Christmas photo #1

C. in his Santa hat - December 25thPin It

Christmas memories

A. really enjoyed spending time with his grandpa. He called him "Papa" for a while. They ran around the circle, built train tracks, garages for cars, and went for a walk.

A. was excited to open presents. He would draw in a breath as he saw what the gift was.

A received big boy briefs from Uncle and Auntie with a Thomas theme, a magnetic map of Canada from his Grand Dad, Percy lego train, 3 Bob the Builder DVDs and a collection of little ABC books from us, a book on feelings from Grandma & Grandpa and a Bob the Builder calendar and ABC window clings from us.

C. received a sleeper and a sweatshirt from Grandma & Grandpa, an NRA bib from Uncle, an outfit from us and a discovery ball from us. The boys received socks from Grandma & Grandpa.

We almost didn't get a turkey. J & I were grocery shopping at about 4 pm on Christmas Eve and Safeway was all out of turkeys. We got one from Albertsons.Pin It

We're moved in.

We moved into our new house on Saturday. Exhausting. I wish I'd found a babysitter for C. since it was next to impossible to pack with him around. He really wants to be held these days. He can really roll, too. On moving day I put him on a blanket in the middle of an empty room and went into the next room. I came back shortly and couldn't see him! He had rolled so far!

Tonight J. is at the old house cleaning it out. I gave both kids baths tonight. That's so physically exhausting.

I'm looking forward to having time to work on this house. So many things to do besides unpacking. Curtains, etc.Pin It

We get the keys today!!!!

Yipppeeeee! We get the keys to our house today!! How exciting!! We're meeting our realtor at the house at 4 pm.

Rebecca watched A. this morning and C. napped for an hour. I got lots of packing and labelling done.

It's even sunny today which is so great.Pin It

Signed papers for our house today

J and I signed the papers today for our house. We hope to close tomorrow. Unreal. It still doesn't seem real. Our neighbour watched our toddler which was a big blessing. I can't imagine him sitting through all that.

Packing is going OK. It is hard getting much done with 2 kids at home.

We're moving Saturday. We're going to Mary's for Thanksgiving.Pin It

Bad day - feeling down

I had a bad day. Sunday wasn't the best either. I still have a sinus infection. Going to the doctor for antibiotics tomorrow. Both kids have colds. A. is really trying my patience. I find myself getting very angry and frustrated with him. He whines so much, repeats one phrase over and over, and sometimes ignores me when I ask him to do something or come to me.

The move has me worried and stressed.

I'm sad that my parents continue to resist coming to visit and when they do come it is for the shortest possible time. It really hurts me that they don't want to spend more time with their grandchildren. They are missing out on C's development. I don't know why they can't see that the best way they could help with our move is to help watch the kids before, during and after the move. I could ask them that flat out but I don't want to risk beign disappointed for the hundreth time.Pin It

Time for a photo

My baby, last month.Pin It

Halloween

A. wore his costume in the end. He resisted it when we did a "trial run" on Saturday when I bought myself a costume (which I never wore). We went to trick or treating at J's work. We planned on going to the Halloween party there but it had already ended when we got there - about 4:30. Pretty lame.

He gradually got the hang of the trick or treating concept. At first he wouldn't accept treats. He found that scary (someone putting a treat in his basket). At one person's door they had a bowl on the floor and he dumped the whole thing on the floor! He eventually said trick or treat (his version)and said thank you and accepted treats or took one.

We also trick or treated on our street. Several not home/not answering. I think not answering when you have the lights on and the curtains open and are sitting at the dining room table is very lame. An older man had a bucket of pennies and dimes he was giving out. I thought that was fun. We got treats from 3 houses on our street.

We had about 15 trick or treaters at our house. Mainly older kids.Pin It

We're buying a house!

I can't believe it. We're buying a house. This has all happened so fast. We looked for 2 weeks. I'm not super excited, though. Neither is my husband. We're both worry warts.

I'm so glad that it isn't a "fixer upper." There is hardly anything we have to do to it. I even like the paint colour.

We started doing serious packing. People from church came over to help this morning. Mainly moving stuff from the basement to the garage. Rebecca watched the kids which was a big help.

I got a Halloween costume for myself tonight. An angel.Pin It

Found a house to rent

We found a house to rent over the weekend. I can't get excited, though. I'm really dreading moving. I'm so worried that I'll end up not liking it there. It does seem to be a nice neighbourhood. Also, a good trial run for living north of our current house. Closer to friends.

My husband just told me that he would prefer that we buy at this time. I know where he's coming from but the pressure is so hard for me. I wish we had more time.Pin It

Bad day

I've got a cold. I feel achey. The baby has a cold, too. Getting ready to go out for groceries this morning and the toddler starts crying about having to wear a coat. He didn't want to cover up his Bob the Builder shirt. Then he starts screaming. The baby was already crying because he's tired and just needs to get in the car and he'll be fine. I lost my patience with the toddler. I yelled at him to stop crying NOW! I also spanked him. We can't go out the front door - it's stuck. We go out the back and I discover that there is a bag of garbage out on the deck that an animal has gone through. Gross! I'm mad at my husband for leaving the garbage there and not putting it into the bin.

The toddler is having too frequent BMs and he has a sore bottom. Resists diaper changes.

Now he has the cold too. I have such a headache.

I need a break.Pin It

Watch Bob?

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My artsy photo of pumpkins

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Pumpkin Patch

Went to the pumpkin patch today for a little mental health break. A. did great even though he missed his nap. He loved the tractor pulling the wagon we rode on to get to the patch.Pin It

We still haven't found what we're looking for.

Still haven't found a house. Sigh. We were *this* close. The landlord turned us down because of our toddler. Unbelievable. He was opening and shutting a kitchen cupboard door when we were at the house. Big deal. I was very sad and disappointed. I had already pictured myself in the house. It had a gorgeous huge renovated kitchen and a huge living room and dining room with lots of rooms plus it was less than a block from a park. We decided she wouldn't be a good landlord if she didn't like kids.

We looked at a couple houses yesterday. One very close to our current house. It had a strange floor plan and there was no dining room. The landlord was very nice. We wished him Shabot Shalom because he's Jewish. We drove by a couple others. Bad locations like too close or on arterials. One house had a tiny kichen and lots of potential safety issues.

We did stumble upon a house when driving around. Hubby phoned about it last night. The owners will return in the summer for 2 months and stay in the mother-in-law suite. That would be strange. We're going to see it this morning. The rent is very reasonable.

I really want to go the pumpkin patch today but we need to look at houses.Pin It

Location, location, location

Where to live? That's the big question. We looked at some model homes on the weekend and fell in love with a smallish one. My hubby really wants to get a house for me, as he puts it. The problem is where. The housing market is crazy around here. There aren't any new homes close to his work. He'd have to have a long commute whereever we picked. Gotta go, toddler isn't tolerating me "ignoring" him.Pin It

Blogger back up .... and we saw a great house yesterday

I was having blogger withdrawals. :)

We went to look at a house yesterday. The toddler was overdue for his nap and not doing well. Hubby was on edge and didn't notice one of the great features. It's a huge house with character. The kitchen is amazing - remodelled with tile counters, window seats, oodles of light and a brand new stove. Hardwood floors on the main floor. More rooms than we actually need. A small deck and a backyard. One and a half baths with a big clawfoot tub in the full bath. There is competition for it - another family saw it before us. It's back in the neighbourhood we used to live in. Less than a block from a park - how great would that be?Pin It

Such a great house, but......

We went to see a house for rent this morning. It was close to where we currently live, quiet street, nice backyard, awesome deck, lots of space, light, carpeted. The downside was there wasn't a bathroom upstairs and the one on the main floor was tiny without *any* counter space. The kitchen was small as well - not much counter space. I'm pretty sad. It had so many pluses that its really a shame to turn it down. A. enjoyed running around in the house. He seems to enjoy this house hunting thing.Pin It

Went to book club tonight

I haven't been in several months. Busy having a baby, I guess. It was a nice small group tonight. Delicious food - thanks to my friend Alisa. So good to have some adult conversation and not about parenting. I also enjoy mixing with others who aren't in my demographic - a grandmother who works part-time, a mother of teenagers and 3 single women. C. came with me. He charms women wherever he goes.

We read Imagined London. No-one actually finished the book which was kind of funny. We talked about travel and London and unrelated topics.Pin It

Nonono

No no no! That's my toddler's last development - what he now says that he didn't used to. Sigh. It had to happen, I guess.

He likes to say the same thing over and over and over and over and.... It was driving me a bit nuts today. Watch head? watch Bob? (Watch head means watch head, shoulders, knees and toes DVD).

I've got a cold and I'm not getting enough sleep at night.Pin It

A picking apples with Granddad

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Not enough photos of my other son

I just looked at my blog and C. has way more photos up than A. Must correct that.Pin It

Do you have to change?

I am so in love with my baby. I love this stage - 4 mo. I want him to stay like this forever. He's perfect. The pediatrician even said so this morning. I may not have another baby so each new milestone is a little sad.Pin It

Bad mood

I've been in such a bad mood today. This having to move thing is really upsetting. I've been cranky and lacking in patience with A. today. I feel bad. My poor hubby is also taking the brunt of my bad mood.

I got a Halloween costume for C. It's a pumpkin. It's kind of boring in some ways but it looks adorable on him. Every baby should be a pumpkin once.Pin It

We have to move - major bummer

We found out today that the owner of the house we are renting is moving back. Oh no! I was pretty shocked to see hubby home at around 3 pm today. My first thought was that he had lost his job. That would be a lot worse news. We have 2 months to find a new place. I'm still in shock. We thought we'd be staying here at least another year and a half.

We drove by a few places today - and "snooped" at a few of them - looking in the windows if no one was home. I feel bad for my toddler. I think the move will be very hard on him. He really needs routine and familiarity. He gets upset if I drive a different route! This is the only home he has known.

Gotta run - Monk is on. The only TV show I really enjoy.Pin It

The high cost of a haircut

I got A's hair cut yesterday. I tried a new place that I heard about from a mom in playgroup. Paid more than I expected. 22 dollars. I did like that they had a huge collection of DVDs to choose from. Good diversion. She did a great job. I wish I could find a place that did a great job for about 12 dollars.Pin It

A photo from the party

Poor C - forced to wear a silly hat.Pin It

2 Halloween costumes???

I might now end up with 2 costumes for my toddler. That Craigslist seller phoned and e mailed me today to tell me the other potential buyer backed out. ??? Isn't that the 2nd time? Weird. I was gracious about it. I just phoned and said yes, I was still interested in the costume - for $5 why not. So, we went over to her house and A. tried it on. It is a pretty simple costume. I'm glad I didn't buy it new for 20 or 30 bucks.

But, I'm the only bidder on that other costume on eBay. Oh boy. My hubby e mailed the seller and told her the situation. Maybe we could pay her listing fee.

I had the dentist this morning. I probably have two cavities and I need a skin graft on my gums. At least I didn't get the hygenist I don't like. Ha ha. That sounds sort of twisted.

Gotta go - baby's hungry.Pin It

Craig's List frustration

I am so annoyed at this Craigslist seller. I phoned her to arrange a time to come by tonight and pick up a costume she had agreed to sell me (by e mail). When I phoned she said that another woman was getting it. ??? Someone who first said she wasn't interested and then changed her mind. Huh??? That is completely ridiculous. You can't change your mind and then go to the front of the line. I'm so annoyed with people who can't have a backbone (tell the other woman no) and do things properly. I wish you could rate sellers. I'd give this one a big thumbs down.

I was this close to getting the ultimate costume and for 5 bucks!! She told me she bought it from Lillian Vernon but I looked on the website and it's no longer avail. Of course.

The good news is I found a similiar costume on eBay and I'm the only bidder. It's more money but still really reasonable. Bidding ends tomorrow so I'm "crossing my fingers."Pin It

Tuesday thoughts

I had a hectic morning. We didn't get out the door to go to playgroup until 11 am. I drove hubby to the bus stop since he lost his glasses and couldn't drive in today. If *I* lost my glasses I'd really be toast. Hubby was working from home this morning so I had to make breakfast, get the kids up and dressed and fed and get ready myself without much help. Usually hubby is a big help in the morning. A. watched the Bob the Builder video a little more than I wanted.

Both kids are sleeping right now. Yeah!! I should nap too.

Playgroup was good. I got a muffin, some tea and a backrub. I miss my friend whose son is now going to pre-school. I got a tip on a place to try out for a haircut for A. He sure needs one.

I have to go to the dentist tomorrow. I'm dreading it already. It's the hygenist that I don't like. Oh well, it only lasts an hour. I'm also concerned that I might have a cavity. My flossing is non-existant.

I found a costume for sale on Craig's list that is EXACTLY what I'd like to have for A!! It's only 5 dollars too. I hope it hasn't sold yet. It's a cluster of grapes.Pin It

Here's my toddler...

This photo was taken in July, before his 2nd birthday.Pin It

Photo of my baby

This is my baby C - photo taken August 28th - 3 months old.Pin It

The Day After

Yesterday was the big birthday party for A. The big 2! It was a big success. We had a treasure hunt in the backyard and the kids ran around. A. loved all his presents.
He tried playdough for the first time this morning. He just wanted to make Elmos. Oh brother (rolling eyes).
I worte out thank you cards for the gifts.
I guess it's time to start planning Halloween costumes now.Pin It