A little spurt of energy....

Omg. I have been sick. I sound like crap, my throat is sore! But I won't complain as my last post summed it up. But I am sick. Pretty sick.

Today I HAD to go to work, so I went there in the afternoon for a meeting..that I couldn't miss. Did that, came home. It killed me getting up, showering and going out. Ugh...so I have been on the couch since 5:15 now. Its 3 hours later and I am here. I am taking some old antibiotics left over (lol)...so hopefully that helps. I have a slight fever now...which is weird for me. So I thought that I better take something. Tomorrow, I am sleeping in. And I have to go to clothing club...so I will do nothing all day and then save my energy for tomorrow night...even if I go for a little while. The kids are going to Joans house (MIL'S) for the night..so I can relax Sunday too. Work this week will be hard, but I have to be there...so I have to be better by Monday....or at least be able to function.

I don't do well sick. There is just too much to get done..and I don't have time to be sick. I wanna clean my house. I have so much stuff that I wanna do. Kennedy's room needs to be revamped...totally. She has had the same bedding since she was 2 years old. I would rather not buy a new bedroom suite until she is 10...so I need to find a canopy bedding set that is a bit older of age. I mean her current one is nice...nothing baby-ish...but she wants something older. Some things I am not ready to part with...but why hold onto it :o(

Anyhow...getting dizzy...

Tara

omg, I'm dying....slowly...

Here I am at home...sun shining through the windows and I 'm sick. Like pretty sick!

I'm a baby when I get sick, I know that. But its not that often....for 1 week now I have been thinking "okay its coming" then I felt fine. We have 2 kids in the hospital with this. Obviously something from daycare...ugh!!!

I can't swallow, I can hardly talk, I cough, my nose it totally plugged, my head is pounding...

I dropped the kids are the bus at 8:05, crawled back into bed...and slept until 1:30....could've slept lonoger...but thought I won't be able to sleep tonight...

Tara

Back at work!

Well today I feel like crap. My throat is killing, when I sneeze it really hurts...my nose is getting plugged up..ugh.

Anyhow, I don't really feel like being here today. Also, right after school (4:30) Kennedy has gymnastics, which I have to run too. Then mack has soccer...crazzy day! Tomorrow is good, but the new tutor is coming...so still. Thankfully the weekend is almost here already! Yeah me! No plans yet for the weekend...so we'll see. Actually THIS weekend IS clothing club. My friend is gonna join us at the lounge. I'm almost done CC...its been fun. I just wish that I could have gone more...with Fabe's hours is been hard.

Today I wore a black velour track suit to work (I know, lazzzy) but when I got here my boss said "you have a meeting today to go to" I was like 'no I'm not!" look at what I am wearing....!!!!...so I didn't go.

I will work until about 3:30pm. 5 more hours!

Ouch- just sneezed...owie!!!!!

Well I am happy to say that I lost 6 pounds in one week on the South Beach! I'm sticking to this! I can't believe that Val (she commented!) lost 40 pounds from April-June!!! Omg!!!!Wow!!! I'm thinking that I will try to do phase 1 for one extra week then start with phase 2. With me being sick, and not liking swallowing...I'm only eating about 2 meals a day..so we'll see. A friend lost 50 pounds in 4 months...and she has kept it off over a year. I like that I don't have to count everything and that I'm never hungry!!!

Well, I better go...why does my ear hurt when I swallow?? ugh!

Tara

Happy Family Day!

Enjoy the day with your family...(although we should try to everyday and not need a day to tell us to do so!) *lol*

Have a great Family Day!

Sunday!

Yeah for me, I STILL have Monday and Tuesday off!

Today was another great day! I woke up at 9:30am and had some breaky. We were out of eggs (I wanted scrambled ones, my staple for the South Beach!) so I had some pieces of turkey breast, v-8 and thankfully there were 2 hard boiled ones from yesturday so I had them! Yummy! Then I mopped the main floor (was pretty sticky from something in the kitchen so I just did it all). Then I jumped in the shower. Kennedy has been BEGGING me for a chalkboard for sooo long. She loves to play 'school' so we made plans to go to Ikea. Which we needed to go there anyhow for Mack's new bed. So Kennedy and I went. Got her an easel (one side chalk board and the other dry erase), Bandit a new dog bed and Mack a new bed. I couldn't get the one piece into my car and so I called Fabe but he was already in the parking lot..he knew it wouldn't fit! So we loaded that up. Then Kennedy needed chalk and dry erase markers so we went to the new Staples on 17th street. Then while there I figured I should ask Mack (who was with Fabe) if he needs any school supplies..sure enough. And so did Kennedy. THEN, we went to Sobeys got (eggs) and some grocereis. Then, Blockbuster...2 movies. Then home, where I talked with my neighbor for 1 hour while our girls played together. My mom came to pick up Mack as they have a thing at the Jubillee tonight together. She brought Pizza over...we fed everyone (Mack had a friend over here too!) so everyone ate. Mack and mom left. Rikki stayed here. And I still have 3 little girls in here! (Kennedy and 2 friends). They have been busy playing in her room..really well together..which is amazing as usually the 3 of them fight while all together.

Fabe and I had chicken breast, which I cut up and added it to my salad, feta cheese and some dressing. Its was yummy!

Today I had to break and weigh my self...(wasn't going to until Tuesday, 1 week on it) but I did today and I have lost 5 pounds!!!!! Yeah!!!!6 days done...I'm planning to stay on the phase 1 for more then 2 weeks...hopefully 3-4 weeks. As soon as I feel that I am 'bored' then I will change it up. But phase 1 is the most loss. SO many people have lost big amounts of weight...(thanks Val for commenting about it too, its inspiring! How long did it take???) the more I read about carbs the more I think 'wow, they aren't good for me...I have been eating waaaaay to much of them'.

Well, anyhow. Gotta do the bed while Mack is out with my mom. I'm looking forward to my moving "The Ex"

Not sure whats up for tomorrow but we will see :o)

Tara

Busy but GREAT day!!!

Today was a great day!

I took Kennedy to her party at the Ramada Inn waterpark. Then, to kill time while waiting to pick her up Fabe and I ventured across the street to the new development where there is a lake going in..and new houses and we talked to them about the new plans...I like to be updated with what is up in the neighborhood...then I went and picked up Kennedy. Mack had soccer on the east side at 3 so he took him there (and Mack's friend). Kennedy and I meanwhile met up with my friend and her kids at Chucky Cheese's for a while. THEN, we met up with Fabe and Mack and friend at Pizza Hut where mack's soccer wind up was being held. Talked with the moms there for a while. Then, (stupid me) thinking that tonight was clothing club...I came home and got ready to go out. Then I spoke on the phone to someone else in clothing club and she told me it was not tonight....DUUUH! SO, I went BACK to Pizza Hut and visited with the parents again. Now Fabe ran to Canadian Tire and I'm here with the kids. I still have the movie Nanny Diaries to watch so I will do that...the kids have to go to bed early tonight as Mack's friends mom said if he is going to stay overnight again then he has to go to bed at 10:00. And since they were up until close to 4am, this isn't going to hurt them!!!!

Tomorrow, is LESS busy :o)

I would like to drive out to 'our acreage' and look at the condition of it since its not dark out. We will decide if we will offer more then the last offer that was refused...depends on how bad we want it...so we will do that...maybe go for a drive (the kids hate it, but oh well). Maybe go skiing....not sure!

I love that I am STILL off for 3 more days!!!

I have completed 5 days of the south beach diet and I FEEL SOOO GREAT!!!!! No carbs (rice, pasta, bread, potatoes, etc) and wow-I really do feel good. I don't think that I have lost anything but I was such a carb-o-holic and I tend to gain weight in the tummy area (high carbs!) so this is good for me...I will try to stick to it....I feel really really good and not the least bit hungry!

Well, anyhow.

Off to watch a movie.

I have taken NO pics lately! My camera battery is still dead so I will be charging it tomorrow and hopefully get some uploaded.

Tara

Lovely Day!!!

Today was just beautiful outside!

Right from the time we got home, we were busy! Today when I pulled up my neighbor was outside shovelling the sidewalk in front of our house (he is from across the street!) he always shovels our driveway with his quad...we love it! We treated him to a heating bar for his quad, and he was very happy! I spoke to him...they want us to do Vegas with them in March..I dunno. Then, the kids played out in the slush. I made supper...ate. Cleaned the main floor. Then, I met up with a friend. We went to Costco together...bought some summer clothes for the kids. Then, we hit Dollarama and inspired each other with 'you know what you can do with this?' and then we bought the stuff and later laughed that we won't even remember WHAT we SAID we would do with it. Then, I dropped her off. Oh and we grabbed a green tea each from Tim Hortons. I came home. Mack has a friend over night tonight. Kennedy and Fabe ran out...to his work. She loves going there with him. I took Bandit for a much needed walk today (he went yesturday but usually he goes when we get home). Now I am up here. Going to get my jammies on.

I am soooo thankful that I am off for 4 more days!!!!! Yeah for me!!!!

Tomorrow is a busy day...but still enjoyable.

Anyhow...until tomorrow!

Tara

Long weekend!

I'm super happy that we have a long weekend this weekend. Plus, I took off Tuesday to have an exra-extra long weekend :o)

Our plans so far look like this;

Friday- I will clean the house and do laundry so that I don't have to do it on the weekend.

Saturday- Kennedy has a b-day at 12-3 Mack has soccer at 3:00. 4:30 we have a wind up party for his soccer at Pizza Hut. Then at night I'm going to clothing club, which will be at a lounge for karokee.

Sunday-sleep in!!!! Not sure what else...shop. Skiing, more then likely.

Monday- Not sure yet...skating maybe???

Tuesday- Kids have no school, so we may hit the space and science centre as they have been 'dying' to see the Imax.

Then it will be a short week :o)

We are closer and closer to spring!!!

Happy Valentines Day!

I don't really like Valentines day. Honestly, you should celebrate love all year round. Thats how I view it. Plus, I feel sorry for those who don't have a 'valentine'. And I don't like the whole candy-grams/Valentines...I feel sorry for the less popular kids who don't get anything...Thankfully in school I was popular enough to have gotten stuff (Candy-grams) but I still secretly stressed that I wouldn't get one...but there WERE people who ended up not getting any :( I hated that. I mean, okay so your not popular. But your okay with that. And you don't have alot of friends, kids know you don't. Do you REALLY need to confirm it with not getting any Candy-grams? Sooooo, anyhow. I told Mack about it, and he was like "I would just send myself some then" but thats not the point. Its not a matter of what everyone else sees, its a matter of your feelings. You would be sad. So many kids use to skip Valentines Day because the thought of them not getting anything was too much for them :o( how sad. So next year, in junior high Mack will be not just sending friends candy-grams he will send every single person in his class one...just to make sure that EVERYone gets one..all or none for us.

Anyhow, I bought the kids a card and Mack some choclate and Kennedy a little puppy (she hates choclate!) and Fabe a card. Fabe was sleeping when I left for work today...but a very teary eyed him called later...the phrase of "I know you sacrafice your time with us for work, to provide a good life for us...and I thank you" he was so happy/sad/emotional about it..but its true. he works LONG days...where SO many other men wouldn't keep that job...he does. And has done it for so long now...because he knows it takes care of us...but he misses out on us so much...we won't gift each other because I already spent 30.00 on cards and crap for the kids...I refuse to 'waste' more on Valentines Day.

Here's to a HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!

Looking back.

Does anyone else ever look back on their blog and think about the 'good' summer days? I look back on last summer and it makes me want summer to come sooooo much faster!!!! I also like to look back and see what I was up to 'back then'.

Wednesday night.

Well, today is going better. My hurt feelings are mending.

Tonight I opted for an easy supper. We had tomato soup and grilled cheeses. I didn't feel like doing much of anything else.

I helped Mack with long division (he needed a refresher) and Kennedy wanted to do 'extra' math questions so I wrote some out for her. The kitchen is tidy now. I am going to find an article for my assignment due on Friday...and because I JUST got my textbooks and only finsished the readings last night I am thinking about taking Friday off to get it done, typed and faxed on the due date. Next assignment is a BIG one...its reading a novel about Natives...I'm excited to read it. Some of the readings have been soooo interesting and sad to read how the world was just 30-40 years ago...my how far we have come. Besides the 'policy' part I am enjoying the class. I write an exam in April and will be done...then off to the next class...this will be my life for the next while...some friends have asked "why are you doing this now?" well because. A diploma in social work only gets you to entry level positions, nothing major. But with a BSW I will have great opportunities. I will try to get on with Capital Health at the Stollery. I would like to be a Social Worker in a hospital setting. But not in an 'emergency' setting...but like a NICU or something. Our social worker was excellent when Kennedy was born. We didn't see her too much but after any 'major' diagnosis you see one. So she kinda insipred me...so we'll see. Plus if I then want, I can go on to a masters....just many more opportunities. By the way, my sister graduates in May with her Masters of Education. She gets a HUGE pay raise...and within a few years she will bump up to principal...she makes me proud!

Well, I am off to find a social issue. So many to choose from (sad, but true).

Anyhow,

Thankfully its Thursday tomorrow!

And Yeah, I think Friday I will take off :o)

Tara

Wednesday!

last night we did absolutley nothing. I baked another loaf of bread to share with my co-workers! They totally enjoyed it today at work...yummy :o)

Today work is much busier...people are coming to grips with the weather I am guessing..its still freeeeeezing cold out there though!

And well, thats about it.

Working on a new parent handbook at work

And thats about it....

Anyhow...will update later.

Tara

My Tuesday!

Today was a great day at work! Again a very dead day at work. Not sure when the kids are going to come back (lol) but from what I am reading on LP the census is that they are starting to return slowly...so we'll see how it goes by tomorrow!

We used this time to totally clean toys and re-arrange everything! Wasn't it fun???? (my coworker!)

So we cleaned and had a very lazy day...did things that we don't normally do (lol) and took it easy. The kids bus was running today, so they took it in the morning. I picked them up after work at the bus stop, they had a good day at school. We just finished Kennedys homework and Mack is doing his now. Busy!

Tonight there is nothing to do. I will get the laundry done and start organzing the basement. The crappy thing about the basement is that we got it finished and we use it as one big storage room.

I did all of the required readings for my first assignment, due Friday. Just gotta type it up and fax it to my teacher...hopefully she is in (lol!!!!, anyhow!!!!)

No real plans for the weekend. Mom is flying up to Fort Mac with R. R is totally scared of airplanes so she is taking a test flight to Fort Mac (45 mins) to see. Hopefully it goes well as we would like her to come with us at Christmas for Disneyland. Fabe and I are not sure about Vegas or Dominican now...I would rather somewhere hot....but I really really wanted to shop in Vegas!!! Hmmmm, all the hard decisions.

Last night I used my bread machine for the first time, the bread was soooo easy to make and SO yummy! I shared it at work and promised a certain someone a loaf of their own :o) So I will be baking more tonight..pretty good.

Well I am off to get my stuff done and get into my jammies.

Tara

Obvioulsy a need to clarify????

I dunno, but maybe I was misunderstood by my post about 'winter stopping' and the whole school thing but let me say something here. I don't really 'care' if people take THEIR children to school or not. Honestly, I don't. I don't care what they do with their children or whatever. For me, I made the choice to send my children to school, as I said below. And so many others made the choice to keep their children home from school. My way is not right, their way is not wrong. Anyhow who knows me, knows me well enough to say that I am not one to force my thoughts down anyones throats. I don't like when people view me this way, because it is SO not me.

I stated that I was glad that I sent my children to school because my son had a new science lesson introduced. 2nd day of homework in math again. But *he* needs to go to school. Its not all-natural for him, I guess. Kennedy, grade 2 nots AS important to me (TO ME!) but she came home with graphs to do. Simply stating that school is going on still (and not cleaning desk, or whatever) is not pushing my thoughts...I am telling the facts.

I take my children out of school for vacations, and as I said below my sister is taking them in Feb for the waterpark and they will be missing school...others schedule things like that around their children's schooling...we choose not too. Again...I am not right. They are not wrong....or vice versa.

I don't like being portrayed as a one-sided person....because I am soooo not that....

Anyhow, thanks for the message from my blog reader who thought that I should clarify this...thank you :o) I am glad that you do know me and know good enough the kind of person that I am...

MMMMMMMMEEEEOOOOOWWWW!~!!!

LOL!!!!!!hahahhahhahahhahhahahhaha

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....

It is COLD outside!

Yes, it IS cold. We live in Alberta. We have brutal winters, I know this.

But come on...people calling in sick, people not sending their kids to school (bussed rural kids, I totally understand), but I mean...really. Its going to be cold all week. Should we all stay home and hibernate in our houses because of a few days of freezing temps? I know it would great if we all could but we really can't....

Anyhow, today was crazy. The kids bus wasn't running so I dropped them at school. A coworker's car was stuck so she asked me to pick her up..I did that.

Got to work. We have hardly any heat...brrrrrr....we will have to see about what to do..

The kids wanted to stay at home as Fabe is off today. I was like "nope!" especially my ds he doesn't need an excuse to not go to school...so off they went.

Work is dead. So funny how much the world stops because its cold....lol.

Anyhow. Gotta go!

Tara

Missed Thursday!

But mostly importantly Friday is here! This weekend we don't have too much going on. Mack doesn't have soccer (or does he??? shoot!) tonight (Friday) I will go home from work. Have an easy supper as I don't cook on Fridays (I love that rule!) then I will clean the house up. I love to clean on Fridays a week/work day so that Saturday and Sunday is just devoted to the kids. Saturday we are going to the winter celebration for LP. I'm not sure if my husband is coming or not...but hopefully. Mack already said that he isn't going to it. He hates events where its mostly little kids. He came one year...Kennedy loved it and he hated it. Oh well! I am debating about taking our Godson for the night...I bought him 2 outfits from Children's Place and some jammies so we'll see. We haven't had him for a while. Sunday we will do 'something' but Mack has tutoring at 1:30pm-3:00pm. Then we will see what to do after that. Fabe is off this weekend so thats good. But I am happy that it is Friday...the kids are super happy.

Thursday was good. I got off work early. Went to Children's Place did some spring and summer shopping for Kennedy....LOVE the stuff that I got there! Then, I went to Dollarama. Then had to go back and pick up R from school as she spent the night at our house as my mom was working the 'van'. The van is a van, which goes around in the inner city handing out condoms and providing support to street workers (hookers, sex trade workse, whateveryouwannacallit) she has been doing this since she graduated from the social work program in the year 2000. What a difference, my mom from CIBC Branch Manager to a social worker...lower pay but she LOVES what she does!!!! I'm proud of her!!!!

Anyhow, better get off here...I am sure someone will notice.

Tara

Wednesday.

Wow, this week is flying by!

Today was a good day, I got lots done at work..which is always a plus! After work I got home and got Kennedy ready for gymnastics. Mack stayed home while I dropped her off. I ran to Goodwill on a bookhunt! Got some neat books-one that I can't wait to read its about woman years ago until now and it has a break down of articles from magazines (what is expected of a good wife, etc) and lessons on being a good wife (back then, not these days!) and so yeah, it was kinda cool. Then I got a family manager book (I love those!) and I bought Amanda a What to Expect When You are Expecting. Amanda grew up in our home (my moms!) from the age of 4 she was living with us. I still remember going to visit her and her brother Neal when they were in a group home. My mom and I went there to visit them and see if we thought that they would be a good mix for us. Immediately I loved them. Neal was 7 and Amanda 4. I LOVED getting our house ready for them and setting up their own rooms. I am the youngest so this was a dream come true, to haveyounger siblings! Plus I have always LOVED kids so this was great. I was 16 then...?...anyhow they moved in. Life was different but good. When Amanda was 15 she came to live with Fabe and I as mom and her were fighting so much. But they kept good. She lived with us when we built this house even...thats why we built a bedroom in the basement for her. She moved from here to go live with her older sister, in Hinton but it didn't work out. When she came back, R was living with us and we couldn't take her. But she was ready to go out on her own, with the help of the Boys and Girls Club. She lived there only for a short time. Now she lives on her own, she is 19 (as of Nov!)...but she isn't in a good spot now. She is pregnant and not doing too well. She is 5.5 months, she is due in May (long weekend!) When she lived with us, she was 114 pounds. At her 1st dr's appt she was 90 pounds! She is soooooooooo skinny! Like VERY skinny! They gave her Ensure and Boost to drink. It did help a little but this week (she goes every 2 weeks) she is down to 96 pounds agian...as she was at 100 2-weeks ago. Now back down. Grrrrrr! Of course, the dr is concerned about her weight. She has BARELY a tummy...like seriously! I don't know....anyhow. She goes on the 29th for an ultrasound and hopefully everything will be okay with the baby. Plus, she is going to find out if it a boy or girl so she can start to buy stuff. She has nothing yet....which is a shame. Hard to believe that she will be a mother...

Got Kennedy from gymnastics. Came home. Cleaned the kitchen. Ate. Now I am up here and waiting for the kid's bedtimes so I can take in a new book. I have to work on my assignment as well....eeeeeeekk!

Well until tomorrow!

Tara

Tuesday!

Phew-what a LONG day today!

Work was busy. My boss had a semi-breakdown which led me to send her home early, lol!

Worked until 4:15 came home, jumped right into cleaning macks room. We got rid of his loft bed and wow, his room looks sooooo much better since it is gone. MUCH cleaner looking.

So we just got done that, I am washing his bedding. We still need to eat and then relax...I have 1 magazine to still read. I am just pooped out...

Anyhow.

Tara

Monday...

3 days a row of updating, Thank you very much :o)

Today was a BUSY day at work. Wow...I was out getting stuff for the daycare in the morning (library stuff) a new vacuum, etc....then I just got back to the centre. Put the vacuum together and was ready to make my lunch at 1pm when a lady for a meeting walked in...omg!!! So I had to meet with her for 2 hours, for accreditation...finally at 3:30pm I ate my lunch while staff needed me, parents began to arrive...ugh!!!!!! A new staff that (I can't wait to start!!!) came in for forms, and ugh...it was CRAZZZZY! Anyhow, got home at 5:30, well actully Sobeys at that time...needed shampoo and a couple things. Got home, Fabe wanted to go out for supper. We went to the New Asain Village (YUMMY...totally totally suggest going there!) the buffet is sooooo good :o) Its East Indian cuisine. After we were soooo impressed with Kennedy eating so much we walked outside and she began to puke (lol)...totallllllllllly puked up her food. Then Mack ran over with his cell and took PICTURES of her puke...she was fine. Thats just her. She was laughing and having a great ole time after....too funny.

We came home. Going to get the kids to bed and read my 2 magazines that I picked up from Sobeys. I have soooooo much to do at work tomorrow. NOTHING about our offer, obviously its dead??!??!?! How rude that the realtor doesn't even CALL ours back...rude. Which is WHY we arent dealing with him in the first place...we tried. He was a jerk!

So yeah...tomororw will be less crazy. Which will be nice. My to do list at work is just brutal. But I want to get as much done as possible. I finished a HUGE piece of work my Quality Enhancement Plan last week...feels so good. Now I have a portfolio which is going to be a huge amount of work. Plus, in here I have my assignment to send away before Feb1st..thank GOD for email :o)

I bought some boutique clothes off ebay for Kennedy and an outfit for my friends daughter. He clothes were so pretty! I HAD to do it.

Well, gotta run!

Tara

Sunday night update!

Wow, I am on a roll!

Today I totally cleaned the house. I just felt like it...and it felt soooo good to have it spotless! The bathrooms smelled of bleach (yummy!). Anyhow, cleaned and did laundry (bedding too!) all day. Then at about 3pm my friend Ronda came over with her 3 kids (messed it up!!! KIDDING!!!) and we visited while the kids played (and fought!) then we ate lunch...kids played outside a while more....it was nice. We played the Wii, I love that thing!!!! Then I put my ribs (well not mine!) in the oven...and did potatoes and yummy! They were perfect!!!My mom came over with coffee for Ronda and I. Fabe came home...it was pretty busy at the time! Mom left. Ronda left. We ate and ENJOYED the yummy ribs!!!! Now I am just putting away laudry and got the kids to bed.And I am ready to relax....Fabe is on dish duty since I cooked, he cleans...and I normally and nagging him by now but I just told him "as long as it is done by the time I wake up for getting the kids ready for breakfast!"

Oh yeah, and Fabe talked to a guy in another position at work and he is going to see about transferring over there. More time off, and 8-10 hours day only!!! (he works 12+ a day!) so yeah...MUCH better. He will have to drive a blue Shaw van tho...lol! But then we can get rid of our van that he uses for work right now...so that would be cool...so we will see!!!!

Well anyhow...gotta get to bed. Read and relax for a while.

Tara :o)

Have a good week y'all

Sunday so far.

See, I am TRYING to update often!!!!

Well last night, the kids were SUPPOSE to go to my moms for the night. But Miss Kennedy who was extremely tired....began to cry saying she wants me to drive here there(downtown, and my mom was already at my house...so I don't think so!) So I told her to just stay home (Fabe and I were planning too anyhow) and she started to really cry "I don't want toooooo" anyhow, we made her stay home as I know she would cry at bedtime anyhow so finally I just told my mom to leave her. So we cleaned her room and she went to bed at 10pm. Fabe and I watched TV in bed until about 1am. Fabe left about 8:30 am for work and I woke up as I heard Kennedy awake too. We watched tv in my bed for about 20mins and then went downstairs. I made us breakfast. Read the paper. Cleaned up the kitchen. She is on Mack's computer. And we are either going to go get groceries for the week or I will clean the bathrooms today...no plans for today. Just getting prepared for the week ahead.

Nothing from the listing realtor about our 2nd offer. Fabe and I set our price last night...the 'most' that we are willing to go...so there is room for one more offer and thats is.

Fabe is keeping his eyes open for another job. The pay with Shaw isn't worth never having family time.

If he is still with Shaw then he is booking off lots of weekends in this next year.....summer is well on its way and we plan to use the trailer and lake alot more then last year :o)

I will update later!

Tara

Saturday.

Today was a nice day. I slept in a bit. Woke up, the kids were up already. Fabe went to work (poor him!). Got up, made pancakes. Read the paper. Tidied up a bit...nothing major. Mack had soccer, their tied 2-2. We haven't heard anything from the realtor who we put the 2nd offer in. They people want a stupid possession date...Feb 15th. Like D-U-M-B! Like we can sell our house, move and everything UNDER 1 month. Yeah, right. Good luck. They aren't moving on their price..so I don't think that we are going anywhere. I refuse to pay what they want for a house that needs to be completely painted and flooring...nope. Won't do it. So anyhow. I think we will have to see, but I don't think that we are going anywhere. I refuse to move once Mack starts school (sept) junior high so we have a time line. I dunno..we'll see. Its a toss up. We would love to be out there for the quads, and the overall life. But will we be in the city so much anyhow? I dunno....I mean right now I REALLY want the house...but if it doesn't go through then I will be okay too. I 'want' to move but I don't want too. I hope that they come down a bit too...they should look around and see that their house needs some cosmetic work too.

Anyhow, the kids are going to my mom's house for a sleep over. Fabe and I may just relax at home and watch a movie...I dunno. Kennedy is cleaning her room. She is such a little mess...everywhere that Kennedy's goes the mess gets left behind. Its sooooo annoying! Mack is messy but at least in his own room. We sold Mack's loft bed..he is just getting too big for it...it has served us well. But is he ever going to loose space in his room with a regular double bed in there...yikes! He said he isn't ready to move downstairs to 'his' new room yet. I rushed to paint it and make is 'cool' for him for nothing. Oh well, I prefer him up here anyhow but his room will be pretty tight. So we have to bed shop for him now. Ikea, here we come! His loft bed has been wonderful for him!!!!

Well, gotta go get some stuff done around here...

Tara

Ideology...

An idelolgy is an organized collection of ideas. The word Ideology was coined by Count Antoine Destutt de Tracy in the late 18th century to define a 'science of ideas'.....

BLAH '


BLAH



BLAH!!!

Welcome to my couse....SWK 1350....Introduction to Social Welfare and Policies...

I HATE policies.....

and proedures


and ideologies

and Federalism

and Bureaucracy

and Feminism


THIS is what I have been doing with my blogging time!!!!!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

The WORSE possible course for me...ever!

Wish me luck. Why didn't I take like.....a child course? Poverty course? Aboriginal course....noooooooo, I had to take THIS one....

Yes, I have started the Bachelor of Social Work program....

so pretty pics from the train!!!!

Cariboo...Caribou? Whatever (lol)

Ice wall....

Ice wall..

So pretty!

Beautiful!!! Looks like a postcard to me!

WHILE the train was moving....

Via Rail!

Fabe took us on a Via Rail tour for a day in Jasper! It was soooooo neat!!!! It was great! I wanted to go on one for a long time, so I was really happy when he said that he got the tickets! Mom and R came with us!!!! We were able to go sit up in the dome. About 45mins into it I was feeling motion sick...I am horrible with motion sickness. As long as I am driving, I am fine...I can be in the car for HOURS...but once I am a passenger...ugh. So I had a ginger ale...I think it was because I was reading...ugh!!!!

(late) Christmas Pictures!

Kennedy gots LOTS of Hannah Montanna stuff!!!

Oh, what a mess!!!!!! The family room covered in the aftermath of Christmas!!!

Fabe checking out the Wii that santa brought Mack!!! Its a pretty cool system!!!

Kennedy was pretty happy that Santa brought her an Ipod!!!!

Santa came!!!!! The stockings and such ready to be revealed!!!!

Our Christmas was lovely. We stayed home and celebrated alone. This was my first Christmas ever without my mommy. It was weird, to say the least. I am not sure that I like that. My mom went to Fort Mac to my sisters house. We have my inlaws here and I see my mom all of the time. So my went up there...as their inlaws (sis) lives in NewFoundland. Anyhow, thankfully we ALL met up in Jasper on Boxing Day...still. It was so nice going to Jasper! Soooo

nice. There aren't many pics of Mack on here as he was wearing his boxers only....so I don't really want to exploit him like that!!!!! We are thinking that we would like to go away next year. We were thinking of Disneyland for Christmas...so we will see. But Jasper was beautiful!

Neals good bye supper!

Neal has moved to England to be with a lovely girl whom he met while she was down in Edmonton. I chat with him on MSN here and there and on Facebook...he seems very happy! Hopefully they can make it down to Edmonton! Better yet, hopefully they can meet up with us in

Disneyland for Christmas...

Flowers from Fabe

Mack and Fabe came home with flowers for me!!! My nice boys!!!

Bandit on the new bed!!!

bandit has been doing super well. He is getting so calm now. We call him the old man now. He just is happy sleeping. Its so hard to believe that 2 years ago I was ready to give him away! (remember that!!!) awwwww...he's a good boy. Some days I feel horrible when we have something to do in the evenings and we just get home from work and then off we go again. I usually take him with me, but sometimes I just can't...thankfully Fabe leaves later in the day then I do...he's a cutie.

Oh and I have discovered he is scared of my coughing!!!! Some times I wake up with a

dry cough and I hack and off he jumps off the bed and he either goes on to Kennedys bed with her or off into the family room....every time....weird!!!

Our new bed!

Our new bedroom suite has been lovely! Its sooooo nice to have a 'nice' bed to get into everynight. I splurged and bought new bedding and everything. It looks so pretty! As you can see from the BLUE lamps...we now need to jazz our room up a bit...but the furniture looks nice now. We went SOOOOOOO long with UGLY stuff!

Back to reality...

So New Years was great. We were going to go out to my friends house but we changed our minds. Usually the chidlren go to my moms house for the night and we go out together. But we wanted to spend it with them this year. So we rented trivia games for the Wii (they are a GREAT family educational game!) and we rented movies and went to M&M's and bought some snack food. It was really great! We had R over for a couple nights for a break for my mom. At midnight we watched the fireworks on TV they were super good. I couldn't bear the cold and watch them though!

We woke up on Tuesday (1st day of the new year!) and watched another movie. It was very relaxing day. After that we cleaned up the house a bit, did some laundry and showered and everything. We didn't leave the house...crazy!

Today I am work. We aren't very bsuy today..thankfully as we are very understaffed. But thankfully offering good wages we were able to hire 2 staff...whom both start tomorrow. The one girl use to work at the Out Of School care so I do know her..but the other is a friend of a friend. Then we are going to hire 1 more person just to have full staffing again...I miss that. We have been 1 staff down for a long time...so it will be nice to not have to worry about people calling in sick anymore!!!!

Today I thought that Fabe was off, so I wasn't worried about child care for the children. However, I miscounted his days off and in fact he works today. So I wasn't sure what to do, normally I would have taken the day off but due to low staffing I couldn't. So Kennedy went to my Mil's for the day and Mack is at home...alone...ah!!!! He's 11 and VERY responsible so I'm not too worried as he has stayed home alone before...but usually only when I run to the mall (5 mins away). I called our neighbor last night and she said she will be home with her school children and that he could go over there but he doesn't want too (2 young girls). So he is going to stay home and she took his cell number and said she will call him and he can call if they need too. I have lunch in the fridge for him that he needs to warm up. I told him not to answer the house phone only his cell phone so that works out good!!!!! I'm leaving at 1pm.

Well I better get to work.

Tara

So work is hell again.

Ugh, when it gets like this..I could quit. But thats not the 'right' thing to do. I see that about me. When things get tough, I wanna back out. But I don't allow myself too. I think thats normal? Who wants to go through hell if they don't have too.

Anyhow, 1 staff quit before holidays. She was older and done with daycare. We all knew it. Then one of our good staff, went back home to Nova Scotia and is staying there as she missess her family so much...and we never did fill one other position that was open from a long time ago. Plus, in 2 weeks one of our staff is going for surgery and will be out for a while too. Lovely. Thankfully we WILL be okay for a short time. I made it very clear to the owner of the centre that she needs to PAY more to GET more. I think she might have got that...we can't get buy with low rates anymore. We just can't...slowly the dreams of the daycare are going away and I don't like it. Anyhow, not sure what we will do but we have to do something. Its just soooo tempting to move on to another job though when it gets like this...this will be my 2nd year here in January. We have come far, but I don't feel far enough...honestly. I have high expectations for the centre though.

Anyhow gotta run..at work.

Tara

I'm alive.

Sorry for all (and I mean ALL) of my blog fans ;)

I took a blogging break. Sorry. But I do miss it, but with Christmas and the BIG rush to get it all done..its been busy.

The weeks leading up to Christmas are spent rushing here and there finding what the children want. Its a waste. I love Christmas but I truely can't wait to hand my children cash and be done with it.

This was the first year away from my mom :o( It was just not the same. She went up to FortMac to my sisters house for it. We stayed here because my inlaws have never had a Christmas with us. How do you stretch yourselves? How can I make everyone happy? I KNOW!!!! Next year, _uck all of them and go away to a trip somewhere hot and be done with it. Because you CAN NOT make everyone happy! Anyhow, Boxing Day we all met up in Jasper. There were 3 rooms of us again. It was great! We did it last year too and it was the best part of Christmas which makes me think that next year we need to spend actual Christmas there and not here. Thats or, somewhere hot. Seriously. No Christmas tree for me, just go away and come back to normal life. Now I have the dreaded task of taking down the tree....grrrooooannn. UGH!

Jasper was simply wonderful. I feel so relaxed and inspired after being there. The 2nd day there Fabe took the kids to Marmot for the day for skiing and I stayed back. With my book, Eat, Pray and Love. I bought 2 bags of firewood..had them deliver it to my room. Stayed in my jammies...had hot chocolate and layed on the couch....and I used the 2 bags of firewood. It was lovely. We hot tubbed it, the kids swam. We were in bed early....Mack slept in my moms room and Kennedy had the bedroom to herself...and she's an early to bed girl. So we had evenings to ourselves. Slept in until 9am everyday...walked Jasper...it was just SO wonderful. Mack went back with my mom today and is sleeping over there (he's grandmas boy!) and it was so nice driving home as Kennedy watched a DVD and then slept. Fabe and I chatted. We made the house plan...we looked at an acreage house which we FINALLY like...we are putting in an offer as soon as we can (holidays) but the realtor said we should be able to by Tuesday...its a great house! A big house....but a great one. Nice land, with a pond...its very pretty! I will post pics tomorrow. So we'll see. Of course, Mack is dead-set about moving :(

What else? I convinced myself that I have arthritis in my hip. Serioulsy, its very bad. And worse with changes...like in Disneyworld in August omg, one day I thought that I was going to have to go to the hospital there..it was THAT bad....and then again in Jasper yesturday it started to hurt. Unless I get a cold, I don't know. I notice that days before a cold I get a sore back or hip. Only my right hip. When sitting down then getting up it actually takes my breath away...but walking on it is fine...weird.

Last week, I was worried about breast cancer...honeslty...I am NOT a hypercondriac (spelllin???) my doctor told me she found a lump in my breast....okay.....I DID not come up with that one....lol. I NEVER go to the dr's....it was 1.5 years since I have gone...my dr gave me crap too. But I have a good pain tolerance and this hip thing is KILLING me....and for the record I had a mammogram and don't have cancer (in the breast at least!).

Tomorrow I will upload all 300 pics and blog some...

but for now I am taking some pain killer...and going to finish reading that new book (Eat, Pray, Love). Even though Jane says that its not very good :o)

Tara

Monday!!!

Happy Monday!

Today was a good day. I decided I will be sick on Friday (cough cough!) because...

1) Mom has to be put under Friday morning and I have to drop her off at Grey Nuns in the early morning, then pick her up at noon.

2) I want a day off

3) I need a day off

4) I deserve a day off

5) Mack's party is Friday night (6 boys sleeping over!)

Saturday, Fabe is off. And the boys will head to go Paint Ball-ing. Mack has never been, but has ALWAYS wanted to go. So he is finally going to go. Yeah!!!! Fabe and his friend are taking them...should be fun.

Parents are dropping off their kids at 7pm Friday. They will play video games and what not, go to bed. Wake up, eat food and then head to paint ball. Then noon, parents pick up. THEN, Mack has soccer..(he'll be super tired!) then home...I will be happy to get his party over with and have Saturday and Sunday to just reeeeeelax :O)

I did my walk tonight, Kennedy joined in. She did her scooter and she was complaining about how long it took!

I have the 3 kids in bed (R is here too) and just having some tea. Fabe ran to my friends to drop off money that we owe for the kids ski passes she bought for us! The kids can start skiing on the 23rd it said on the news??? Fabe already took their skiis in for the sizing and they are totally ready to go. As well, we need to get in skating time this year...I don't think that Kennedy knows how!!!! Gotta get that done this year~!!

Can you believe I am already starting to think about summer plans???? Crazzzy I know. But I am PLANNING to only work 2 days a week this summer. So I want to get in as much as possible this year...and I want to take a small chunk of my pay check every check and put aside some summer funds, for little trips and what not. I plan to take them several places this year...every 2nd summer I will like to only work very part time...so we'll see.

And other then that, I think the hamster is sick...or just sleeping a lot....hmmmm? I hope he is okay....

Well, gonna crawl into bed with my tea and look at Whats Cooking magazines and write down some recipe ideas

Tara

Monday....Monday....

Thursday someone sick at work.

Friday someone sick at work.

Monday someone sick at work.

Friday Tara will be sick from work :o)

Great weekend

Sorry no pics.

Friday night was blah. Cleaned and what not.

Slept in Saturday...felt GOOD until 9:30am!!!! Got up, had breaky. Read the Saturday paper. Cleaned, the kids cleaned their rooms. We headed downtown to my moms house. We then went to Light up downtown thingy and City Hall. It was really good...but cold (brrrr!!!). There was free hot chocolate and fireworks and what not. It was good. Free hayrides! The kids had fun. Then we went back to my moms, Kennedy stayed the night. Mack and I headed back...stopped at Sobeys and got lunch stuff for the week. Mack went to his friends at 9pm for a sleepover. Oh before this Mack and I did my 30mins walk. He couldn't believe that I walk that everynight...yup! Still freezing! So I got home, Fabe was here. We got ready and headed to the Moose Factory for a little night out. Did that. Came home...still cold. Went to bed (got warm-lol!) then slept in a little today until 9am. Got up, no kids. Fabe went to work. I enjoyed walking through a clean house...ah....finished laundry. Put some away. Brought up some decorations for Christmas, put them up. Then, I baked some Peanut Butter temptations, whipped shortbread cookies and some peanut butter-marshmellow sqaures. So those are in the freezer now. Yummy! Next I can start on some more elaborate stuff...I love baking! Then, I talked on the phone to my sister for 2 hours!!!! On a cordless of couse, while doing baking, laundry and decorating! Now, I just brought up a load of towels to put away....and then I am going to start supper. We are have those yummy chicken breasts from the neighbor to bake, and not sure with what yet...

Tonight R will be sleeping over, until Tuesday as my mom is in a workshop. And other then that, Fabe and I are deciding a date to have a Christmas party at our house...we will invite all of our friends (we're thinking Dec.14th) if anyone wants to come ?!?!?!

Anyhow, gotta go!

Tara

Yeeeeaaaahhhhhh Friday!!!!

I love Fridays.

Itsn't it sad when you wait all week for Friday....

Today was a pretty stressful day at work. 2 staff were sick. And 1 staff had to leave early today (1:30) it was hard. But we got through it.

Our neighbor just came over a few minutes ago. She works at Lilydale Chicken place. In the summers she brings us over HUGE flats of chicken breasts. Tonight she came over with like 5 packs of it. Its so nice of her! We don't know her very well as they just moved in in the summer. Her husband keeps kinda distant but she comes over for the backyard fires and she seems nice enough...I thought kinda stuck up but she seems really nice and maybe because she is shy she seems snotty?
The kids got their report cards today. Mack did really good, last year was horrible...goes to show with stability with teachers how good he CAN do! Mostly B's with only one A and one C but its pretty good still...Kennedy is almost straight A's but she got 3 B's. So I am happy with them. At least it gives us an idea about what needs to be worked on.
If by spring we haven't moved. Then we aren't moving...unless we buy a bigger house in Mill Woods...but I'm going to switch Mack while he is in Junior high. So, I will register Kennedy (and possible Mack) into Mill Woods Christian school. I looove that school and the tution monthly is so worth it! So thats the plan...I'm tired of looking at houses..none that I really like. Here we have a much smaller morgage then the houses out there so we'll see...who knows!!! If we stay then we need to hire someone to paint the whole house...it needs it soooo badly.

The kids are in Macks room on the computer...I am going to clean up a bit...tomorrow I want to bake. We are meeting my mom later for a winter thingy...then Mack is going to a sleepover and Kennedy to my moms for the night...then a night alone...ahhhh!!!!

Well I should go and get it done!

Tara

Thursday.

So I am behind again. Anyhow. Things have been totally crazzzy around here lately. But I am getting by. The school issues are still on-going and I can't stand it. I just want them out of there.

And, what else....things are good. I am still doing WW and I am down 7.4 pounds in 3 weeks. Yeah! Um, what else.

My sister was down, things were great with her here.

I bought all my baking stuff today...yeah :) I can't wait to start baking!

I am done Christmas shopping for Kennedy and my sister now. Thats great!!!And so I will be moving on to Mack now.

Saturday.

Well my sister came down on Saturday with the boys. Mack had soccer out in Spruce Grove and so I took him out there. Then we stopped at the MWTC for M&M meatshop for supper. Then came home, my mom, uncle, Amanda, R were all ready here. We threw in supper...visited. Ate, then Fabe's parents and sister came. My sister, Amanda and I ran out to the new Walmart...which I have decided I am NOT shopping at EVER again...45 mins in check out lines. Although we did get a car audio stero for the trailer (its only a tape player currently) so we bought a CD player for it...and bought some other junk. But really, it is NOTHING great at all! Then, we went to Sobeys. My sister and I bought some groceries for the ever-fading away Amanda (who is now close to 90 pounds!!!!!!) She was small before, but 115pds and now is close to 90 pounds! Scary!!! She can't keep ANYTHING down...poor girl...she is getting a tummy. I freaked everyone out with putting an idea in her head that maybe its twins. 3 months pregnant...sooooo soooo sick. And a tummy! Hmmmmm...she would die.

So everything was nice. Visited lots.

Today, Sunday. I made my sister breakfast. Fabe is working today. Made my sister a healthy (ww) breakfast...lol. Then my mom came over with coffee. We hung out (mom, sister and I) in the livingroom. Chatting. Then my mom and sister went and took Braeden to Toys R Us. Matthew is here with me now. Kennedy is in the bath. Mack in his room. We are heading to Chuckie Cheese for my friends sons birthday. I am taking the boys.

I have grocery shopping for lunch stuff tonight. Monday I have a meeting at 9am so I can't even go in late.

Well I gotta go get ready!

Tara

Bitch FEST!!!!

*********WARNING******
The post below are a side of me, who you may not have seen before.

I'm in a veeerrrrrrry bad mood.

Now that thats off my chest...

Hello :)

Got a call from the VP at Macks school today. His friends were throwing food in the lunch room. They boys said, we're going to throw it into your hair...(hahah) and they (girls) said 'if you do, we will tell on you'...boys kept throwing it and got caught. The lunch room lady gave them all crap, but the girls got their way out of it, because my son told them that if they tell, they will be tattletails. So, they got out of it...and my son gets DT...until HIS behavior stops. Nice.
I hate that fricken school. I hated it last year, and I hate it again this year. I NEED to get my kids out of there...he called my son a bully for calling a girl a tattletail. Do you know HOW many times a day kids call each other that? Sure, he shouldn't say anything to them. I told him, to stay out of it. And to try to stop them...but I'm sorry. No one was getting hurt. He didn't threaten them, he didn't swear to them. He called them a very immature name...so I expect that anytime a child calls him a name...(like the brat that called him a 'fattie') that they will get DT's. Because if you can't call them names, then EVERYONE should get DT's. Had he called the girls ugly or fat or called them a loser...sure I would be pissed off. But a 'tattletail' are you seriously WASTING my time at work calling me on this? Are you for real????? I'm so glad that my son is D.O.N.E there next year (and I made sure to tell the VP that!) and I'm sooooo getting Kennedy the HELL out of there. They are a horrible school. They DO NOTHING for those kids. NO field trips. Nothing. No fun. No playing tag allowed. No running in the sand. If you forget your agenda...a DT. If you do this...you get that. Its like a mini-boot camp. I HAAATE it there. And I will be sooooo happy in June to be sooooooo DONE with that fricken school. All of those old teachers can sit back and do nothing all day long for those kids...but MY kids won't be there anymore after this year......

I NEED TO get out of here!!!!!

I understand that there will be teachers who I don't like. Fine. But a VP who constantly gets my son in crap for this and that...normal things. Last year, Mack was playing soccer. His friends called him over, look what we have. A lighter. He went back to playing soccer (not getting involved...or so he thought!) he gets called down to the office. HE gets 6 DTS (the same as the boys playing with the lighter!!!) because he didn't tell a teacher on them. I dont know about you guys, but I'm sorry....being the 'rat' or 'nark' of the group....there are WAAAAY more implications. He would be ASKING to be bulllied (being called a tattletail!!!) SURE, he *should* have told on them...I agreed. He got in trouble at home too. But my God...he is better off just doing the crime being the punishment is the same.

Even my sister, a VP agrees that it was MUCH to harsh.

This is the SAME (asshole) VP who asked Mack "Does your dad even drive?"

I think he is racist.

Plain and Simple.

It hurts.

It does hurt me when others intentionally try to hurt others. These are mothers for crying outloud. Makes me wonder if they SERIOUSLY have NOTHING else to do with their time all day long..are their lives SERIOUSLY that lame that they have to cause others greif??? They should be ashamed of themselves for acting like immature little brats. GROW THE HELL UP!

Thursday.

Hello! Its 8pm and I just am sitting down to catch up on some pics. Today I worked only until 2pm. Then I went to south common and got some maternity clothes for Amanda (read about her below) must be nice to buy an XS MATERNITY clothes! Wow. Anyhow, their clothes are soooo cute, omg! So I did that. Then, I went to check out the new Walmart however I did a U-turn when I saw the traffic all trying to get into the parking lot...so I went to Zellers at MWTC instead....I bought our bedding!!!! Yeah, here we have a beautiful bedroom suite with horrible bedding...so we did it. We bought some new stuff...and its sooooo nice! Its chocolate brown and white....very very nice! Its Alfred Sung (not that I care about brands) but its pretty stylish!!!! So Fabe and I put that on the bed and it looks so nice. He is out right now to try to find curtains...finally I can add accessories to make it finished in there...I hate things half done. I need it done-done. So I did that...Fabe and I just went for my evening walk...he came with me. We just chatted and talked about houses as we walked. It was nice. Now he is getting curtains I am showering the kids. I'm exicted to get into my new bed...new pillows even!!! OOoooooOOO!

Well, check out the pics I updated....

And I am very happy as its Frrrrriday tomorrow!

Tara

I shouldn't even admit this.....

The pile of expired, yukcy, non-liked food that was donated, thrown out or taken to work...

After: The pantry usually is pretty organzied however now everything in here is still that we will eat...its not expired or wasted...

But I cleaned the panty out the other night. And well, it was so sad to see the amount of food we wasted! Horrible. Now I did sort out what I can dump into the foodbank bin. As well, since Amanda is pregnant (my foster sister, she lived with us since she was 4 years old for

12 years!) she is almost 19 and pregnant. She is very broke....so I put aside alot of food for her to take home when she is over on Saturday! But yeah....still lots had expired...just a waste!

Wheres the SNOW????

Not that I really am complaining because I hate winter! But the kids are dying for snow!!!

Ski Season!

We bought the children ski equipment and passes already, so they are ready to go!!!! We just need snow!!!!!They will go into lessons again and then they will be ready for our annual Jasper ski trip!

Shioh.

After having one horrible hamster experience...we have another hamster. Shiloh, was R's hamster. But she didn't like him. She was scared of him. So, I took him for the daycare pet. Well after bringing him home on weekends, I feel in love with him. So he doesn't go to the daycare much anymore, and actually since we had him at the daycare a parent got their daughter a gerbil. But they hated the gerbil. So they brought the gerbil into the daycare for us to keep. So now we keep Shiloh at home. Fabe isn't much into him. But he doesn't complain too much about him. I just make sure that his cage is cleaned a few times a week so that he doesn't smell. There are SO many hamster toys to buy too! We bring him out every night to be held and give him a run in the ball. Bandit goes crazzzzzy but we just make sure that he is out of Bandits reach!!!! Anyhow he is really cute!!!!

Small Reno around home...

The rec room :)

Our little fireplace...this thing totally pumps out good heat!!!!! Its perfect for the basement!

Bandit walking all over the new couch as we were trying to find a place for it, can you spot me in the picture???

The color against white. It is such a nice color. I love it!

Anyhow looking for a nice boys color, this is it!!!!!!

The red chair that I bought from Ikea. It looks really good against the grey walls...I just love the color!!!!

The upstair bathroom. I have since bought a nice thick Ikea red bath mat...but other then that...it goes well. I did leave this wall beige as I didn't want it to be too overwhelming!

Love the color!

So nice!

It was a while ago now, but I painted one weekend when the kids were with my mom. I painted the main bathroom upstairs in a red color. I loooove it. But it was a real pain in the ass to paint! I'm very happy with the end result!

Also, I painted Macks new room. Before when R lived here it was a horrible pink color. But I found an industrial grey color...its so nice down there :) I love it! It matches perfectly with his duvet color and accents of red...plus I bought a wonderful red Ikea arm chair for his room. It

looks so nice! I really like it. As of yet, he hasn't moved down there. He wants to (he says) but we haven't had the chance to make the big move yet...then we will be stuck as to what to do with the old room of his....(sigh) one thing to another.

Another thing we did, was get the new basement furniture. Its so nice! It was so cheap! But with a 10 year warranty...we can't complain! The basement is totally different now that we have it. We still don't use the basement either...kinda wasted space. The only thing that we use down there is me, and I use the craft area! But I like it to feel complete tho. I hated having the basement sitting there, being unsed. It kills me not use the space in our house considering there are so many homeless people and people who need homes and here we have a whole basement not being used...horrible.

But our house feels a little better to me. Now we need to work on the painting everywhere else. Ugh. The staircase from jamming our big screen tv up here RUINED the walls in the staircase...

Hello!

Did I miss updating yesturday (opps!)

Anyhow right now I am at work. I am off in like 20 mins but I am already 'off' in my own mind. Tomorrow the new SuperCentre Walmart opens and I can't wait to see it!!!!Yesturday (monday) I was totally tired after work. And COLD! But I still was able to take Bandit for a nice big walk...I was FREEZING when I got home though! But it was worth it. Today I weighed in, 2 days early. And I was only down .8 but due to the 'time of the month' and not walking all last week I wasn't expecting a big loss! Next Tuesday I expect a bigger amount :) I feel super good eating so well. It is crazy to not stick to it forever, really.

Work has been really well lately. We are nearing our accreditation date fast...we have by Dec.30th to book our 2-day site visit. So we will be having it sometime in January. I pray to God we are approved. Everyone will get rasises and my life will be almost stress free from worrying about it this so much (and ALL of the work going into it). The licensing officers say that we are at the same level, so we will see. They can't see why we wouldn't get approved. Sounds good! Other then that, not too much new. My poor sister's nanny is looking for antoher job. My sister lives on an acreage and the nanny wants to live in the city where she can babysit and houseclean in the evenings and make more money. Sucky for my sister...mid-school year. She is a vice principal so its not like she is able to just not go to work...they will get another foregin nanny hopefully in time. My sister and the kids are coming down this weekend. On Saturday we are having one big family birthday party. Its Amandas (pregnant old foster girl for 11 years) and R's birthday, my uncles birthday and OUR sons 11th party...at my house on Saturday everyone is coming over. Its going to be great! Sunday, we have a b-day party to go to. Then on Monday my sister is leaving and my meeting for accreditation is for Monday morning...crazy! It will be nice, my sis is coming down with just the kids. And Fabe is working, so it will be her and I and our kids. That will be nice :o)

What else? Kennedy has gained a HUGE amount of weight in the past 5-6 months...she gained like 8 pounds! Its GREAT!!!! But the dr's are sure its actual weight or height..that girl is TALL!

Tomorrow is Macks' soccer, Kennedy's gymnastics. Busy! I drop him off, drop her off, go get him, go get her. Blah. But at least its all over with one night during the week rather then two. Soccer games are on Saturdays every week.

Hmmmmm, we had a scare with Bandit. On Sunday he puked up a NASTY blob of 'something'. It looked like worms. Then today we took a stool sample to the vet...it was negative. So it must have been string that he ate...DUMB dog!

Well the boss is here. I better go.

TTYL

Tara

Hello :o)

Hi! Do I still have readers? Or has everyone given up on me? Heeeellllloooooooooooo?

I know that it has ONLY been for-ever! But what-ever I 'm here. Still.

Whats new with me? Well as you may recall..last year. About this time, I was actively doing WW. And really taking off the weight. Well I joined again! In my first week I lost 6.2 pounds!This week, I weigh in on Tuesday but I am thinking its going to be pretty good! I'm hoping I REALLY stick to it this time (again).

We got our new bedroom suite and its beautiful!!! Our room looks a world of a difference! Finally, its so pretty!

This weekend Fabe and I totally cleaned the bedroom. Got rid of total books, bedframe, etc...just soooooo clean in there. We NEED new bedding now and we are done in there...I'm so happy we got the basement spotless and set up. Now our bedroom. As well, today I organized the kitchen cupboards and everything. Things are looking up in our house!!!!

Work is work.

The kids are doing great! They LOVED Halloween this year. IT was so nice having nice weather. We had our Godson with us, and he loved Trick or Treating!

Anyhow, gotta shower the kids!

Tara

I'm still here.

I Tara, (right hand up) swear to be true to blogging from here on in. I swear to update at least 1 in 2 days and post pictures on a more regular basis.

Thursday.

I'd be calling in sick tomorrow if it wasn't for my boss right-about-now. One staff is soooooo unhappy. Not with the job, with her whole freakin life. So QUIT then. God, don't keep torturing us all. Anyhow I made a MAJOR change at work today and this one staff was not happy about it. But it had to do with an issue that she kept on complaining about. So I 'fixed' it. Its not even an option anymore. Done. Done. Done....

The day was GREAT until this issue arised. I dealt with it. And done.

So anyhow.

Tonight the kids have the community league thing. I will take Bandit to the dog park while they are there. Tomorrow, I can't wait!!!! Friday! After a week like this, I think about taking the easy way out and quitting. But I'm not like that. I told my boss I will be here to get them accredited then go from there. And from there will either be a reduced week of work or something....next summer I AM only working 2-3 days a week. Thats it! I am NOT wasting the whole summer working. I enjoy working. And I work to enjoy it. I don't want it to become 'work' or stressful. That is why I do not work in the social work field anymore...and my job was doing great for me. I expect some stresses...but not day after day of them...God.

Well I want to turn on Dr. Phil and get the kitchen ready for yummy mushroom soup meatballs and rice :) This is the children's favorite meal :)

Tara

Wednesday already!!

Yeah and WOW the week is flying by!!! Gotta love short weeks.

Today was kinda stressful at work. The staff are acting worse then the 55 kids we have there! Ugh, some days I picture myself saying "I'm DONE with you all...bye!" and walking out with a BIG smile on my face. But, tomorrow will be a better day and I won't think those nasty thoughts!

Tonight Kennedy had gymnastics. The kids are sleeping down in Macks new room (well he hasn't moved down there yet). So I guess it is still the spare room, really. Mack is trying to get use to it down there before he decides and before we move his stuff down there. I don't care either way. It is kinda scary having him down there though!

Tuesday Fabe was gone all day to the lake. Trailer is out there. He brought back the kid's quads for tune up and oil changes. So thats good. He is thinking about taking them out to Bruiderheim on the weekend for quadding for the day. That will be nice for them. I had supper waiting for him when he got home..we had yummy BBQ'd chicken, french bread and spinach dip, pasta and veggies. While doing that, I put my roast and potatoes and carrots in to the slow cooker pot and put it in the fridge for the morning to turn on. This morning I turned it on and when we got home...the house smelled so good. Tomorrow we have cream of mushroom soup meatballs and rice for supper. I love when its pretty much prepared. Makes it SO much easier! Tomorrow is early day...yeah for me :) The kids are going to the community league once-a-month club. They play games and whatever for 1.5 hours. And its only 1.00! I will drop them off then run to Micheals...I dont know what for exactly...but I have 2 40% off coupons that I NEED to use!!!!I hate scrapbooking now...so we'll see ;)

Friday, no plans thus far. And Fabe is off this weekend...so we shall see what comes of it.

Have a great day!

Monday.

Today was another great day! I finished up the house with a final cleaning...it looks very nice. Perfect timing as my mom came here with the kids...Mack checked out the house and said "Is this the same house?" LMAO!

We have to start working on our room now as the bedroom suite will be here soon...tomorrow Fabe and his brother are taking the trailer out to the lake. Gonna be weird not having it on the driveway. We NEED to find a place close to Edmonton to camp it for the summer so that we can commute back and forth to work while enjoying camping afterwork. The trailer looks great now that I did my own mini-version of 'flip this trailer'. Its an old Award trailer. Nothing special thats forsure. Its a great set up and it was a upper-model trailer. Well built and everything. We can't justify paying for a brand new one (200.00 a month) when Fabians work schedule is sucky and we don't use our existing paid off trailer enough now. Plus, with the cabin we won't really need a trailer too much. But it is nice to have anyhow. So thats what he is doing tomorrow, while I am working. We don't have much plans for this week. Nothing exciting anyhow. Kennedy has gymnastics and thats about it on Wednesday. Mack starts soccer next week.

Tomororw I will have to go grocery shopping as lunches tomorrow will be not prepared. I usually buy all of my fruits and veggies for the week. Then I prepare it in ziplocks for the week so the children can grab a bag after school and in the mornings for lunches its very easy to prepare.

Well, I should go. The children are going their homework. They both needs baths and showers. I have to wash their clothing from Fort Mac. And prepare for the upcoming week.

Have a great week everyone :)

Tara

A wonderful Sunday!!!

Yeah, no work tomorrow!

Today was a great day! I didn't sleep in very late (8:30am) the Brick called to tell me they will be here between noon and 2pm. I took off the tape from painting in the bathroom and Macks new room. Looks lovely! Then I did the finishing touches and cleaned the bathroom (Painting is SUCH a mess!). Then, I went to vote. My boss, who is east Indian had asked me to vote for this lady. So I told her fine, every vote counts. But today the time came to vote, I went to the Acca Centre on 91street and immediately seen that this is clearly an ALL East Indian event! Omg, so I called her on her cell and we laughed about me being the only white person..haha. But I did it. And I was the ONLY white person. LMAO!!!!! I was about to have an anxiety attack and run out of the emergency door exit. It was soooooo traumatic..seriously! I told her she owes me BIG!!!! Then, I went to Ikea to find some red accessories for the newly painted red bathroom. I found a nice bathmat, big red flowers and some other stuff. But my BEST find was a red chair. ( I will add pics tomorrow!) Its a comfy adult chair. Its soooo modern and contemporary. So nice. It will be a great contrast to the dark grey in Macks new room. His room will be dark grey, suttle black hues and a bright red for contrast. It will look great! I love the chair!!!

Oh yeah, my furniture came. Wow, its a great deal!!!!! So I bought an area rug (already!) for it down there, some lamps, candles, more accessories, comfy toss blankets and some other little things. I hung up the pictures down there. Its so comfy now! Pics will be here tomorrow! So thats all done. We need to get Macks new room in order before starting to move anyting down there. Thankfully his bed is down there already and one dresser but we will move the other down there...it will be an easy move.

Then, I went to Micheals as I had a 50% coupon to use up...can't let it go without using it! So I bought a (excuse my horrible spelling)...decoupage (?) set. And some plates, little cardboard stuff. I want to make a place for the kitchen with our family pic in it, for displaying up high on top of the cupboards. Also, I bought some canvas sheets. For Macks new room I used the dark grey paint and my red bathroom paint and didn't big lines on the canvas to hang up on his wall...to 'blend' the colors together.

I was busy this weekend, huh?

Macks soccer coach called. He made tier 2-3 for soccer...1 being the best and 7 the worst. So he didn't do bad at all. He will be pleased. I don't care what he makes, as long as he is having fun. Soccer is the same night as gymnastics. So I will drop him off, drop Kennedy off pick him up, pick kennedy up. Good by to my Goodwill shopping days while she is at gymnastics. BUT you know what? I am happy they are both on the same night...means more home time during the week. He has soccer games every Saturday tho...oh well.

We just watched Desperate Housewives on the tv in the basement. Fabe is still down there enjoying the new couches..they are just so comfy!

Well I am going to read in bed, not sure what book. But, I will find something....God knows I only have 50 to pick from :)

Night!

Dinner Party!

This is what we walked into....isn't it beautiful :)

A little bit of Lisa there, but wow...fancy serving dishes and everything!

My friend Lisa invited us over for supper. We didn't think it would be anything fancy. Were we mistaken or what! We had Braxton our Godson with us for the night and brought him along. Thankfully he fell asleep after watching tv...so we didn't have to worry too much about him...

Its our turn to host next time...how can I possibly meet these expectations ???

Family Fall Pics!

The kids and mommy
The kids and daddy

Do I LOOK uncomfortable? Bccause I was...lol!

I like this laying down one. This is the one that I will blow up and frame for the wall. The first one, my boobs were practially falling out!!!

Last year we did family fall pics at the dog park. They turned out so well that I got them blow up and framed for the wall. The pic is by the front entrance of our home. So many have said "who did those?" and when I tell them it was me and just with the timer they are shocked! But this year, didn't turn out as well. I will still get it blown up to a 8x10 and frame it. We never go for family pics, something that we just never seem to have time for. But at least, these are memories! I add them to the kids photo albums as well. Mack didn't want to come but we made him! As my mom use to tell me "sometimes in life there are things that you won't want to do, but you just do them anyhow". He's getting to a very tough age where he likes to hang out with friends (lots of sleepovers!) and while thats all fine with us, he needs to understand that family

comes first and foremost :)