Happy Halloween

And the koolest thing is, that really IS our very own jack!!!

(and his seeds were dee-lish-us)

Pumpkinpalooza - Part Two

I warned you!! We really had a fantabulous weekend with terrific fall weather. We didn't care how bad our colds were, how could we not play outside after not seeing the merry sunshine for (what felt like) months.

Did you know how early Halloween deco-RAY-shuns go on sale?? Look what I found at Winners for $6!!

And we raked, cleaned the gardens, played in the leaves, rode our bikes, played driveway hockey, caught ladybugs, walked the dog...we certainly caught up on about a month's worth of playing outside. It was truly glorious.

But then something horrible happened! We aren't quite sure how, but one explanation we received was that she was in the tree with a squirrel and the ghostie scared her and she flew away really fast and crashed into the window. We were then also granted permission to leave her there in case she wants to go back to the tree to see a squirrel.

Anyway, we had a nice dinner and then carved our punkin. I won't show you, it's like Christmas, you'll have to wait, but I love this shot of Daddy and his boys admiring their work.

SevenMemeCauseIamLazy

I have blogbrainblock so am doing the seven thingies meme that everyone in the blogosphere (except moi) has already done. I do have things to say, but tonight I’ll have to be honest and admit to just being plain lazy. One could truly fill a blog almost daily with these Meme thingies. Could be tedious, boring, annoying, nauseating but better than going on & on about the copious amounts of mucous currently flying around our house. (Simply cause you have all been there).

You can thank Mimilou for being a vague tagger. I am doing this cause hers is the most recent that I read.

7 things I want to do before I die:
1. See my grandchildren.
2. More travel.
3. Be mortgage free.
4. Own a basset hound.
5. Make a difference.
6. Get a cleaning lady.
7. Climb Everest. (someone’s gotta say it)

7 things I cannot do:
1. Sing.
2. Sew.
3. Say no to a bag of chips or popcorn.
4. Speak German.
5. Win a lottery.
6. Keep a clean house.
7. Climb Everest.

7 things that attract me to the opposite sex:
(let’s have some fun here, enough with all the polite boring predictable answers)
1. Butt.
2. Can dress himself.
3. Forearms.
4. Six pack abs.
5. Clean hygiene habits.
6. NO facial hair.
7. Money.

7 things that I say most often:
1. No.
2. Please Stop.
3. Don’t touch.
4. We’re gonna be late.
5. What’s the magic word.
6. No. (it really does deserve a double billing)
7. I love you.

7 celebrity crushes:
1. Colin Firth.
2. Harry Connick.
3. Neve Campbell.
4. Brad Pitt (hate what he did to Jennifer, but come on ladies, he is still gorgeous)
5. Robert Redford. (old enough to be my dad but I’d still do him)
6. George Clooney. (Sorry Snoopy, you've been bumped. But I still think you are cute.)
7. Bill Hemmer.

7 people I want to do this: It’s been done by everyone. But just in case you are a lame-ass latebloomer like me, then go ahead. I dare you.

Pumpkinpalooza

It all started October 1 with a trip to the punkin patch.

Where MANY treasures were found and brought home

And then after Thanksgiving, the real decorating began.



And of course all the fun crafts ensued.

My poor fridge

And don't forget the Halloween party at the library where they let the kids eat rocket candies for the very first time "Oooh Mummy! These are deelishus!" and come home with spider hats(terrific Halloween craft btw)

And we aren't done yet....stay tuned!

POP!

That is the sound of me…bursting. With pride. How is it possible that one or two three year old boys can have me literally shaking with excitement about something they do. Not just one thing, many. I’ll use an example. We recently started skating lessons, I would say they were going less than okay. As we approached the third week (30 minute lesson, once/week) all we wanted them to do was try. Just try. Can a 3 year old comprehend how to ‘try your best’. I chatted this up quite a bit the day before and the morning of…in hopes of getting them to at least try. It worked. They did terrific. Sure they fell down, but instead of crying and flopping around on the ice like a dead fish, they got up and tried again. They were actually learning how to skate – alone! (parents sit on sidelines like cheerleaders trying to hide how really nervous they are). And they kept at it for the entire 30 minutes. Was I not just the most proudest mother there? (probably not, but to me in my world I was). THEY DID IT!

I couldn’t get over it. I was so excited I was literally shaking, wanting to burst and explode. All they really did was stand around on their skates and take a few little steps, traversing approx. 4 ½ inches of distance, but it was awesome. Or rather, I was awestruck. I couldn’t stop talking about it as I sat there in the stands, my dad was with me told me to shut-up. That was me, the nauseating and annoying Mommy peeing her pants cause her kids did good. I was so pumped about it I kept talking to myself about it, yes out loud, for the rest of the day.

Then at their next swimming lesson, my little B turned into a fish. I was freaking out, trying to get the teacher to hear me. Hold him! Grab him! Get him! Help him! But what for? The kid just kept on going and going swimming HALF way across to the pool. (Dani – please note – we have been in swimming lessons weekly for over a year – and actually daily from July 1 – Aug 15) and just NOW is he ready for the next level. Again, it was so terrifyingly exhilarating and there I was again, literally bursting at the seams.

When does it end? Will I ever adjust or am I due for a lifetime prescription for valium in order to proceed with this parenting job? Heck, they wanted to learn French so I started teaching them a little. Holy shit! They can learn French and remember it too! Twin A actually has quite the accent and sounds like a bonafide mini-frenchman. Too damn cute when he properly accents his way through “Bonjour Papa”, “Un, deux, trois poissons” and “toute fini”. I am amazed. It really is just getting better and better and there definitely is truth to the ‘teach them while they are young, they are sponges’. Who knew?? I mean, who really knew?? Really!!

Then of course there is the bestest of the best ever when you get a totally unscripted and out of the blue “I love you Mommy, you are special cause you are our Mommy” and the like. Or wait, one more “Don’t worry Mommy, I love you” How can one not be brought down to her knees in tears while literally melting away. I don’t wanna melt away, I want more.

I think one of my intentions to share this is not only to shamelessly brag about my superstars, but as I sit here, type this and shake my head in disbelief at the actual physiological responses my body goes through when I experience such things. Not just emotionally or mentally, but physically ‘bursting’. Do you know what I mean? Am I getting through? I hope I am making sense, and I truly hope that any of you who may read this and are a parent that you also experience such feelings. And then you can pass me the valium, cause we aren’t done yet.

Zed or Zee? (and a little bit of Zen)

So, which one is it? Anyone know? And should we really care? Is it really a Canadian versus American thing? Or something else? Now that my boys are learning ‘stuff’ on a daily basis, every hour, minute and freakin’ second, which one should I be teaching them?

The Leapfrog alphabet fridge magnet thingy says ZED. (purchased in Canada) but that most definitely does NOT rhyme with “…next time won’t you sing with me”. So, when I sing it saying ZEE in order to rhyme with the song, I am getting scolded by twins A & B pointing to the fridge magnets or their Leap Pad clearly stating that ‘they’ say ZED. Everyone sing along now “…next time won’t you sing with Fred” or wait “…next time won’t you sing in bed.” or still “…next time wont’ you sing what I said, until we are dead, cause we all learned to say ZED.”

Sesame Street says ZEE. I grew up with Sesame Street, in fact my father insists that is how and where I gained all of my counting and alphabet abilities. (Thank you Sesame Street for my two university degrees) I like ZEE. I like the way it sounds, fits and feels. I get scorned by other parents when they hear me using ZEE. WTF?????? It is a fucking letter, no matter which way I say it, Zebra will always start with that letter.

I am not correcting my kids, I let them use which ever version they want and any given time. I will never change that, not while they are THREE years old!! Does that make me a horrible parent? I think not. When they sing Old MacDonald and use E-I-E-O-O, I don’t correct them, in fact I sing along with them cause it is just so friggin cute and I know damn well it won’t last forever.

I do use proper words when I speak with them, and correct them occasionally, but they are three. I love how they explore and test drive certain things and use words/sayings like “Of Course”, “Actually”, “Oopsy Daisy” and “This is the bestest piece of cheese ever!” simply because they are copying and learning from us.

I had a zen-like moment this evening. I went back to my weekly yoga class. It was my first class in many months, and I loved it. (Please note I am so NOT a yoga guru. I love my weekly class, never do it at home, just once a week at the gym, that’s it, that’s all. So would you now all please stop getting so confused, that really IS Jennifer Aniston and not me doing yoga on her back deck every morning.) I came home and told my Beloved it felt so good and was one of the bestest yoga classes ever. He looked at me and laughed. I was confused.

At dinner tonight, Thing 1 (a.k.a. twin A) kept saying “This is the bestest sloppy joe ever”; “This is the bestest apple sauce ever” etc…right down to the mini marshmallow he had as a dessert treat. I was L-ingMAO all through dinner saying, “Where did he get that?” Now I know! From me!! How awesome is it that they are so impressionable and literally soak up every single little teensy weensy iota of everything and anything you say, show them, read them, make with them, etc. I am so in love with them these days, especially at how much and how fast they are learning which appear to be at rates only measurable in exponential quantities (and also light speed). I also love the letter ZEE. I wonder if their university professors will ever forgive me. (Hey, that rhymes, like the song.)

George Clooney and peanut butter

This I “needed” to do (as did Dani and Marla). I followed their lead and googled “Nancy needs” and will self-righteously admit that I had a quite a hoot reading my own responses, although still not as funny as Marla.

• Nancy needs to make sure that her Mom understands Nancy's message.


• All Nancy needs is to wolf down a three-thousand calorie dessert and bring the silver spoon back to Miles.


• Nancy needs help.


• Nancy needs witness accounts of rental activity to take action.


• You calculated that Nancy needs 2097 kilocalories per day.


• Nancy needs help choosing snake to breed.


• Nancy needs to know who’ll be doing 8 am mass on the 19th.


• Nancy needs to "bite the bullet" and let her boss know that, as a supervisor, she believes it is her obligation to work with Myra and to provide her with…


• Nancy needs the exact same hardware in both machines for the servers to work together.


• Nancy needs a family who can not only provide her with the nurturing, care and security, but also firm and consistent boundaries.


• It's too dark, however, Nancy needs a flashlight.


• Nancy needs to wake up.


• Nancy needs to learn the facts.


• When speaking to her Mom, Nancy needs to make sure that her Mom understands Nancy’s message.


• Somewhere among the ruins, are the clues Nancy needs to solve the mystery.


• She will need therapy for a long period of time. NANCY NEEDS YOUR HELP.


• Nancy needs no one.


• Is it because of the reality that Nancy needs to remain independent? (how ironic that those two were actually in sequence)


• Nancy" needs to tabulate key statistics for her testimony at the State Capitol in a few days.


• Nancy needs saving by George Clooney and wants to listen to Schubert.


• Our Nancy needs no introduction.


• Nancy needs is a peanut butter sandwich, a box of crayons, and. some paper to be happy.

2 inches

I'm baaaaaaack, a little poorer and we are back in business. Ever think about 2 inches? Been all consuming to me in past 48 hours, ever really think about where and how much a measly 2 inches can make such a difference? How about…

• A man’s unit. (So sorry, just had to get that one outta the way first, and now leaving the rest to your dirty, corrupted imaginations)


• On someone’s waist/hips/thighs – a whole new wardrobe.


• The thickness of a novel, the desire to read it or not.


• To a journalist under a strict space and a time deadline and just no way to edit their column: stress, anxiety and potentially career altering.


• On the height/size of a piece of cake – about 500 calories (see waist/hip note above)


• Sadly, can be the difference between someone drowning or not.


• To a seamstress (and the customer) a big and expensive oops.


• A really little eensy teensy fender bender or a minor accident with injuries.


• A pair of glasses frames, about 20 years. (believe me on this one)


• To a 3 year old, being able to spit toothpaste into the sink or not (sigh), which also applies to little boys learning to stand up to pee like Daddy (another sigh).


• Again, to a child, whether or not permission will be granted to enjoy the rides at the Ex or Disneyworld, etc.


• Again with the kid being able to reach water dispenser on fridge door (yet another sigh).


• To a nose or ears, hopefully plastic surgery.


• Breasts? Being engorged prior to breastfeeding twins or right after.


• Hair – ponytail or not.


• Heels on a woman’s boots, being dressy or ooh la la sexy CFM boots.


• On a tennis bracelet, oh wait, that’s carats, not inches. (one can daydream!)


• On a visa statement, a shitload of debt.


• To a kid, depth to a perfect puddle in which to jump.


• The size of styrofoam poutine container – delicious! (back to waist/hip size)


• But most important at the moment, from a 15” to a 17” monitor, WOW, what a glorious, eye bulging out experience of a difference.

Any others?

Monitor fried, it must've ate too much turkey.
Going shopping (yay!) to buy new one ($$$$ boo).
BBL...

Peanuts Gallery

You are Woodstock!

Which Peanuts Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

OMG this is such great news, my recent funk may yet truly be absolved, simply because I get to be Woodstock. We are huge Peanuts fans in our family, my father and I recently mourning over the discontinuance of the daily strip in our newspaper for the first time in as long as I have been alive. As seen all over blogland, I believe my trail originated at Scrivenings, via Danigirl and also seen at True Blue Semi-Crunchy I did the Peanuts quiz and am SO thrilled I did. Thank you SO much for letting me play.

Things are looking up, my Beloved is finally back from his never-ending worldly travels, family arriving tomorrow (the good in-laws) for the long weekend (Thanksgiving in Canada) and I went OUT tonight and treated myself to a $15 manicure by an adorable little Vietnamese girl named Ann. Oh, and then enjoyed the sport of couch-potatoing while devouring CSI and ER, while devouring party mix and peanut butter cups. (blush)

I am no longer a virgin. I am outing myself for the first time. Since I am feeling playful (and Beloved is sawing some serious logs thanx to jet lag) I have snagged this from Danigirl and will try it. I am a meme virgin and this is my first one, please lemme know how I do, and be gentle with me, virgins are fragile.

[ ] I've run away from home.
[ ] I listen to political music.
[ ] I collect comic books.
[x] I shut others out when I'm sad. (sometimes)
[x] I open up to others easily. (Gets me in trouble more often than I'd like)
[x] I am keeping a secret from the world.
[x] I watch the news.
[ ] I own over 5 rap CDs.
[ ] I own an I-Pod.
[ ] I own something from Hot Topic.
[x] I love Disney movies.
[ ] I am a sucker for hair/eyes.
[ ] I don't kill bugs. (SQUASH THOSE SUCKERS!)
[x] I curse regularly. (and enjoy every time)
[ ] I paid for that cell phone ringtone.
[ ] I have "x"s in my screen name.
[ ] I've slipped out a "lol" in a real conversation.
[ ] I love Spam.
[x] I bake well.
[x] I would wear pajamas to school.
[ ] I own something from Abercrombie.
[x] I have a job. (Oh YES I do.)
[ ] I love Martha Stewart.
[x] I am in love with someone.
[ ] I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.
[ ] I am self conscious.
[x] I like to laugh.
[ ] I smoke a pack a day.
[ ] I loved Go Ask Alice.
[ ] I have cough drops when I'm not sick.
[ ] I can't swallow pills.
[x] I have many scars. (9 knee operations and counting...)
[x] I've been out of this country.
[ ] I believe in ghosts.
[x] I can't sleep if there is a spider in the room.
[x] I am really ticklish.
[x] I see/have seen a therapist.
[ ] I love chocolate.
[ ] I bite my nails.
[x] I am comfortable with being me.
[x] I play computer games/video games when I'm bored.
[x] Gotten lost in your city.
[ ] Saw a shooting star.
[x] Gone out in public in your pajamas.
[x] I have kissed a stranger. (I was drunk, ok? A university student moment I am not most proud of)
[x] Hugged a stranger. (see above)
[x] Been in a fight with the same sex.
[x] Been arrested. (does campus security count? for stealing milk crates to use as shelves in dorm room)
[x] Laughed and had milk/soda come out of your nose.
[x] Pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
[x] Made out in an elevator.
[x] Swore at your parents.
[ ] Kicked a guy where it hurts.
[ ] Been skydiving.
[ ] Been bungee jumping.
[ ] Broken a bone.
[x] Played spin the bottle.
[x] Gotten stitches. (had a clean record until delivering babies from where 7 pound watermelons should not be allowed)
[x] Drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour.
[ ] Bitten someone.
[x] Been to Niagara Falls.
[x] Gotten the chicken pox.
[ ] Crashed into a friend's car.
[ ] Been to Japan.
[x] Ridden in a taxi.
[x] Shoplifted.
[x] Been fired.
[x] Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back. (Many, many times.)
[x] Stole something from your job.
[x] Gone on a blind date. (Truly horrible experience for me)
[ ] Lied to a friend.
[x] Had a crush on a teacher/coach.
[ ] Celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
[x] Been to Europe.
[ ] Slept with a co-worker.
[x] Been married.
[x] Gotten divorced.
[x] Saw someone dying.
[x] Driven over 400 miles in one day.
[x] Been to Canada.(Live here)
[x] Been on a plane.
[ ] Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
[x] Thrown up in a bar.
[x] Eaten sushi.
[ ] Been snowboarding.
[x] Been skiing.
[x] Been ice skating.
[x] Met someone in person from the internet. (Waving!!!)
[ ] Been to a motorcross show.
[x] Gone/Going to college.
[x] Done hard drugs. (how hard is hard???)
[x] Taken painkillers.
[ ] Cheated on someone else.
[ ] Were so bored you took this survey.
[ ] Have a tattoo.

And am adding on my own:

[x] Spent an hour trying to figure out how to add 'read more' link so I wouldn't make this appear to be such a long-winded post and finally gave up.
[x] Hope this doesn't scare anyone away. (the length, not the content)

What a day...my kids have me near being committed to the looney bin and now this...

Jessica & Nick (also here)

and THIS...

Tom & Kate

I can't handle it - Corona take me away...

See how I can focus on the important things in life??

The Falling woman

The Falling woman

This is how I feel these days, kinda like a gerbil in the wheel going round'n'round'n'round; that or constantly banging my head on the wall.

I'll try my best to get back to regular scheduled programming but wondering if I am not having second thoughts about this whole blog thingy.

Till then, play with this...you can click on her and guide her through various directions altering her course of gong deeper and deeper into the abyss with no end in sight. I wish my life was as easy as a few clicks of the mouse to guide me on the path.

I am not a negative person, just having one of those moments. Actually, pretty damn glad I am a woman cause then I can blame everything on hormones, like now.