The Old Soul

Big Daddy and I have always said that Joseph has an old soul. It shines through his eyes, he has this wisdom.

He also comes out with these things... I tell ya.

Yesterday morning I said "Joseph, what are you doing"
Joseph: "Just putting on my briefs"
Trent pipes in: "BRIEFS dude those are boxers"
Joseph: "yes, underpants"

i mean what kid dosen't say gotch, undies, gontch.... but briefs. Next thing I know he will be wearing "Slacks" and sitting on a "Chesterfield"

It's really happened

I know i've kinda put the blogging thing on the back burner for awhile. Three kids might do that to a person. Oh well, you'll get over it.

Yesterday I went on my first field trip with Joseph's class this year. His field trips and my availabilty just haven't matched up yet. But this was a whole day field trip out to Blackstrap to do some hiking, nature learning, fire-pit lunching and some *gag & shiver* snake holding...and NOT by me I might add.

It's 0900 and we are ready and loading on to the bus and there is Joseph, who by the way now goes by "Joey" to his uber-cool buds, on the bus with these previously mentioned uber-cool buds and there is no spot for me on the seat next to him. What the heck! How did THAT happen. Last year it was all "hey mom sit here!"

I guess 8.5 is when you become too cool for your Mom *sob* I guess I should just be thankful that at the end of the day after our long walk back up the hill (and oh did I feel the burn) we all loaded on the bus and it was about to pull away and Joseph popped his head up and made sure I was actually ON the bus. Is it 15/16 when they hope the bus has left Mom behind or better yet run her over?

Life in the 3-K world

Well here we are and fall is knocking at our door...well she knocked, I tried to not let her in but she prevailed and is here anyways. Or is it? Is it really considered 'fall' if the leaves haven't changed colour yet and my flowers haven't died? hmmm that's a ponderment in itself for those who have nothing better to do with their time.

Anyways, much to my dismay, September is here, school has once again started and life is gearing up for our fall and winter activities. Will I have ANY free time? Hmmm so far I think not. I am very thankful that we plan on doing some ferocious vacationing this winter. Especially because our summer was frightfully crappy weather wise. There were not very many hot days and one could have lived without central air condition if they had to. *Note to Big Daddy: I said COULD have, not that you SHOULD have*

Joseph is in grade 3 this year and Trent started Kindergarten. I remember back to when Joseph started Kindergarten I was sooo worried he wasn't ready and was terrified of all hell breaking loose. But he flourished well beyond my wildest imagination and is now in grade 3. GRADE 3 PEOPLE!!! AKK!! I remember grade 3. I think that was the first time I got sent to the Principals office. I had pants-ed someone. Ohy, grade 3. Joseph is wickedly humerous still and wildly smart. Last year I will admit in grade 2 he didn't get much academic stimulation so I am very much looking forward to him having to face some challenges and work himself this year.

Trent is in Kindergarten *sob* I thought he was beyond ready, I was ready and I thought he was ready. Well his actions this week are screaming that he was not quite as ready as I thought he was. I remember when Joseph started kindergarten, after about a week I one day dropped him off, went back out to my van and bawled my face off to the point of near hyperventalation. I could not believe how bull by the horns he was being. I think I cried because I wanted him to want me more (and lets face it Trent never slept at that point so some sleep deprevation was added to that mix). I really did I was sad that he was all "See yah Mom" without looking back. Well here we are a few years later and I thought Trent was beyond ready I was prepared. I am about to loose my mind and go back to my van and once again cry to the near point of hyperventalation not because I want him to want me more. I need him to need me less. He doesn't want to go to Kindergarten and that makes me sad. I know once he gets there and gets doing fun things with the kids he's ok. But I want him to want to go. I hope over the next few weeks his zest for it will pick up. I know he'll be fine and I'll be fine but these 6 adjustment weeks are always so much. You think ahhh they aren't going to get me this time and then wham like one of the boxing gloves on WIPEOUT'S sucker punch wall, it gets ya and down you go.

And then there is miss Addie and well at the fine ripe age of two she thinks she is a preschooler. She marches her little self into that school says goodbye to Joseph walks Trent to his classroom and the down the hall to the preschool room she goes. It's a good thing I have been involved in the preschool so long our family is like furniture in there or the teacher would question what the heck was going on. Addie know's no different. For the last two years of her life that is where she wound up every school morning. Can you blame the girl. I can attest though if I walked out the door and left her at the preschool she'd be fine and involve herself in whatever they were all doing. Hmm, too bad they didn't take two year olds.

That sums up life in our home these days. Between the kids, me working evenings and weekends, Big Daddy working weekdays there isn't much room left for much else. I have to look at a picture of Big Daddy once in awhile to remind myself what he looks like. We don't see one another too often, usually in passing...but it's what we do and it works... for now. When it quits working i'll worry.

Let's catch up!

So... I know... I haven't blogged in so long. Most of you have probably given up on even coming here to read all of my intelligence and whit.

Life is busy, kids are busy, work is busy and I love those moments that are so not busy. Those are my favorite times so I try to savor them. There should be a few more of them now that our baseball season is over.

It is very difficult for me to come to terms with the fact that this school year will be over in two days. TWO DAYS! Joseph will be done grade two!!! Didn't I just drop him off at Kindergarten and now he's leaving grade two? Realistically Joseph is ready for grade three. I however, have some apprehention and concern about class placements. I hope it all works out and I have to have faith that at then end of the day what will happen is what is meant to be and will work out for the best. At least I know Joseph will make the best of wherever he winds up.

My bigger apprehention is that my Trenter will be going to Kindergarten this fall. AKK! That terrifies me. Like I said before I dropped Joseph at Kindergarten and he came home from grade two.... what if THAT happens again. Trent is more than ready and he is so open minded about it all. Much moreso than I could have anticipated his personality to be.

And Addie, well...she is Addie. Walking, talking, Sass machine. She is adorable and knows it. She has found this new niche to her life. All of a sudden she has decided that she is Daddy's girl. It saddens me because she was such a Mama's girl for so long. However, on the other hand it thrills me that her and Big Daddy are getting some time to foster their relationship. Plus at 8am on a Sunday all I hear from her crib is "Dad?... Dad?..... DAAAAAD???" Sorry Big Daddy, it isn't me she wants .

Our kids never fail to be whipper snappers and it keeps us in laughter. The other night at the grocery store there was a cart in the middle of the aisle full of reduced priced stuff. It definately wasn't there the day before. There was a woman standing there looking through the stuff. It was stuff like face wash, bandaids, tampons, film, batteries, and other stuff. There were some items that appealed to me so I grabbed them and put them in my basket. We then walked over to the milk and Trent leans over and hisses through is teeth in a great parental quiet yet stern voice. "MOM! That was soooooo rude. You just took a bunch of stuff out of that womans cart! What were you thinking?!"
Any possible response eludes me.

Well, July is going to be crazy and I hope to have a much slower August which will give me the opportunity to spend time with just my kids at the pools and spray parks.
Joseph is also working on learing to ride his two wheeler... Ok people I know he is 7. Better late than never right. He is starting to get the hang of it and I am sure by the end of the summer Trent will want his training wheels off. So hopefully we can get in some family bike rides this year.

Hope you all have a great summer!

Entrepreneurial Views on Inflation

Big Daddy and I value hard work and feel that is something to instill in our children. A value that is often misplaced these days. We have often discussed how we attempt to instill this value in our children. One way we have recently chosen is to teach Joseph that hard work pays off. For Joseph who is learning the value of a dollar, we have chosen that it is time to pay him...an allowance that is. Is it truly the fact that we desire to teach him a valuable life lesson that will stay with him for his life or is it a pure act of selfishness that we desire to no longer listen to him complain that he didn't make the mess when we ask him to clean it up. A bit of both perhaps.

Regardless, he now gets an allowance. Big Daddy and I discussed the monetary side of it and came up with an amount in which we thought was appropriate for Joseph's age and the tasks at hand. A big Five-a-roonie. Plus to a seven year who has never really had money before five bucks a week seems like a pretty sweet pot.

I have to say that our by the rules, responsible child has take to his duties as white takes to rice. At the allotted time each night he heads down to the basement without argument to clean up what mess there is. After a day of all the kids playing down there it some days does resemble as those ToysRUs blew up down there. Without complaint Joseph does his best to pick up and organize all the toys. Thankfully for me, Joseph has obviously intently paid attention over the last seven years and often gets all the toys in the appropriate place and/or bin as decided by... well, me.

I have to say Big Daddy and I have been impressed with Joseph's lack of complaining and his eagerness to get the job done. Two weeks in and still not a peep about how tired he is or how he didn't make the mess. It's a master plan that has lasted approximately 13 days longer than I had anticipated.

However, what Big Daddy and I weren't expecting was for Joseph to be so much his father's child. Yesterday while on a WalMart run Joseph wanted a new Pokemon toy. It was $4.99. I suggested that we can get it instead of his allowance this week. Sure that was a good idea he agreed. As we were walking over to the till to check out his still innocent seven year old face and his wise old eyes looked up at me from my side where he was walking and he said "Mom"
My reply was "Yes Joseph"
Joseph "I really think I should have Seven"
Me "Seven what??"
Joseph "You know my allowance, it should be seven dollars!"
Me "Oh and increase already, why seven?"
Joseph "There are seven days of the week so I should at least get seven dollars."

Flabbergasted I was. I am not even 30 yet (I like that i can still say that) and here I have never asked for a raise in all my life. Yet, here is Joseph, two weeks into his first so called job and asking for raise.

I knew inflation in our city was good, I just didn't think it was THAT good!

Funny Farm

Ok sometimes there are things that happen in our house where laughter is uncontrollable.

Kids just are kids and they say the funniest things.

Tonight overheard at the supper table.

Big Daddy: "Joseph sometimes I still wish I was 7"

Joseph: "Why Dad?"

BD: "Because you didn't have much to worry about and could have a lot of fun"

Joseph: "Ohhh because you can still have fun when your older, it just hurts more!"

Jeeeze. How does he know this???
Must have been the bruise I showed him from skiing.

The Lesser of Two Evils

Lately I try to avoid talking to people. Why? Because the polite ones say stuff like "What's new with you?" And, well, if THAT isn't a fully loaded questions these days I don't know what is.

It seems like a phase where I am tired of explaining all that is in fact new with us. Not that new is bad...I just get tired of telling it over and over. It was like when we bought our townhouse, everyone and their dog stopped by to see our first home purchase...It was so nice to have so many people love us and be proud of us that we had bought our first house. But in the same regard I got so tired of showing people around. You get to the point where you just want to say, I'll sit here with my kids and you go have a look around...just don't look in the closets, Oh wait and ignore the underwear on the kids bedroom floors and if you find any stray dirty diapers while your upstairs could you be a peach and bring it down with you.

Life has changed for us in some pretty big ways as of late.
I have a job.... a new job at the hospital, job. As Joseph would say in code it's the new J-O-B. I have been there for over a month now and yet he still spells J-O-B. That's a story in itself. I guess that's the throw back from asking him to keep it a secret for a few days. 5 weeks later is still in his mind "a few days."

Regardless, I like my new J-O-B its a huge change of pace from daycare. The daycare thing just wasn't healthy for my family...full time daycare that is. My kids suffered in ways my kids should never have to. I read the signs and made some choices. No more full time daycare! It was like the weight of the world has been lifted. I don't think *I* realized how stressed it was making me. Thus started the job hunt. I still have some part time daycare kids who are fantastic, they have great parents and they are great kids who I love having over once in awhile and it is FUN. Which, in my opinion, daycare needs to be. I really enjoy doing the daycare thing part time... do I enjoy the daycare or the kids... the kids really. They make me laugh. I like that it's a change of pace for my kids but it isn't every day all day long. It's like being the fun Aunt, you aren't responsible for them ALL the time so you can feed them fun stuff, do fun things and not worry about doing educational acitivities for a certain time frame each and every day, or worry that your feeding them all the right things. I am not left at the end of each day or week wondering if I did enough to shape them into good people. With part timers, they go home and their parents can worry about that. I just get to colour with them and play connect four and tickle tag.

Making the choice to go back to a J-O-B outside of the house was a long hard decision. Harder than quitting my old J-O-B. It came down to what was best for my family and as much as my not being here some evenings and weekends will be hard, in the long run it is the lesser of two evils. The fact of the matter is that I get to be home all day, every day and can do preschool stuff and grocery shopping, make supper and most importantly to Big Daddy and I, our kids are being cared for by US.

I guess the fact is that the downfall is that Big Daddy and I are once again at a place where our time together is limited. We once again have opposite work schedules. That is hard. I think I really packed that part of my married life away once Big Daddy was finished university. So, to unpack that part of life and almost in a sense re-live it is bizarre. But it is the choice we have made. Paying to send our kids to childcare just isn't for us, right now. Will it ever be, who knows. We just weren't ready to do that right now.

What else is new... Joseph has had to get new glasses because he is growing and is headed off to see an ear, nose, throat specialist about tubes in his ears and a tonsillectomy. Its a scary proposition. But facts need to be faced. We'll go and see what the pro says. He is losing teeth faster than the tooth fairy can collect them. We are on a a corn on the cob hiatus as of right now....

Trent never ceases to be Trent. He had some tough issues going on with my doing full time daycare. Thankfully he is bouncing back and is returning to himself which is so great to see. As much as I as a mother get frustrated with his enthusiasm sometimes, to see him not be so over zealous about everything was even more frustrating. Trent is back to his zesty self and loves life to the fullest. The other day right in front of one of his pals he smooched me and he ran back to his friend and said "you know, I REALLY love my Mom" ~swoon~ He is one smooth talker. I get more compliments from my four year old than I have in all my life.

Addie, what is new with her. I mean she is 16 months old what isn't new with her. She is our baby-girl. She is growing like weed, eating like a horse and FINALLY knows What a kitty cat says. It is really cute. She says "beeeowwwww" I guess we need to work the the mmmm sound. But little miss Addie knows how to say her name, nose, please, thank you, mama, dada, gramma, grampa, papa, jojo (joseph), tey (trent), purple, baby and a variety of other words. She definitely has the gift of gab. If you are on the phone she will proceed to lay herself on the kitchen floor and cry because she thinks that she needs to talk on the phone. Oh dear Lord help us... girls and telephones.

Also, I mean we just wouldn't be who we are if we didn't pack even more stuff in. We are on the hunt. The house hunt. It's be on-going for awhile now but we are in a more serious position now. We had to 'get there' mentally. Ok, I was there Big Daddy wasn't...he's now there. We are moving, when and where is to be determined. It's a scary prospect. But, I just have to have some faith that things will work out as they are supposed to. I know what I want, but what we end up with may be something totally different.

To top it off we are trying to find the time to get the kids to their activities. It's busy, it's fun and we relish in family movie night even more so now.

So, my apologies for being slack on the blog. That's life sometimes... some thing's gotta give. Today, it was my lunch dishes...they are still on the kitchen table because I felt the need to blog. I wonder if they magically rinsed themselves and crawled into the dishwasher???
Ya, I doubt it too.

Stabbed by Santa

Big Daddy and I realize we have hit that age... the age where each year as Christmas approaches we have that discussion where we talk about how this may be the last year where Joseph truly believes in Santa. I think thus far we have lucked out in the fact that no one has spilt the beans to him, such as older cousins, friends or him overhearing adults talking. However, he truly is now at that age where it is pure deduction on his part. I think that comes with age, realization of world size, fact and problem solving skills.

But I was hoping the day would never come. It makes me feel old.

The other day as we were getting our shoes on to go somewhere Joseph looks up at me with his wisdomess eyes, blinks hard like he has something to say and then drops the bomb. His words felt like Santa had stabbed me with a sharp utensil. "Mom, I don't think Santa is real"
AKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CRAP!!! Is this an appropriate time to say something like fuckety fuck! What in God's creation do I say....How do I fix this???

me: "what makes you think that?"
joseph: "Well, I was just thinking about, and I just thought that it isn't real"
me: "where do think all the presents come from??"
Then my so loving and not innocent four year old chimes in.
trent: "Well, Mom, ugh, like YOU buy them!"
me: "I don't have any money, so if you think I buy them your fooling yourself. Plus, Santa only delivers to children who believe"
joseph: with both hands raised in the air palms up "I AM A BELIEVER!"

Yeah right. It is sad. I love them believing in the magic of it all. I know that is coming to and end here, fast and furious.

Again, this is a topic that obviously hit the cutting room floor in all the parenting books and magazines. Why isn't there an instruction manual on how to deal with this. Or the hard fact that as your baby is an infant and toddler your shoving Christmas down their throats with expectations of reactions of pure joy...whereas the truth of the matter is they could give a shit they like to rip up and eat little hunks of brightly coloured wrapping paper and wrap the ribbons around their necks. Then they hit that 3-4 age where they realize what is going on and is PURE joy and magic and their eyes light up when you've hit the nail on the head and fulfilled their Christmas dreams. But the balloon shortly bursts as there are very few true years where your child's heart truly believes in Santa.

A car seat installation I can handle...dealing with the truth about Santa...not so much. Can I swap out the instruction manuals???

I guess it is a whole new world. It is a new challenge to get Joseph to let Trent and Addie to continue believing all in the while trying to teach the true meanings of Christmas and how giving is so much more important than receiving.

May you all have a very wonderful Christmas and because I 'heart' the Jews (even thought
Chanukkah has passed) Happy Chanukkah. May your season be filled with family, friends and joy.

If I only knew

Some days are just plain and simple better than others. Lately, I have had a few pretty downer days. But the best part of it all is that I get to enjoy, or try to enjoy my kids. I think I take way too much for granted. So I thought i'd list 50 things I love about my kids. But 50 just wasn't a big enough number......
I just take for granted how lucky I am to have them to teach me what life is really all about.

1. Their smiles
2. Their laughs
3. The fact that they can bring out the best in me.
4. Their innocence
5. Personalities
6. Whit
7. Sense of humour
8. How they smell after a bath
9. Watching them play
10. Watching them experience something for the very first time.
11. Seeing them grow
12. Watching them create their own friendships
13. Being so proud when they accomplish something, large or small
14. Seeing them be proud of themselves
15. Hugs
16. Kisses
17. Snuggles
18. Holding any one of them while they sleep
19. Whenever they say they want Mommy
20. Watching their eyes light up when Big Daddy gets home
21. Sports
22. How they don't care if their clothes don't match
23. How they each have their own quirks
24. When their quirks are something that stems from Big Daddy or myself
25. Hearing them whisper "good morning Mom"
26. I LOVE YOU!!!! No human can ever hear that enough.
27. When they tell me I look pretty or am wearing something nice
28. Listening to them use their manners
29. Watching them enjoy a meal
30. Watching them experiment with new foods
31. Seeing them take risks
32. Photograph's of them
33. Waving at me from the window, in the pool, from across the gym
34. Christmas concerts
35. When they are parting from me in the morning and they wish me a good day.
36. When they help me
37. The simple fact that they ever have the desire to help me
38. When we all have plastic kids cups at supper and small forks becuase one of the set the table.
39. Watching them love one another
40. Watching them read
41. I love that they all love books
42. Family movie night
43. Singing in the van
44. Dancing in the bedroom before bath time
45. Overhearing them singing O Canada
46. That they always cheer for the team thats winning.
47. Their independance
48. Their hair.
49. Toothless grins
50. The sheer terror of losing a tooth
51. But the sweet rewards of the tooth fairy
52. Christmas through their eyes
53. Their hands
54. Their creativeness
55. Sweet baby breath on my face
56. Pattycake
57. Mom...guess what!
58. Birthdays
59. Their talents
60. That they like vegetables

Make me laugh

I honestly wish I could count how many times a day Joseph earnestly in just being himself makes Big Daddy and I burst out in laughter. As these days pass us by quicker than I'd like, I feel like each day they grown up more and more.

Joseph is having a bit of a bad chapped lip issue right now. They are red and raw and bleeding. Thus, I am using some pretty gross blistex to heal them up for him. Joseph is our child who is so loudly unfond of unpleasant smelling things, feels and tastes. As I put on the blistex and it's medicinal smell for the 18th time I tell Joseph how proud I am of him and his patience with it's very disgustingness. He says "I just face the burn!"

Today while we were mulling around downstairs he says:
"Mom"
me: "what"
joseph: "Horse, starts with the letter H, always has..... always will"
me: "I guess you are correct"
joseph: "Well, except when the horse is a Pony"

Joseph then tells me he's hot and going to get a drink because he's "totally hot"
when he comes back down he says
"Mom, I got a drink of water because I am boiling. And now, I am sweating too because while I was upstairs... I did three push-ups"

You got me there son. I love his quirky sense of humour that very few truly understand. My friend Meg, she gets it. She totally gets it.

Colour blind with love

As long as I have known Big Daddy he has been a manly man. He is the type of guy who doesn't care if his clothes match or if his house is clean and won't eat vegetables because they are too girly. But to share one of his deep dark secrets, Big Daddy has a favorite blanket. Not ONLY does he have a favorite blanket it is pink. OK, let me clarify. I along with most of the world would call it pink. But Big Daddy being the manly man he thinks he is says it's purple. I guess purple isn't quite as girly as pink. But really, lets be realistic and call a spade a spade a light purplish colour is just as girly as pink.

Anyways, this 'blanket' resided on our bed for many years until Big Daddy bought me a duvet. I guess it never dawned on him that in getting a duvet that the pink blanket would become retired. But being the quilt of the God's it is we can't ever get rid of it, so in a closet it resides for occasions when it is needed. Like when someone is riding the couch with illness or a bed gets peed in and the original quilt is in the wash.

Night before last Joseph's bedding needed to be washed. I am not the best at laundry as it is and plus well, I have three kids, I forget stuff. Thus, when bedtime rolled around Joseph's bedding was still in the washing machine. Good thing I have extras! So I made up his bed and yanked out Big Daddy's old tattered pink quilt. When Big Daddy saw his eyes lit up with a sparkle and they were full of love...so much so that I think if it were me and the kids or the pink quilt, the quilt has a good chance of winning. As Joseph got out of the shower, dried off and in his pj's he strolls into his bedroom, spots the pink quilt and does a manly arm pump with a loud "woohoo I get the PINK blanket!". What is it with men and this pink quilt? Joseph was very excited. Big Daddy, not so much. He was quick to inform Joseph that the blanket was purple and not pink. However, Joseph with a disgusted look on his face was just a quick to tell Big Daddy "Dad, I REALLY think you need to learn your colours because this blanket is PINK!" while snuggling down under and absorbing its very being. Big Daddy...defeated by an almost seven year old.

I told Big Daddy that we really should preserve the quilt in good condition that way I can put it in his coffin with him. Oddly, he seemed very pleased with that idea. So in 70 years please don't ask me why Big Daddy has a pink blanket in there with him.

Sweet and not so sweet.

**Sweet**

Once in awhile I get on these kicks to try and be some kind of mother of the year. Thus, I try to teach my kids things. I, however, am not a teacher for a very valid reason. I suck at it. I am ok with that. But, just because I know I am not good at it, doesn't mean I can't teach my kids anything right. So thus we work on 'stuff''. Dependant on the age depends on what we work on. For example currently Trent and I are working on small three letter sight words. One day I am hoping that when I write on the magna-doodle the letters CAT he doesn't say dog.

With Addie due to her costume for Halloween this year I am trying to teach her what a kitty cat says. So about 8,971 times a day I say "Addie, what does a kitty cat say?"...... long pause waiting for her response..... with no avail I then say "meeeeowww" and she immediately says "YUP"
C'mon, who's teaching who here. She doesn't say yup unless she actually means it, so I know she knows. Conniving already isn't' she. Oh and I bet she knows dates too. Just you watch, November 1st once the costume is put away and Halloween is over she'll say "MEOW"

Joseph on the other hand has reached that place where I leave teaching things to him up to the professionals who get paid for it. Because to be honest I sometimes think Joseph might be smarter than me.

**Not so sweet**

Is it wrong to find it condescending when someone other than your spouse calls you 'honey'?
I guess it is different if it is a parent or loved one whom has used terms of endearment with you previously and regularly. But a person you barely know... condescending, right?

Knock Knock, Who's There? An American.

A little update on the bus situation. It's going well, Joseph highly enjoys taking the bus and it has been a huge stress relief for me. It is nice to know that I don't have to wake two napping one year old's and possibly a four year old pile them into the van and go pick up Joseph. It's grand and Joseph loves the freedom.

However, I guess one thing I failed to inform Joseph about is that he actually lives in our house. He is not a guest, this is his home. After we got the bus routine down Joseph walks home from the corner. I unlock the front door in plenty of time so that if I happen to be elbow deep in crap (it's been known to happen) he can just come in. So there I am waiting for him and expecting the door to just fling open. All of a sudden I hear this little *knock knock knock* I go and open the door and he is standing there patiently. Cute. He thought it would be rude to just barge in. I had to tell him, this is your house, barge away my friend.

*********

Last night as I was getting Addie ready for bed the boys were in the kitchen making puzzles on the kitchen floor. I could hear that Trent was getting a little frustrated as the floor sized puzzles are somewhat difficult. Joseph does his best to soothe Trent's soul and encourage him along.

J ~ "Trent, its OK... I just am able to do them because I'm smart. I'm kind of like a dork."

T ~ "Joseph I don't like it when you say dork. It's a bad word."
J ~ "I know, but I am a dork. Like Boyfromclass always bugs me. Sometimes when I am like in the hallway at school he runs up to me and is rude in my face and yells blablabla at me! It's like he's American or something."

The wheels on the bus

For any of you that know us I don't think it is any big secret that Big Daddy and I have been on full effort to get Joseph onto the school bus since Kindergarten. Yes, we have been fighting this battle head on for two full years and well I wasn't ready to let the efforts die quite yet. Oh and I was I say 'we' I mean 'I' but I will say 'we' because Big Daddy once in awhile when I vent to him about said situation will nod his head in agreement.

I think that the most frustrating part of the situation has been that there is a young lady in Joseph's class room that gets the bus home and she lives across the street from us. We are both 'out of area' so why help one and not the other. Ok, I could even maybe a little bit understand if we didn't pay our taxes or perhaps if we weren't involved in the community in which Joseph's goes to school. Big Daddy and I have take the time and effort to heavily embed ourselves in the community and make it our home. We volunteer a lot, participate in community sports and attend as many community events as we can. So, I truly felt that this was a justified stance on my part. Did anyone else see it this way, probably not. But I really didn't care.

This year as our situation arose again, it would be so helpful and gas saving if Joseph could start catching the bus that I insanely follow each day to school and home from school. I pursued new avenues on getting what I wanted. With a very helping hand from a friend who is friends with the appropriate school board officianato I got the call. Bus driver Bob was calling to see when Joseph could start taking the bus and where our pickup/drop off point should be.

I think because I have been pursuing this for so long and it really would help my days I felt like an angel was shining down on us. I mean since when do good things happen to us?
So, Bus driver Bob and I set up our times and the next morning was to be day 1. I was excited and so was Joseph. I think it really helps that Joseph is that much older now and has grown to be that much more independant.

Morning arrives and the kids and I are standing at the bus stop waiting for Bus driver Bob to make his grand appearance. It all went off like a well oiled machine.

Later that night I had to admit what really happened on that corner at 8:whatever o'clock in the morning.
Big Daddy: "how'd the first day on the bus go"
Joseph: "good, I sit with Leon"
Me: "good, the bus pulls up, Joseph gets on...and then *sob* it DRIVES AWAY!!!"
Big Daddy: "well...uhh...isn't that what was supposed to happen?"
Me: "I know! But my baby was on there!!! and it was like he was such a big boy..just driving away"

I know Big Daddy was snickering and I feel so justified in finally getting Joseph onto the bus and I am glad he has his freedom. But I guess I had so many other thoughts about it I didn't realize that I would be so shocked and emotional about it. The bus drove away. Hmm. Who'da thought.

The classics

There are some thing in life which are simply classic. Some books, music.... children's sayings....
This morning as we were eating breakfast getting ready to go register Joseph for grade two *hee hee hooooo, heee hee hoooooo* I am NOT the mother of a grade two student. When the hell did THAT happen?
Anywho, back to breakfast. Trent looks up with toast in hand and giggles "hey Mom!"
me: "what Trent?"
Trent: "I just had a fart in my throat!"...... "and it tasted like toast!"

Ahhh, what a great way to start the day. As for that business about grade two... we'll talk later. I'm a little forclempt about it all right now.

Life's little hang-ups...or hangers.

Recently my boys have seen the new movie Flushed Away Big Daddy actually bought them the DVD so as we all know how kids watch movies...we have seen Flushed Away about 3,679 times.

If your a thorough blog reader of mine you do realize that my two sons find any form of under ware or undies entertaining and amusing. Amusing enough that sometimes they wear Two pairs at one time.

In the movie Flushed Away the boys think the funniest part is when Roddy holds up a pair of women's under ware and sings "and the lady wears big undies"

So, me being the hip Mother I try to be, last night as I was folding laundry I held up a pair of Big Daddy's undies and sang the little tune. The boys enjoyed my first showing and laughed ferociously. I proceeded to do it with each family members undies. The boys can dish but they can't take and each of them got offended when I held up their undies on display. To balance out my act I topped the event off with my own undies...however.... I had no undies left to fold, only a bra. So, I sang it about my bra.

Joseph then busts out laughing. He then says to me "MOM!!! That's not undies!! That's your boobie hanger!"

I don't know much about what happened after that as my medical attention was to Big Daddy. He almost needed rescue breathing after falling off the couch and laughing so hard he couldn't intake air.

Boobie hanger.... only my child would come up with that one.

sign of the times

Once in awhile I get the pleasure of spending some alone time with one of my kids. I miss it, I really do. Joseph and I used to go on "dates" all the time, shopping, mcdonalds, the library...wherever. It used to be him and I on the open road. Now, not so much.

The other day my nephew Devin asked us to come to his championship inline (not online) hockey game. So, when Big Daddy got home from work Joseph and I headed out. After the game we went out for some supper, just him and I. It was fun and was the best date i've been on in months (shh, dont tell Big Daddy). We went to Boston Pizza so Joseph could throw back a few "grape pop rocks" Really, its grape pop poured onto crushed ice. I could make the same thing at home for about $3 cheaper...but hey, it just wouldn't be the same now would it?

It gave us the opportunity to sit and chat. The neat thing about your kids growing up is that the conversation grows along with it. Now that Joseph has completed grade one (*sob*) he has more to talk about than just Star Wars. We can have somewhat of a real conversation. He reads very well and absorbs many things, so we have a lot to talk about. He told me various things that had happened at school this year, and we talked about being done grade one and moving into grade two. We also chatted about what we were going to do on our summer holidays and our vacation we have planned to BC. It was nice to sit and chat, laugh and just spend time with one another.

But low and behold after a few "grape pop rocks" nature tends to call. So here comes a mama-delima. We are at that age where it is almost inappropriate to take him into a ladies washroom nor does he want to go into one. I can't go into the men's, again nor would I want to. Our only option is for Joseph to go it alone. Our table was about 4 away from the bathrooms so I told him where they were and watched him head over.

As we all know the traditional bathroom signs are these:


Joseph looks at one.... and then the other.... and then back at the first one....and then then other.... and then at me. I point which way he needs to go.
When he returns at the table he says to me "what is with the stick people can't they just write 'boys' or 'girls'?" For him reading actual words is so much easier than decifering weird stick people. He inquired as to why the girl had a triangle. "Mom, your a girl and you never wear a triangle"

It was a bit too much to explain to him that there are probably some people this day in age who can't read. I guess I just take it for granted, Joseph too. I hope one day he realizes how lucky he is to be able to read. I feel lucky that he can read. I guess I learnt today that what Joseph learnt in grade one will stay with him forever..... only if the bathrooms are labeled with words.

Sweet Adeline

Each and every day I look at my kids and think "when did they get so big!" I think if you watch closely enough you can literally see them grow!

It is like my life is one of those cameras that watches a plant grow for months on end and then they speed it up to show the growth process in about 3 minutes. I swear that is how my children have grown right before my eyes.

So far this week Joseph has lost his fourth tooth. He is currently without both of his top front teeth. I must admit I always thought kids looked weird without two front teeth. Joseph in my eyes looks as handsome as ever. He is gorgeous without his teeth. Trent this week has glommed on to the word "hilarious" everything in his life these days is "hilarious". Addie, gosh her growth is leaps and bounds. These are honestly the days of babyhood where I love to put them on the floor sit on the couch and just watch them explore. She in, I swear, a few days has gone from full on crawling to getting into a sitting position from crawling, to pulling up, to cruising furniture, to millisecond STANDING!! The girl is not even ten months old yet.
Oh man, I feel faint just typing those words....ten months old.....
It is so beyond surreal. *sigh* I wish I could just press pause some days to absorb all of them just that little bit more.

There are times like tonight when the boys are getting ready for bed with Big Daddy and I have my one on one time with Addie. I bath her and give her a little baby massage and get her jammies on. I feed her while I look deep into her eyes and we snuggle in the rocking chair in the corner of her room while the sun sets around us. When she is done she lays her sweet head on my chest and sighs herself right into me. I feel our hearts connect on a deeper level as I smell her freshly baby washed hair. I close my eyes, breathe her in deeply and listen to her smallness breathing in and out. As I take a deep breath to once again catch the sweet baby smell she so gently lifts her head and belches loudly leaving a stench to waft at me.

I will miss these baby days.

Now THAT'S classy!

Tonight as I was feeding Addie her bedtime eats Joseph hollars from the top of the stairs to me

Joseph -"Hey Mom!!"
me - "what"
*right about now I am fully expecting a goodnight and I love you, since that is pretty normal. Big Daddy bathes the boys and gets them into bed as I am feeding Addie*
J - "I just farted with my armpit!"
me - "good one!" What else should be said???

That's classy. I am glad he conquered that task. One definately wouldn't be a full on boy without knowing to armpit fart.

I wonder if invisible Joseph can do invisible armpit farts?

It was sooo wrong, but it felt sooo good

Finally, Joseph has returned to school. After a week's vacation he wound up at home for another day off with his ear infection. Now that it is all under control he headed back to school yesterday. I got a much needed break from the bickering. It's a good thing Addie can't talk yet and get involved in the arguments or I might have to stick my head in the oven and slam it shut.

However, while the school break was on I did catch a glimpse of what Trent's career path my hold. It was interesting to say the least. Throughout my observation I concluded that I think he will become a supervisor of sorts later in life. Even perhaps a city worker. If the hard working people in your municipality can hold shovels up as well as in our lovely city here, you will know exactly what I am getting at.

It all started in the bedroom. The boys bedroom. We were cleaning the house and I suggested that they should go get dressed and after doing so they should try to make their beds. They quite successfully did both tasks. While they were doing that I was vacuuming Addie's room. I then wanted to clean the bathroom so I suggested to Joseph that he try vacuuming his own room. After a small briefing on how the vacuum works he sprung into action. All the while Trent was perched on the lower bunk bed feet tucked under him (didn't want the vacuum to get them) instructing Joseph on what to do. It sounded somewhat like this:

"Joseph...over here"
"Nope, here, get it here"
"Yah Joseph, over here"
"Go back, go back more" *waves finger around*
"JOSEPH you need to do over here"
"I see dirt over here Joseph...get it... GET IT!!!"
"turn around" *swirls finger in a circle"
"Do it again"
"NOOOOO, over there"

It then was Trent's turn to try his hand at vacuuming. Considering I think the vacuum is taller than he is and weighs approximately the same as he does it was a little more difficult. But they enjoyed themselves.

Later that day when I dropped Joseph off for a play date at his cousins Trent was crying that he wanted to play too. In feeling sorry for him I suggested that I'd let him vacuum some more when we got home. He perked right up and wanted to go home.

If only I can keep this fun for them it will be grand. Maybe next I can coerce them into thinking washing the kitchen floor is fun!! Sponges tied to feet maybe?