needs for tomorrow.  You see B.D. is gone.  (Nothing new and that's usually the time when stuff like this happens - when he has had to go off for work for the week.)
In the mean time I am to keep my boy "drugged up" on pain relievers, ice his leg for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off and fill him up with freezies (this is why my children LOVE our doctors!).  I only wish our only bathroom was not upstairs or that he had to go every 15 minutes...

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Bug suddenly, and without reason, is unable to weight bear on his right leg.  Chiropractor seen, Xrays taken.  Waiting on results to see where we go from here.