A New Addition

So we have a new member of the family. The babes were playing when E stopped suddenly and dropped to the ground on her belly. "BUG!" she kept screaming - not in a scared way, in an my-head is-going-to-explode way. Max ran over and they watched a little black and brown bug (water bug? small beetle?) crawl around long enough for me to take pictures. The kids just happened to be wearing their matching footie jams, just to kick the cuteness factor of this story up a notch. So thoughtful.

Anyway, they watched the little bug, trying to catch him in a tissue and a jar for a while. He wasn't falling for their tricks, zig zagging in and out of the baseboards. Max figured he didn't want to go back outside and that he should live here with us. Not in a jar, just roaming free around my house. Awesome.

They deemed him a free bug and named him Buster. Ellie checks under the dresser in the living room everyday for Buster. We even convinced Max not to take a spider in the house, because it would eat his new pet. So our new house guest hasn't been so bad, really. We always know where to find him - not in my ear so far - he keeps the kids busy for a while, he's the only bug allowed to live with us and it's kept the begging for a dog at bay.

Welcome to the family Buster, stay under that dresser though, or I'll introduce you to the vacuum.

From Snow Day to Sick Day...

We woke up on Wednesday to a Spring blizzard - because, why not? The whole city was basically shut down, including where Matt works. Snow day for Daddy! The kids were super excited to not only get more snow but to have Daddy home all day too.

It was crazy here, tons of snow and high winds. We couldn't see the building next door from our window. Nuts, right?! That didn't stop the boys from going outside to play. E and I stayed inside like sane people and had a nap, as you do when the noisy boys are gone and there's a blizzard outside.

Max is in there, somewhere.

When the boys got back we had a hot lunch waiting for them, tomato soup and grilled cheese - because a snow practically screams for such a lunch. After lunch we all snuggled together with some stove top popcorn and watched Frozen (for the second time this week).

We exchange these "Man we're lucky" faces all the time. 

Practically a perfect day... until Max fell asleep before dinner. This kid never naps, so we knew something was up. We woke him eventually, he didn't eat and went to bed no problem.

Two hours later he came out of his room crying. He was sick. He and I spent most of the night awake, him sick and me just watching him. The next day was spent in bed alternating between sleeping and being ill. Poor lil gaffer is the saddest when he's not feeling well. E kept pointing to his belly and saying "boo-boo".

How E spent most of the sick day, in her glory.

It hasn't hit the rest of us yet, so hopefully it will leave our house as suddenly as it showed up. Such a promising snow day, at least he had some fun before it all went to pot.

Our Weekend 016

Oops, took a week off. Totally didn't mean to but with Matt being home in the evenings I find things here move a lot more quickly and before you know it, it's bedtime. Or time to watch another episode of whatever we're watching that week. So much more fun to watch new things with someone else. Now I'm not just talking to myself in the dark. 

Anyway, long week of restless babes, evenings were spent relaxing.

Started the weekend off right with a girls night with Katie. Coffee and two different Targets were involved so you know it was good. I didn't get home till way past the littles bedtime (planned that, bedtime sucks) and when I walked in the door, the house was quiet and Matt was looking for a movie for us. Neddless to say, best night ever. There was no way the rest of the weekend could top this. 

I realize how low my standards are.

Saturday was warm enough to make a trip to the Farmer's Market. I really love farmers markets, in an irrational way. If I'm near a veggie stand, I'm content. I'm sure that has a deeper meaning, somehow. Went got there close to lunch time so naturally we searched for food right away. We sat outside on the  second floor deck, overlooking the harbour and ate our breakfast pizza and sipped our hipster-y coffee and then the unbelievable happened. A helicopter flew by, right in front of our little el fresco brunch. The babes lost their minds. We did too though, it was so cool. We spent the rest of our day eating our market haul, including steak from our friend Phil. It caused the whole house to go up in smoke but Matt said it was the best thing he'd ever eaten so, worth it?

Sunday kind of drove itself. We left early in the morning for Dartmouth because Matt wanted to show me this cute little fruit and veggie shop near his new job. We figured since we were in the are, we'd stop at the mall and get some gym clothes for Max (he's starting soccer next month). While Max and I were shopping, Matt and E had some sneaky business to do. When we met back up with them, they had a new phone for me! An iPhone, no less. We ate at the food court, let the kids ride on those money grabber rides that cost way too much and last all of 5 seconds and got a little people watching done. We are totally not mall people. I think I've been there four times in two years. But this was fun, we got what we needed to get, there was no pressure or timeline to follow and the kids loved it. 

First picture with the new phone...

His reaction when I told him he couldn't have the phone.

Once we finally left the mall (I'd forgotten what sunshine looked like) we came home, made tacos and watched the Sword in the Stone. So, bring it weekend. Try and top this one. 

Also, I'm probably going to over post this week to make up for last week. Maybe? Don't hold me to it.

T.G.I.F.

Its Friday, which means absolutely nothing to a SAHM. Well it means absolutely nothing to me. We don't have school or classes or pressing matters to attend to throughout the week, so everyday really bleeds together. I'm lucky if I know what day it is, ever. Regardless, it IS Friday which is exciting for most people.

This has been the WORST week. Ever. Period. No contest. It has drained the life out of me. A random, inexplicable illness has taken hold of my house that makes my kids whiney and unable to hear me. Or they've become possessed. Same difference.

Even though Friday is no different than any other day of the week to us, I'm glad it's here because it means I've survived this week from Hell and can try again on Monday, when Matt gets back. If I'm not shaking in a corner by the time he gets here.

In lighter news, look how cute my demon children were for about a minute.

Working on My Resolutions

So, I haven't been doing great so far with my resolutions. We haven't taken the juicer out of the box yet. I didn't pick up any knitting supplies. And, I've yet to start reading a novel. But, that's because I got two new Nora books and a Diane Keaton memoir, so I really have no other option but to read those first, obviously.

I have, however, been in front of the camera, if only slightly more. I gave the camera to Matt during Max's party so that I could be in a few and kept the the sneaky pictures the kids take of me with the iPad.

and bathroom selfies, naturally.

The most important resolution on my list was getting Max involved in something. I didn't have much luck finding a class or program for him because January is a weird, in between time to sign up for things. But, I found a free library drop in, twice a week and Ellie can go as well. We went to our first one on Saturday, it's only half an hour long and right up the street from out house so it couldn't be more perfect. It's not terribly structured and because it's free, we don't feel bad if we miss a session.
Both babes seemed to really like it, so we'll definitely be going back.

The actual program calls for all of us to sit in a circle, listen to a story and sing kumbaya. Max wasn't having any of that, so we opted to stay in the kids section, with the books and toys and just play. There were tons of kids there, which is what we were looking for. Both babes had fun and willingly left at lunch time because they were hungry. I was fearful there'd be tears when it came time to leave, but little rumbly bellies worked in my favour, this time.

As far as weekly meal planning goes, I'm still working on it. I make a list each monday morning of things I'd like to/think I could make that week, tack the list up on the fridge and cross one off each day. I'd like to get a bit more organized than that but for now, it's working.

One slight problem though, I'm a rotten cook. Only know a handful of decent recipes and we're all a bit bored with dinner time. Pinterest is my usual go-to source for new ideas but lately it's been a bust. Matt got a new Michael Smith cookbook for Christmas, so  might try a few recipes from there.

So almost a month and only a few things crossed off my list, but they were the most important things, so at least I have my priorities straight.

And a couple of random pictures, just 'cause...

Resolutions

With 2013 behind us I'm looking forward to making a few changes in the new year. It's a fresh start and I have big plans. With Matt working away, Ellie not on a proper sleep schedule and family coming to stay from out of town, life was hectic here. No routines were kept, not that I didn't try but it's so easy to slip up once and ruin the whole thing.

So, this is what I plan to do differently in 2014 :

+ Juice every morning - Matt and I got a juicer for Christmas from my Dad and I really want to use it everyday, not just to be healthier. I don't eat breakfast and I'm tired all the time. I'm hoping this will change things.

+ Plan weekly meals - I always struggle every single day at dinner time. I never know what to make or I haven't defrosted anything so it's noodles and butter again. I want to plan cook and freeze meals for the week ahead of time. I feel like this is why Martha has so much time to craft, she only cooks one day a week (or she pays people to cook for her).

+ Play school for Max - Max has one friend outside of his family and he only sees him once every few months. I figure a program or play school would be good for him, make some friends, learn to socialize (and share!) and learn new skills that I can't teach him. I didn't do this last year and I've been beating myself up over it. It's happening this time around.

+ Learn How to do one new thing - I bake moderately well. I have no other discernible skills. I'd like to have at least two things on my list. I'm thinking knitting? Maybe?

+ Read more/ Watch less - This one isn't just for me, Max watches entirely too much T.V. it's ridiculous. He's on his way to learning to read now so he'll be able to read by himself, and I haven't read a full novel since the babes were born. Biographies, essays and short stories I can do. Anything with a long complicated (or even simple) plot with more than one character? I get distracted and don't pick it up again for weeks, then I've forgotten everything I've already read. Fixing that.

+ Be in more pictures with my kids - I have a zillion pictures of the babes (duh) and half as many with Matt and the babes... and maybe a dozen with me. I'm the one behind the camera usually or I don't look presentable enough to be in the picture or a million other excuses. I want to be able to look back at pictures of all of us, even if I don't look my best. Ever since reading this article it's completely changed my outlook. Get ready for more pictures of me, World.

I'm sure I'll add to the list every other day but this is it for now, I figure since they are pretty simple I should be able to do at least half for at least a couple of months. Baby Steps. I don't have big expectations but at least I made a list this year so that's progress.

Have any New Years resolutions of your own?

Good start. 

On Old Souls

There are generally two types of old men,  the loveable, friendly, grandfather-to-all types (like my pops) and their ornery, cantankerous counterparts. I fall into the second category. Yes. I know, I'm not that old, nor am I a man, but hear me out (read me out?). My personality would tell a different story.

How I feel, most days...

While the grandfatherly type can usually be found on a bench -wherever there are benches, because they will always find them- mingling with other like minded gentlemen, the second type... my people... are on their own bench, complaining. How is it that every bench that has ever been, since the invention of benches, has had an elderly man on it, at all times? Oh, and they're usually complaining about my favourite things, in no particular order:

+ the weather

+ today's youth

+ their health

I'm not sour all day, everyday, but it's not unlikely either. Matt is the complete opposite, sunshine and rainbows to balance me out, it's why we work. When he's in the mean reds, I'm chipper and upbeat, almost alarmingly so. But, this works for me, being an old soul, happily unhip, tea drinking, untrusting anything new or novel. 

I will forever befriend the elderly man in my closest vicinity, it's like a habit at this point. We are kindred spirits, those grumps and I. And, once I'm as physically old as my demeanour, you will be able to find me on the bench, with the others.

Parade of Lights

You'll just have to take my word for it, it was beautiful. I have no pictures, not a single one, because my phone died while I was on the bus. But, I'll get to that in a moment.

Every year, the Chronicle Herald puts on a Christmas Parade of Lights in downtown Halifax, it's big and beautiful and signals the HRM that, yes, it's okay to start decorating/shopping for Christmas. Yes, local businesses, put out all of your Christmas loot (if they haven't already) and blast Jingle Bells non-stop until January 1st. So, that happened last night, I decided to take the littles on my own because Matt was working away. I didn't want them to miss out on ringing in the Christmas spirit! We took the bus (my favourite) which was uneventful, made it downtown, grabbed some food and ate it picnic style while we waited.

My sister in law joined us once the parade started and it was nice to have company, then I tried to take a few pictures, my phone was dead. D E A D. I was downtown, in a crowd, with no phone. If Beth hadn't been there, I may have thrown up. But, she had hers (because who doesn't carry a phone anymore?) and so that was reassuring enough to enjoy the rest of the parade.

The bus home was easy, walk five minutes to the terminal, get on, get off right outside my front door. Super simple, fool proof even. Except, we waited and waited and waited and it never came. Well, maybe it did, but everyone in Dartmouth had come out for the parade and so Metro Transit authority thought it best to shuttle them all back home first, turning my super simple bus into a Dartmouth ferry bus. Twice. After an hour, and with no one left at the terminal except us and the homeless, I took a different bus, it was supposed to take me close to home, the driver would call us a cab and we wouldn't get kidnapped. Basically. It was also 9:30 at this point.

On the new bus, we had the pleasure of sitting next to a inebriated, older gentleman who was having a hard time keeping his Saturday night celebrations down. Fun. Then the bus driver tells me, "Lady with the kids that needs a cab...get out here, I'll call one." She lets us out in a terrible neighbourhood, and either never called a cab OR the cab just didn't show up. I waited half an hour either way. So I walked home, with the littles, at 10 p.m. in a bad neighbourhood.

I don't want to seem like I'm complaining but, come on. What have I done in my life that the universe had turned on me like that? We made it home, littles fell asleep in the stroller on the walk, we weren't  kidnapped, so not a terrible night. Just not a very good one.

Twinsies

So, I usually hate it when I see twins dressed alike, it's always tacky rompers that the Mom couldn't resist buying two of. For whatever reason, I don't have those impulses. You will never see my kids in coordinating lederhosen. But, it's totally OK if the kids aren't twins, and its a classic outfit like, jeans and stripes, right?

It was kind of an accident, at least that's my story.