I have a cold. :(

I am happy to say that I haven't had one in a while. I think I was lazy about taking my multi-vitamin and I wasn't getting enough sleep.

Anyone have any tried and true cold remedies? I'm not nursing or pregnant (for the first time in 2 1/2 years!) so I can take some drugs. Ha ha.Pin It

I live in a crazy area

Evidence here.
Legos were temporarily banned at a school because they promote private property. {eyes rolling}Pin It

Sunday quotes

My 3 year old said the following on Sunday morning:

We need to go to church quick. God needs us.

I'll take the Bible to Church. We need to do what God says.


No, he is not an angel. By any means. :)Pin It

My favourite movies

Since tomorrow is the Oscars, I'm thinking about movies. I decided to make a list of my favourites. [Note the English/Canadian spelling of the word favourite. :) ]

In no particular order because that's how I think!

1. The Sound of Music
2. When Harry Meets Sally. So many classic lines.
3. Rear Window. Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart - 2 of the best actors ever.
4. Pride and Prejudice - OK, so I recently saw the 2005 version and it is pretty good. However, I must remain loyal to the 1996 BBC version.
5. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
6. The Muppet Movie
7. Follow That Bird
8. Lady Jane
9. Four Weddings and a Funeral. Andie McDowell REALLY annoys me but this movie introduced me to Hugh Grant and I have had a crush on him ever since. Yes, I know he's a cad in real life.
10. Its a Wonderful Life
11. The Wedding Singer. I love Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler together. "Somebody kill me please!" I'll never forget watching this movie on a Saturday night with my husband and the next day those lyrics were running through my head during church!
12. Casablanca
13. As Good As it Gets. "Good times, noodle salad."
14. Out of Africa
15. Groundhog Day. Another movie that I love but I still can't stand Andie McDowell.
16. What About Bob? I love this movie.
17. Legally Blonde.
18. Princess Bride
19. Monty Python's The Holy Grail. I have seen this movie sooo many times but usually fell asleep in it! I used to go the midnight movie at this little indepedent movie house in Calgary. They often played HG at midnight. I loved that place! I'll have to ask my parents what it was called. For a while, I had friends who worked there so I could occasionally get in for free.
20. Dead Again.
21. An Affair to Remember
22. Enchanted April

Well, that's all I can think of for now. I'm sure I will add to this list.Pin It

Reading to my children

Sometimes I must admit that I get tired of reading the same books over and over. Or books that they prefer and I think are boring (my boys are young).

I found this poem today that is a good reminder.

The Reading Mother

I had a Mother who read me things
That wholesome life to a child's heart brings –
Stories that stir with an upward touch.
Oh that every Mother were such!

You may have tangible wealth untold
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be.
I had a Mother who read to me.

Strickland GillilanPin It

Firestation visit

My local mom's group went on a tour of a fire station this week. I convinced my oldest to go. He hated going last time.

Both boys enjoyed it. My youngest was actually a little scared which is unusual for his personality. A. climbed onto the truck and didn't freak out when the sirens went off.

One funny thing is we didn't get to see any cute firemen. Our tour was done by a woman and the men in uniform were busy doing simulations and actually going to a call. Members of my group had been joking for weeks about why we were really going - not for our kids sake. :)

Some photos are on the right in my flikr badge. I think C. needs a costume of his own.Pin It

Reading update

In the last week I've finished the following.

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry. This is this month's choice for my book club. It was OK. I thought it was too "preachy" in that the author put so much of his own philosophy and opinions into the book that it took away from the story itself. I thought there was too much emphasis on (and repetition of) the main character's doubts about God and Christianity. I'm assuming the author has these same doubts. It is a sad book. It was well written, I will say that.

A much lighter read was The Secret Life of Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck. This is a Christian fiction book - a genre of which I've read very little. It is written in the style of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. It was a fun read - a little preachy, too, but it is Christian fiction. :) I enjoyed the interactions of the main character with her small weekly bible study group and best friends. They are all such diverse characters - some are her best friends and pray and encourage and babysit for her at the drop of a hat. I was left feeling a bit jealous that I don't have such a group of my own.

What's next?

Well, I haven't decided. I've been skimming some books I have from the library but I wouldn't say I'm *reading* them.Pin It

BookMooch

I found this great link from I Have to Say. - a blog that I read frequently.

BookMooch is cool. I signed up. You list the books you want to give away. You look for books that others have - that you want. You mail books to people and get points. The only part I won't enjoy is going to the post office with my kids. :) I have a lot of books I'd like to get rid of. Taking them to a used bookstore is just asking for rejection. This week I took 2 bags of kids clothes in great condition to the consignment store and they took 3 items! I'm going to try another store, by the way.

The reason I'm not napping right now is that my youngest son has inherited my loud snoring and I can't sleep in my bed because he's there. My husband thinks it is sweet revenge. He has to listen to me all the time. :)Pin It

I got the bug

Yes, I'm the sick one now. My sweet husband worked from home today and watched the boys. A slept for 4 hours so that was helpful. C is back to his old self = into everything and laughing about it.

Last night was awful. Wide awake, hoping to get sick, stomach pain, etc.

Today I had a bad headache to go along with the other symptoms I won't describe.

Whiney, eh? :)

I'll post something fun next, I promise.Pin It

More sickness

Well, we're not out of the woods yet. Tonight my 3 year old decided to join the fun, right before supper. He was complaining that his tummy hurt but I didn't believe him. (Bad Mommy). J told him to lie down on the couch and then it happened.

Happened again before bed.

Just when I had caught up on the laundry.
I hope I don't get it. I'm the only one who has missed out - this go 'round.Pin It

An inspiring quote and an update on sickness

"What you do in your house is worth as much
as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God.
We should accustom ourselves
to think of our position and work
as sacred and well-pleasing to God,
not on account of the position and work,
but on account of the word and faith
from which the obedience and the work flow."
-Martin Luther

I wish I could say that the quote above has changed my attitude and given me a new passion to tackle all the things that need my attention. Change my heart, God.

My youngest is STILL sick. Sigh. He went over 24 hours without puking. Last night around 12:30 am he woke up and did it again. He hasn't had much of an appetite, except for my oatmeal raisin cookies. :) Yes, I did find a successful recipe that didn't have Crisco in it. (See my previous post about throwing out cookies). He did it again at the dinner table tonight - thankfully just onto his high chair tray. My husband remarked that we have developed rock solid stomaches - that we could continue eating after C's episode. After we cleaned it up, of course!Pin It

Free drawing!

At 5 Minutes for Mom, there is a fun drawing for a cute necklace from Alli's Originals. You don't even have to have a blog to enter.Pin It

Books - short update

I finished At Home in Mitford. A fun book. I plan on reading the next one in the series. I recommended it to my mom. I hope she reads it since I think she'd like it.

Right now I need to start reading Jayber Crow for book club. My youngest has been sick with the stomach flu so I've been too tired at night to read. All that laundry!Pin It

Books!!

I decided to make a list of books, mainly so I can remember, but also so you can get to know me a bit better.

What I have read in the last 2 years.
This is an eclectic list. The majority of this list were reads for my book club and the rest are just ones I decided to read. B = Book Club

The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope
B - The Brothers Karamazov (well, I didn't finish it completely)
B - Expecting Adam
The Devil Wears Prada
B - The Bean Trees
B - A Severe Mercy
B - Old Men at Midnight This is my least favourite on the list. I don't recommend it.
B - Enders Game
The #1 Ladies Detective Agency
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks
Stepping Heavenward
Beyond Gates of Splendour


What I would like to read (a short and manageable list, of course there are many more):

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
Middlemarch by George Elliot
No Name by Wilkie Collins
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (a page-turner mystery)

What I'm currently reading:
At Home in Mitford


Next 2 books for bookclub:
Jayber Crow by Wendall Berry
Bold SpiritPin It

One of my favourite artists

Jessie Willcox-Smith. Seeing her work gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. An interesting biography can be found here. So interesting that she never had children of her own.

Here are some of my favourites:
Moonbeams
Sweet and Low
Books in WinterPin It

Another snow day

So, it snowed yesterday. It also hailed. Very cold overnight (for this part of the world).

All the schools were cancelled today (eyes rolling). Community Bible Study is cancelled whenever school is. So, I had to scramble to find something to do today. I couldn't handle the whole day at home. We went to Spartan Gym which has an indoor "playground." I called first to check it was open. We were the only ones there for the first 30 minutes! Another boy and his mom joined us eventually.

People are such weenies around here when it comes to snow. Yes, the roads can be slippery but just slow down and be careful.Pin It

I just threw out 2 dozen freshly baked cookies

No, I'm not on some radical self-deprivation diet. No, they weren't burnt.

Can you guess why? Well, since I have about 3 readers of my blog, I won't wait for guesses. :)

I made oatmeal raisin cookies tonight. I used Crisco in the ingredients (because it was listed in a Betty Crocker recipe and I trust those) and I think it was way past its expiration date. What a horrible taste! It also stunk up the house. Not like our house needs any new nasty smells (2 boys in diapers, need I say more)!

I will need a new recipe. Poor A will be disappointed. He helped me make the cookies and he was in the bath (then going to bed) when I tested the cookies. Too bad I couldn't get some delivered overnight.Pin It

Last movie I saw

It was so romantic. The best scene is at the birthday party when Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves dance and then take FOREVER to have a "stolen" kiss.

It was very clean. Just a couple examples of bad language.

I did have a hard time figuring out the time line (2 years running simultaneously).Pin It

Links to share

If you have some time to kill or just trying to keep your sanity while the kids play near you, check this out.

I also like this one
since I love vintage childrens' books.Pin It

Our New Years Eve

Went to a small party at Colette's house. Other families with kids there. A didn't like the rambunctious kids. C caused a bit of a stir when he unrolled the toilet paper onto the floor. I did get to talk to another adult for a while which was an accomplishment.

On our way out to the car the moon was shining brightly and we got C to say Night Night Moon. He kept saying it in the car and zonked out.

We got home about 9:45 pm and DH was able to take his coat off and transfer him into his bed without waking him.

DH and I watched lame TV. DH fell asleep before midnight. I woke him up to kiss at midnight.

We read the kids' calendars from last year this morning. (I write down their milestones or the things that make us laugh). Fun to remember all the things they did/said.Pin It