Let's Get to know... Me better.

Just what you all have been dying for. A chance to get to know me better. ;0)

One thing that doesn't always translate well online is humour. Sometimes it's hard to read between the lines and get the little sly joke that may be in there. Which is probably why I use "lol" so frequently in comments. Some days I feel like I've regressed to a teenage girl stuck in the "valley". Like OMG, gag me with a spoon, like no way. I soooooo did not sound like that blahblahblah many years ago.

Now, of course, those of you who read my posts on How to Torture your Husband know that I possess a slightly warped sense of humour. But what else?

Well, I don't like slapstick but appreciate a sense of the bizarre. I can enjoy a good risque joke but not to the point of over the top vulgarity and especially not when some old man is trying to tell me a risque joke. Blah. I don't like those Jack@ss shows where some guy does stupid tricks.

I especially love British Humour and all other forms of dry wit and sarcasm. The British are famous for it. ;)

So I thought maybe I'd share some of the things that I've discovered online that make me laugh. This video is one of them. Now, I have to warn you it is a little risque so if you are easily offended, please skip this video. If you have a decent sense of humour though, you will find this funny. Still... don't say I didn't warn you. ;)

I won, I won, I won

Imagine to my surprise when I got home Friday to see not one but two parcels having arrived for me. One being a book from Mom Central called Character is the Key by Sara Dimmerman that I am going to do my best to read, learn from and review over the next couple of weeks.

The other being a parcel from none other than Penelope of Penelope's Oasis. Penelope held a one year blogoversary giveaway on her site and I won it. That package arrived on Friday.

What did I win, you ask? Well, I won a pamper yourself package which included

• an invisibelt
• Belli Skin Care Smoothing Body Exfoliator
• Belli Skin Care all day moisturizing lottion
• Victoria Secret delicate detergent wash
• Miss Oops Pedicure in a Bottle
• Burt Bees Lipbalm

So you can imagine my delight when I opened this box up and got a whiff of all the delightful scents inside. I think my husband was almost as excited for me. How sweet is that. So thank you Penelope for your wonderful prize and thanks for spending the money to send it out to me. That, I think touched me most of all, because shipping these days has just gotten so expensive and I was surprised to see how much it cost you to ship out the gift. So thanks again.

To all of you.... Penelope has some lovely giveaways going on her blog right now including a gorgeous apron from Flirty Aprons. So why not enter, you just might win. I did.

Lunch Programs and Budgets

Ever since my daughter learned about the hot lunch program in kindergarten, she's been eagerly anticipating being old enough to participate. Now let's be clear here, the hot lunch I speak of is nothing more than a fundraiser by the PAC, is delivered once a week for $3.50 and consists of either pizza from a local pizza place (Panago) or a hot dog.

So it was with very eager delight that she pulled out the order form from her backpack a scarce 30 seconds after greeting me from her class to show me.

"See, mom, you can do it if you want..... if maybe you had the money, you could do it". I looked down at her eager, hopeful face and was glad I could tell her yes, she could do it. Her face lit up, she clapped her hands and jumped for joy. I laughed to see how happy she was over such a small thing.

What's more though, I could read in her anxious wait for my answer her hesitation, Do we have the money for this? I know that's what is going on through her mind because we have had to stress a lot lately that we can't afford everything that they want to buy or do.

I think that it's a good thing for her to be aware of the limitations that we have with money. I think the key is not to stress her out about it. I don't ever want her to be lying awake worrying that we might not have money for the food on the table, clothes on her back or roof over her head. It's a delicate balance.

I either read somewhere or was told by someone that the key is to talk about is and isn't in our budget versus not having money for that. For example: "Sorry honey, we can't buy that toy because it's not in our budget." I think it's good for her to start to be aware that money doesn't grow on trees, that mommy and daddy have to work to get it and that we only get so much to cover our needs and wants. My MIL says that is what they did with their boys and their boys grew up to be frugal. Which is true. (Although on a side note, I have to say my husband is a bit of a cheap charlie, something which I've been breaking him out of. *wink*)

Still even though I believe it's a good thing, as a mom it does give my heart a little lurch when I see her anxiously waiting to hear whether or not I'm gonna let her buy a $3.50 lunch, hoping against hope that I'm not going to say no.

Top Ten Thursday - My Bucket List

This weeks Top Ten List idea comes from Jennifer at It's a Beauty Filled Life.

If you’d like to play and this is your first time visiting - or your first time playing - here’s what you do:

1. Grab our button, located in the sidebar to the right

2. Choose your Top Ten topic (or use ours!)

3. Write up your list and post it on your blog

4. Visit this week's host andLink up!

Easy peasy, right? Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s play!

I watched the Bucket List sometime ago and found myself enjoying it despite the somewhat sad premise. In case you haven't watched the movie, a Bucket List is a list that one would make of all the things they'd like to accomplish before they kicked the bucket so to speak.

It made me really think about the things that I would want to do if I knew I only had so much time left. Then, of course, it made me think... why would I wait until I had a death sentence before I fulfilled this list?

1. Spend as much time as possible exploring England. I especially would like to visit London, Bath and Brighton. The scenes of so many of Jane Austen's novels.
   
2. Take Singing Lessons and sing in front of an audience, at least once.
3. Take pottery lessons and make as much God awful ugly pottery as I can to leave behind
4. Go with my entire family to someplace really fun like Disneyland and then visit all the famous family type parks throughout the world and just really have a blast with them.
5. I'd like to see the pyramids in Egypt.
6. I'd like to name a star after each one of my children.
7. Visit Prince Edward Island and the fabled home of Anne of Green Gables.
8. I'd like to write a novel and have it published.
9. I'd love to go to a really formal swanky dressed up party, a black tie affair.
10. I'd love to walk the red carpet just once like the movie stars do... maybe to the Oscars.

Phew #'s 9 and 10 were tough. I'm not a real thrill seeker kind of person so my biggest interests really involves self-improvement and travel, travel, travel. But yes, I really would love to walk that red carpet just once.

What about you? Come and play along. Don't forget to grab the button and link up on Jennifer's

It's a Beauty Filled Life page.

And... don't forget to check out my co-hosts pages for their Top Ten Bucket List:

Domestically Challenged

My Messy Paradise

September 21st was World Gratitude Day

Did you know that? I didn't. Guess I should check my email more often because I hadn't even heard of World Gratitude Day before until I got an email from Mom Fuse.

Apparently they had asked 30 well known bloggers from around the web to participate in a 21 day Gratitude Challenge. Apparently, the results were amazing.

I was intrigued because let's face it, who of us doesn't need to have a little more gratitude and appreciation in their life. So I watched the video.



It made me really think about my life and the things I should be grateful for. If you'd like more information visit The Gratitude Challenge. If you feel like participating there is not only a calendar you can download to get you started but there is also a widget so you can put it up on your blog. I think I just may do this for myself and for my family. I need a little more uplifting in my life these days.

A Night on the Town

Well I had a wonderful weekend. You've been in suspense long enough. I won't torture you any more.

My birthday surprise was a little trip to nearby seaside town where we attended a dinner and a play at the village theatre called "The Lady in Black".

We left early in the day on Saturday so we could take our time driving there and stop by all the little nifty shops along the way. I did manage to buy myself a few small things like a adorable little tea bag holder, three adorable little soap snowmen, a cute little piggy nail cleaner and even a wooden snowman ornament. Sigh, it makes me wish for Christmas already.

I knew once we had arrived there what the surprise was. This seaside community was once a struggling little town about to close down completely when the villagers started painting murals all over the buildings in town to entice tourists to their town. Well, they persevered and gradually they made a come back until they are a bustling little town now indeed. The town is so charming it almost doesn't seem like a "real" place. If you know what I mean. The main street is lined with all sorts of gift, crafts and antique shops and wonderful variety of ice cream stores, cafes and restaurants.

In the middle of this they built a lovely theatre, also adorned with murals, whereby they entice the surrounding communities to come by putting on a lovely buffet dinner and a quality production. This is no mere local production. Actual professionals from all over come to put on plays in this small town. It doesn't seat thousands, perhaps only a 100 or so. But it has made it's mark. I know people personally who buy season tickets every year.

The play itself was very well done. It had only two main actors, aside from the Lady in black who had no lines. It was a story about an older gentleman seeking help from an actor to be able to tell the story of an event his past that he had written to his family with some ability and confidence. Throughout the course of the play they take us back into the past life of this gentleman using only a few props and some sound effects.

This is meant to be a somewhat sinister and scary play and considering the small means at their hands, they did actually manage to create suspense and make us jump. It was a rather sad and tragic story. The man as a young solicitor was sent to take care of the affairs of a rather elderly lady who had died. He has to stay in her house which no other would dare step foot in. He has several rather alarming encounters with a Lady in Black who has a wasted away, almost skeleton like face. He's terrified beyond his senses. It eventually comes out that the Lady in Black ghost is the sister of the old lady who died. In her youth she had a child out of wedlock and was forced to give him up to his sister and husband. They would not let her see her child but sparingly and she loved him desperately. There was an accident in which the child died and the mother grieved so much and was stricken with a strange disease that caused her to waste away like a skeleton. She eventually died but she was always angry and swore she'd get her revenge.

The legend of the village was that whenever the Lady in Black appeared a child would soon die. They lived with it for 60 years or so. The solicitor after his experiences was more than happy to get home to his wife. A year later he was married and had a small child. When suddenly he was startled by the appearance of the Lady in Black. Not long after his child died immediately from a tragic accident. His wife, injured, died some time later.

Creepy, no? Of course the best part is that at the end when the actor and the gentleman have finished up acting out the past, the actor congratulates the old gentleman on what a fine job he's done and how did he find some an amazing actress to play the Lady in Black. The old gentleman is visibly affected and says he hired no one and never saw the Lady in Black once while they were acting. dum dum dum...... lights out.

Adapted from a novel written by Canadian author Susan Hill.

We stayed the night in a local hotel that was very nice and then the next day we just stopped off at a fabric store, bought some material to make the girls scarf's etc and then slowly made our way back home.

At my parent's my family was waiting for us and we had small bonfire and roasted hot dogs etc and had cake and fed the kids a ton of candy.

It was a very nice weekend and I didn't worry once about the kids because I knew K had them and I didn't have to stress about who was looking after them and how long I could get away with staying out.

The best part was that I had lots of laughs and giggles with my mom that I haven't had in a long time. It was really, really nice. Quite spoiled me actually cause now I'm back to the regular grind.

Would you think me horrible if I say I didn't miss my kids and husband? ;)

Do girls really just want to have fun?

May be we do, we just don't get to. We get to face reality. The whole "party on dude" mentality of the eighties and nineties has had to make way for the "gotta get it done" mentality of motherhood. Because not only do I have the greys and Aunt Flo visiting this week but I also came down with a nasty cold. Hmmm... no wonder I'm tired and grey.

Do I get to laze around on the couch sipping hot tea and feel sorry for myself? Nooooo. I have to cook, clean, wipe snotty noses and chauffeur kids back and forth to school. Add to that that we are showing our house tomorrow not once but twice. So I've had to get a kick start on cleaning today because I'm going out tomorrow and it would be really mean of me to leave hubby with all of it to do by himself. Although a part of me wants to cause it happens to me like all of the time but... I am basically a nice person. I SAID basically.

That's right. I'm going out. Sans children. Sans husband. Solo. Well maybe not completely solo, I'm going with my mother. My birthday is on Sunday and my mom is taking me out tomorrow... overnight. To do what, I have no idea. It's a surprise. How cool is that? I miss spending time with my mom. We used to do a lot of things together but since I've had kids that time has dwindled down quite a bit and any time we do have involves the kids usually.

It's been a long time since anything like that has been done for me. The last time my mom threw a surprise party for me I spoiled it by showing up early. *LOL*

So I'm very excited and hope that this stupid cold is gone by tomorrow. I do feel somewhat better today so hopefully another good nights sleep will do the trick.

Plus my SIL let slip that we might do a bonfire at her house on Sunday night. Could my mom be keeping me out for almost two whole days? Woo hoo!!!!

Course my husband had to get in there with what if we get an offer on the weekend. Um... they'll have to wait cause ........ It's. My. Birthday. oh yeah.

;0)

So you all have a wonderful weekend. I'll let you know what the surprise was on Monday. Too bad my mom's not a spa gal.... sigh.. ;)

Top Ten Thursday - Top 10 Reasons Why I love Running/Working Out

It's time for another Top Ten Thursday. This week's Top Ten List is brought to you by Sara at Domestically Challenged. So here's a sneak peek, head on over to Sara's blog for more.

Yes, I know I talk about running a lot here. However? I am allowed to do so. Why? Because it is my blog.

Today, I do my TOP TEN list. Topic? TOP TEN REASONS I LOVE RUNNING/WORKING OUT.

10. I love the way my top half stays put while my bottom have shakes up and down.

9. There is always room for improvement. You can always go longer, faster, find a time to beat, ect. I love to challenge myself and running is a great way to do that.

8. What other sport takes you along roads where you can see the beauty of nature on a spring/summer/fall day? I love to look at the beauty around me. I also like to count the amount of roadkill I pass by and try to identify the dung I pass. Berries must’ve been plentiful this year.

If you’d like to play and this is your first time visiting - or your first time playing - here’s what you do:

1. Grab our button, located in the sidebar to the right

2. Choose your Top Ten topic (or use ours!)

3. Write up your list and post it on your blog

4. Visit this week's host andLink up!

Easy peasy, right? Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s play!

A Grey Day and Other Bits of Randomness

It's a grey day. Literally. The sky is grey so outside is pretty grey looking and even my home is grey without lights. I hate having the lights on during the day but our place is just so dreary in semidarkness. Is the summer really over? I think it's well on the way to being fall soon. The demise of another summer.

I am going to miss summer. I love that we can send the kids outside to play and not worry about slippery pants. I love that putting the wading pool out equals a whole afternoon of fun. I really love going camping and spending time just hanging out at the beach. I love my capris. LOVE my capris. I wish I could wear them year round. Yeah, there are those that do but I am not one of those bold fashion setters. Capris are for sandals thank you very much not socks and sneakers. ;)

The thing is at the end of every summer I feel that we haven't done enough, taken advantage of the good weather enough. We didn't take the kids to the beach enough, we didn't go camping enough etc. Of course with the recession everyone is doing staycations this year and the best we could swing was camping for 5 nights and that's because my parents lent us their trailer and my brother lent us his camping spot. Otherwise, when you are self employed it's really hard to get away. There always seems to be some sort of crisis with the staff.

Then we get these grey days and it's hard not to feel the end of summer blues. It's been a big adjustment getting E off to school again and having to start supervising her with homework and organizing her. It's a good thing I was a secretary in another life because I adjusted to it easier than I thought I was going to. When we first got E's day planner I was having a bit of a panic when I saw all that she/we were expected to prepare for. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for those that are not organizationally inclined.

Then I tried to write a little last night on my story and you know I was completely stumped on how to start it off. I'd type out two sentences, delete one. Back and forth. Back and forth. Then I'd think there is no way I have any talent or it wouldn't be this hard. I'm going to have to get back into some writing exercises because I need to just let go and write and then edit later.

I feel tired today. Really bone tired. Of course it doesn't help that Aunt Flo's visiting and I've been struggling with PMS symptoms, physically and mentally for the last three days. That makes me feel a little on the grey side too.

Why do people say they feel blue when they are down. If I was going to pick a colour, I would pick grey. It's just the right colour for feeling down.. don't you think?

I do love fall. My favorite is crisp fall days when the sun is shining and the leaves have changed colours. Going for walks in the woods is always so lovely.

It's annoying that my walking partner never waits for me. I'm always willing to hang around waiting for her when she has to take a little longer but when I had to pick J up from preschool and she knew that's what I was doing, she didn't see me at the meeting spot and left. She always apologizes but it's still annoying.

Why is it that J talks incessantly about preschool yet when we get there she hides behind me and doesn't want to go in?

The good news though is that she talked to the teacher today and even came to me and told me that she talked to the teacher. So even she realizes that the whole not talking to the teacher thing last year was an issue. She's smarter than the average bear, that one.

Why is it that kids always get sick the first week back to school? Are they really all that germy?

Okay, I'm gonna stop now. I sound like a whiny 2 year old. *L* Why Why Why.

It

It's a grey day. Literally. The sky is grey so outside is pretty grey looking and even my home is grey without lights. I hate having the lights on during the day but our place is just so dreary in semidarkness. Is the summer really over? I think it's well on the way to being fall soon. The demise of another summer.

I am going to miss summer. I love that we can send the kids outside to play and not worry about slippery pants. I love that putting the wading pool out equals a whole afternoon of fun. I really love going camping and spending time just hanging out at the beach. I love my capris. LOVE my capris. I wish I could wear them year round. Yeah, there are those that do but I am not one of those bold fashion setters. Capris are for sandals thank you very much not socks and sneakers. ;)

The thing is at the end of every summer I feel that we haven't done enough, taken advantage of the good weather enough. We didn't take the kids to the beach enough, we didn't go camping enough etc. Of course with the recession everyone is doing staycations this year and the best we could swing was camping for 5 nights and that's because my parents lent us their trailer and my brother lent us his camping spot. Otherwise, when you are self employed it's really hard to get away. There always seems to be some sort of crisis with the staff.

Then we get these grey days and it's hard not to feel the end of summer blues. It's been a big adjustment getting E off to school again and having to start supervising her with homework and organizing her. It's a good thing I was a secretary in another life because I adjusted to it easier than I thought I was going to. When we first got E's day planner I was having a bit of a panic when I saw all that she/we were expected to prepare for. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for those that are not organizationally inclined.

Then I tried to write a little last night on my story and you know I was completely stumped on how to start it off. I'd type out two sentences, delete one. Back and forth. Back and forth. Then I'd think there is no way I have any talent or it wouldn't be this hard. I'm going to have to get back into some writing exercises because I need to just let go and write and then edit later.

Fall Fair - Being Poor can be a good thing

So this weekend we went to the fall fair to my husband's old home town. We went last year and really enjoyed it so we decided to go back again. Only this time we took O with us as we had no sitting for him.

We had so much fun. How we do fairs on the Island here, is that we basically take an entire weekend and throw as much as we can into it. There are animal competitions, wood cutting and other woodsman type shows and competitions, contests for the best produce, jams, pies, cakes, jellies, you name it. I swear I have never seen such a large eggplant. Who grows humongous eggplants... here.. on VI? And why w

ould you want to? Blech.

Then there is, of course the midway, where there are all sorts of fun rides and games to play, which is pretty much the best part. Fortunately there were plenty of rides for younger kids to keep the kids entertained.

O loved going on the choo choo and E loved riding in the giant strawberry where we spun around but not too fast and J loved the bumblebee ride. Their first rid

e was a bit tricky though. It was essentially a baby rollercoaster

. A few ups and downs, no more than 7 feet up and some curves and a very short track. Sounds like a breeze right? Wrong. E was up front, J was in the middle and hubby was in the back with O. I have no idea why they wouldn't have sat together.

The rollercoaster starts and off they go, E's hair flying out behind her. Whoa, that goes a little faster than we had expected. Then I see her face... a look of pure terror. Oh no. Of course, I couldn't help but laugh at her expression. The coaster went around 3 times. The guy could tell that they kids didn't like the ride, did he stop? No. Let me clarify that my kids were the ONLY kids on the ride.

They get off the ride, E couldn't get out and down the steps fast enough she threw herself so hard at me she almost knocked me off the feet and before I knew I had li

ttle J planted on me too as they both sobbed. I alternated between patting their backs soothingly and laughing. We just couldn't help it. They looked so funny. So, new rule. Make sure we observe the ride before going on it to make sure they will like it. I wish I had a photo of her face, it was priceless.

The only thing that spoiled the day was that after every ride or every treat, E would pout because we weren't moving on to the next thing fast enough. We all had to stand in a long line to get our tickets. She would stand there and say things like. "I'm not having very much fun" with a pout in her voice etc. I tried so hard to keep my patience and

to say things like.. "I know you have to wait but we all do, let's try and be positive." and tried to make things as positive and upbeat as possible. Even my husband acknowledged what a supreme effort I was making because usually I can't handle this kind of behaviour very long and don't always react well to it. Remember, the strict European Father I have? Well, it's be grateful for what you get kind of mentality that's rubbed off on me. Of course I was probably an ungrateful little brat when I was younger.

I almost cried at one point because it was so frustrating. How do you get through to her that yes, she's still important, what she wants is important too but there are two other kids here that need to have their wants and needs met too. I just don't know how to get that through to her. I know in her little heart she was enjoying herself and did have a great day.

I tried my hardest not to let it be a "No" day. So it was a Yes day but with limits. Yes you can have a cotton candy but only a snack and then you have to eat a good lunch before you scarf down the rest. Yes, you can have a slurpee but first we will do this, this and this. Yes, you can have a candy apple but it has to be taken home with us and eaten after supper. Let's face it, sometimes we say no so much to our kids that when we go out like this that we go the opposite way to crazyville.

You know, sometimes it's not a bad thing to be poor. It forces us to be reasonable. We can't afford to buy them everything (which isn't good for them anyways) and while we splurged on the wrist bands so we could get on as many rides as possible, we did not fork out dollar after dollar to win them the bigger better prizes. They each got to win one small prize. We forked out a whole $5.00 and they each brought a little penguin home. How swe

et is that? While they admired the large purple monkey someone was carrying out of the fair, not one of them pined for it. They liked their little penguin. Although for some reason, E thinks hers is cuter than the other two. There were a lot of people there that probably spent more than they could afford. We don't like living in debt. We are not paragons by any means, we go over our budget frequently but we keep taking those steps back so we can keep our heads above water.

All in all though it was a good day. We all had fun and you know we must have managed it alright because my kids didn't act out last night before bed or even this morning... you know like they do when they come home from where anything goes sleep over night at Nana's. *L*

Yes, mom, you feed them too much candy and let them stay up too late. It's amazing how grandparents lose the word "no" from their vocabularies the minute they meet those little granbabies.

Well, that's my update on the weekend. The showing looked like it

went well. They stayed a half hour so it wasn't a waste of time. Before we'd go crazy cleaning and the people would spend less than 10 minutes in the house. Very disappointing.

J starts preschool tomorrow so it's another big day. It's just gonna be me and O for the whole afternoon 3 days a week. Oh joy, more adjustments, more new schedules. ;)

Where is a maid when you need one?

Well, we are showing the house again today. The good thing is that we have had a lot of showings since we switched realtors but it would be nice if we just got another offer already. Everyone seems to like the house.. no one wants to commit.

So I'm off to resume cleaning. I will be posting about our weekend later on today. :)

Anyone want to help? ;)

I HATE Potty Training!!!

I completely suck at potty training. Or maybe it's that my kids suck at potty training. I don't know. But whoever is at fault here.. it's getting to me. I absolutely 150% cannot stand, abide and positively loathe potty training.

Some say boys are harder, some say girls are harder. I say it all sucks. Basically no matter what I did, the charts, the positive praise, the bribes, I mean treats, the freaking potty dance 100 times a day, in the end (hah) they basically chose what they wanted to do when they wanted to do it.

It doesn't matter what I do, when they want to go on the toilet, they will. I have come to the conclusion that nothing I say or do will change their little evil genius minds. Because hey, they gotta know they are driving mom crazy, right?

But it's when they fool you into thinking they are ready for this big step that really gets me. Oh yes. O has been taking off his diaper for weeks now wanting to sit on the toilet and I'd say 90 percent of the time he's been peeing on the toilet and even having a good ol BM on there too. He LOVES to go on the toilet. Of course, mainly during high stress times like when we're trying to get out the door or when mommy has her hands in raw meat trying to do supper prep.

So we think, okay let's get him pull ups. This will help make it easier to change him and help him learn to pull his pants up etc. So we buy him pullups. They have Disney Cars on them. I told him.. "no go pee pee in your car pants" over and over again we talked about how these were big boy pants and that he needs to go on the toilet etc. This is AFTER he stayed dry the entire 2 1/2 hours we were at the Superstore, AFTER he went pee on the toilet. Literally FIVE minutes after getting the pulls on, he comes and says... "I poo in my car" and giggles.

WTH????!!??!! Okay it is freaking funny but still.

So we have gone on to have this occur many times a day. Only he likes to poop in his pants, pull them down thus smearing the poo all over his legs, then he will sit down on my white bathmat (WHY THE HELL DO I HAVE A WHITE BATHMAT??????) and get poo on that. Then the girls will come and say look mommy you missed the poo over there. Have I mentioned before that I am seriously thinking of renaming my blog The Poop Diaries? Cause you know, poop holds a reocurring theme in this blog it seems.

Or then there is the morning when you hear the girls call out to us... "O took his diaper off and there's poop coming out of his bum" We sprint out of bed to be greeted by poo piles all over the bathroom floor and even some on the hall carpet. What were you doing son, marking your territory? How much poo at one time is normal?

Oh and he will also sit on the toilet with his poop smeared bum, squeeze out one more teeny weeny poop, cause yes he can control it, and then get all excited and want to high five me and ask for a "tweat" cause he went poo on the potty. You don't fool me buster. No, I did not give him the candy. That's right I'm a mean mom.

I have cried, I have begged, I have threatened punishment and pleaded for my wayward son not to take his poopy pants off, to come tell me first so I can help him. But no, being the stubborn 2 year old he is, he has to do it himself. Each time, I have to pause and take a deep breath and tell myself I am not going to freak out cause Mother Teresa I ain't.

It all fits my theory that pull ups are a big scam. Kids don't learn to potty train with them. It just gives us parents a break from cleaning up pee, saves our carpet and our homes from reeking of urine that's all. Cause the minute I put that pull up on him, he still pees in it, then he goes and sits on the toilet. So where is the learning in that? The pull ups are more expensive than diapers and don't hold as much pee so you have to be really on top of their diaper load. So you're not saving money either.

The dream was that O would be potty trained by the end of summer. Oh I had big dreams for the sudden influx of income saved on buying diapers. The plan was to set up the portable potty outside and let him run around naked and go from there. Yes, it sounds great and was a great theory. Only my MIL didn't like it. "Do you realize," she says "that our neighbour can see into our yard? I don't like the idea of someone watching O naked." So I put a long shirt on him to cover his penis but that only lasted so long cause he peed on the slide. No big deal right? Only my Inlaws are germaphobes remember? So I'd have to get out and sanitize everything he peed on so I kind of gave up that idea. Somehow I don't think a spray with the hose was gonna cut it.

Reality is, no matter how frustrated I was with each of the girls, they potty trained when they damn well wanted to. They had to decide they wanted to be dry. Let's face it, we are completely powerless in this.

So while you may have had luck with early potty training with your kids, it probably was because they were just that much more ready for it. Cause seriously, besides watching and tell my kid to go pee every 20 minutes, which I forget to do, hey I'm blogging here... I really don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Do you?

I just have to tell you something hilarious I stumbled across... It's called a Weeminder.. it reminds you kid to go WEE. *LOL* Seriously It's probably a great product, but I can't justify spending $20.00 on a watch for O that he'll use once. Cause hopefully you only have to potty train once..*L*

Top Ten Thursday - At The Movies

I own a video store, actually two video stores and I get asked frequently what are my all time favourite movies. Unfortunately, I almost always draw a complete blank when I get put on the spot like that. Why, because I have what you'd call an eclectic taste in movies. From chick flicks to Crime to Drama, I love it. Yes, the same woman who can appreciate a good and gritty action flick can get all get all soppy and moony over some romantic comedy.

So I'd thought it would be fun to browse around my store and list out my Top Ten Favourite Movies. Keep in mind that these are movies that I could watch over and over again. Well not #4, it was good but not repeatable watching good. Can I get a drumroll please?

My Top Ten Favourite Movies

1. Pride and Prejudice - the A&E six hour version because 6 hours is just not enough Jane Austen.

2. Bridget Jone's Diary - Just a wonderful feel good chick flick and not only Hugh Grant is in it, but also my all time fav hunk, Colin Firth.

3. Australia - Hugh Jackman is in it, need I really say more? Seriously, it's a great action adventure epic style movie set in Australia. Makes me want to travel there.

4. Gran Torino - An amazing Clint Eastwood movie. Gritty and raw.

5. Joe vs. the Volcano - an oldy but a goody with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. Cute and funny.

6. Sliding Doors - Absolutely love this movie. It just cracks me up and makes me cry and feel good all at the same time (and you know how I hate to cry). Plus I'd so love to be Gywneth Paltrow. ;0)

7. Love Song for Bobby Long - An amazing movie starring John Travolta. Never heard of it? I'm not surprised, I think it went straight to video but wow, it's one of those movies you watch not knowing what you are letting yourself in for. It was amazing.

8. The Baker - a British Comedy about a hitman who ends up hiding out in a bakery only to be mistaken by the locals for the real baker so he suddenly has to learn how to... bake. Plus there is this amazing sex scene involving baked goods. (Jennifer, I know you're going to want to check it out ;) Just about rivals 9 1/2 weeks.

9. The Count of Monte Cristo - A great historical type movie. Has action, love and revenge. Hunky actors like Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce.

10. The Stand - A Stephen King movie based on his novel about a super bug that kills off most of the population leaving the survivors to make two camps, the good and the bad. Probably the best depiction of a Stephen King novel that I have ever seen. Very true to the book. It's a little dated now but still great to watch. And one of my other fav hunky men, Gary Sinise is in it. Sigh.. I had a few end of the world fantasies with just me and Gary in it... ;)

There are even a couple more that I could add to this list but hey, I'm supposed to stick to 10.

So, what are your favourite movies?

Why not take a break and play Top Ten Thursday? Grab our button, choose your

Top Ten topic (or use ours!), post it on your blog, and link up!

Be sure to check out my lovely co-hosts and their awesome blogs:

Domestically Challenged

My Messy Paradise

It's Beauty Filled Life

Happy Thursday relaxing!

Did you Get an Award?

Who could resist such a sweet rewards as the You Add Sunshine to My Day as given to me by Teresa at Too Many Heartbeats. A Lovely lady who is suffering with Dysautonomia. Don't know what that is? Go over and check out her page. Because of this illness she spends a lot of time immobile and the internet and blogging is a welcome way to pass the time for her.

The best thing about the You Add Sunshine to My Day award is that there are no rules to follow. You can simply pass it on to anyone and everyone you feel adds sunshine to your day. I love those kind of awards. I'd like to pass it on to the 5 Bloggers in the list below.

Not normally a fan of Awards with Rules but Teresa was also sweet enough to present me with a Superior Scribbler Award.

The Rules for which are as follows:

The Rules for this one are:

* Each Superior Scribbler I name today must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
* Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
* Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.
*Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visitThis Post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!
*Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

And the Nominees are:

1. Jenny at The Suburban Jungle

2. Blue Cotton Mom at Blue Cotton Memory

3. Momma Such at Raising My 4 Sons

4. Helene at I'm Living Proof God Has a Sense of Humor

5. YMK at Mom-I-Am

All wonderful bloggers that I just don't get to their pages enough but it's well worth it when I do.

There, are of course, many other wonderful bloggers out there on my blogroll so why not check them out.

And while I've run out time for the moment... there are other blogs out there that adds Sunshine to My Day so... you never know when I might just send one your way.

Happy blogging.

Wordless Wednesday - Halloween Memories

Would you believe they have HalloweenCandy in the Stores already?

First Day of Grade 1

I knew this day was coming. It's been facing us all summer long and I even looked forward to it. I felt bad that I was so eager to have E gone all day every day. After all things were going to be much quieter at home and my stress level is going to go down etc. She needs school, she needs the structure and organized activities that for some reason I can't seem to give her, or at least enough of.

So why is it that the day seems to stretch ever so long before me? Why is the house too quiet? O and J are content with their snack and a quiet activity. Why is it that within an 1/2 hour of getting home my essential chores were done and now I'm going...what are we going to do?

Why does it suddenly strike me that this is only the beginning. Before I know it, J will be in Kindergarten (next year) and O the year after that. O will be starting preschool with J this October. I have been excited at the the thought that I'm going to have 2 afternoons a week free with no kids. For the first time in 6 years? Why does that no longer seem wonderful?

I realize these are thoughts that are only for today. Tomorrow we will settle into a "school routine" and life will continue to move on. Although sometimes, I am still going to question why.

No Learning Curves in Parenting

One thing about parenting is that the learning is never done. I've been a mom to E now for 6 years and she is still taking me by surprise. Like many of you when you were starting out I had my preconceived notions, kids behaved like kids and certain behaviours were reserved for certain ages etc.

Imagine to my surprise when E was 2 and she ran to her room and slammed the door in anger at me. Did she just stomp out of the room and slam the door? She's 2, not a hormone ridden, irrational teenager. Did she just yell that she hates me and I'm a mean mom? Okay maybe I didn't yell at my mom and tell her I hated her.. i just wrote it in my diary knowing that eventually my mom would read. Yeah.

So I've had to roll with the punches so to speak and unlearn all my preconceived notions pretty fast. The younger two have it easier because E has paved the way. I can now say... "Ahhh, E did that at 2, that's normal behaviour." I don't have to immediately run and google it to assure myself that my child was normal (whatever normal is, really). That this aggressive behaviour or spitting food or biting was a phase and would soon, God willing, pass.

I have learned to live in 6 month increments. Each 6 months saw us leaving an old bad phase and moving into a new bad phase. Okay, it wasn't all bad but I knew when she was going through a annoying behaviour phase like eating and regurgitating, I knew that in about 6 months or so it would pass and we'd be on to new annoying behaviour. At first you are relieved that the old behaviour has stopped but it never takes you long to discover the "new" annoying behaviour. So yes, I've had this as a guide post for the other two.

That does not make my task with E any less difficult these days. It seems that since she has turned 6 her sole mission in life is to challenge everything we say. My 6 year actually said to me "Why should I?" in that characteristically snotty tone that I once thought was only reserved for 12 year olds. I risk parroting my mother when I respond back with "because I said so" although I have made it my own and thus somewhat avoid completely parroting my mother by actually saying "Because I asked you to." I know, it's pure semantics.

So I am flummoxed by this behaviour and was only recently assured by my husband who googled it, that this too is normal. That my 6 year old going on 12 is challenging us exactly on course with her behaviour. Great, she's normal. Why couldn't she have been slightly abnormal, you know just blindly trusting everything we say and meekly responding.. "yes mommy" when asked to do something.

I know, I know, boring right? Let's face it though at this point I could use a little boredom. On the other hand I recognize that she is growing up to be a strong, independent girl who thinks for herself. She is wonderfully creative and passionate about many things and she doesn't get that by being meek or biddable. If I want her to challenge society and her peers later on in life I am going to have to somehow figure out how to get through this phase now without damaging her spirit or her esteem.

Raising a girl is pretty tough. There are so many issues that can drag you down. Clothes, beauty, weight, fashion. I can tell her till I am blue in the face that none of it matters but it doesn't help when she's faced with it on t.v. everyday and at school. No matter how much I protect her, eventually she's going to come face to face with it. In kindergarten, E came home bummed because her coat wasn't pretty and pink like a lot of the other girls. She had on a really pretty green coat with embroidered flowers but that didn't matter when pink was obviously the in colour. What brought this on? I don't know she previously didn't care about it but maybe someone said something negative to her in the line up at class.

I make sure she eats right and is healthy but darn it, some days it's pretty hard to ignore the fact that she's paired pink and grey striped tights with a white and red flowered skirt and orange tank top. I do not kid. She has no fashion sense at all but it still hurts her feelings when I try to point out to her a better combination.

Not to mention the fact that I'm not happy with my own weight but I try not to disparage myself or mention my weight in any way because I don't want her to become self conscious about her weight or how she eats. She's a great eater and I want to continue to encourage that and not give her hang ups about it.

Even teaching basic hygiene is tough. Why do you clean your hands after you go to the bathroom, because it's good hygiene, wash away the germs so you don't get sick or make others sick. Why does it matter that my fingernails look dirty? Because it doesn't look nice and dirty fingers mean germs? Why doesn't it look nice?" Each answer always leads to more questions and try not to answer it by... no one will want to be near you when your hands smell dirty like pee. Okay.. that's what I am trying to tell you in a really nice way but now you're bringing it out cause you're driving me crazy and I want to impress on you how really disgusting it is that you forget to wash your hands all the time after going potty. Arrrgh. Did I just say all that. Yup. sigh. Never mind the brushing teeth and bad breath. You get the picture.

I know those of you with girls older than mine surely must know what I am talking about or is it just my kids that can remember to go wash their hands before dinner but can't remember to wipe, flush and wash hands after going to the bathroom? At least we save on toilet paper.

We can read lots of parenting books and articles and google till our hearts content. We can glean tips from other parents and caregivers but still in the end we are stumbling around in the dark trying to figure out this whole parenting thing. Let's face it, what works for one kid doesn't work for another but until you try you don't know so you end up taking a combination of methods and apply it, twist it and reapply it until you figure out what works for your kid.

You just can't help worry in the meantime that your (as in mine) sometimes poor response to it isn't a wee bit over the top and that you're doing more harm than help.

So I am looking forward to her going to school full-time this year. I think the main problem this summer has been that she needs more challenges which is pretty hard to create for an older child when you have 2 younger ones at home.

I am hoping that with her more engaged in school this year, it will lower my stress level during the day because truth be told, she's the real instigator in the house, and just maybe it will give me a little more insight in how to deal with her.

Whatever happens, I have to just keep learning how to parent E and hope that this process will continue to foster a close relationship that will hopefully carry us through the turbulent teen years. Cause I shudder to think what will happen then.

Still, I can see how parenting could drive you to drink.

May I present.... The Evidence

Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we are here today to present the case of Wife vs. Husband.

This, your Honor, is a case of epic proportions. The wife, being me, has begged, pleaded and in some cases I have to admit, nagged the Husband to put his Dental Floss Toothpicks away. The husband acknowledged said begs, pleas and nags with a shrug and a nod, only to perpetrate the crime once again. The husband has without conscience even left the toothpicks on the China Cabinet, made by the wife's father, a stated and expressed "no go zone". Meaning, the wife has set up the top surface of the china cabinet in a lovely display of family photos and ornaments and has expressly requested that nothing be set down there hence the "no go zone". The husband has repeatedly and wilfully abused the "no go zone".

May I present the evidence, your honor....

The cup holder in MY van

Kitchen Counter

The Window Ledge in our bedroom

On My China Cabinet - What I consider a "No Go Zone"

(Note there is also a pair of sunglasses teetering on the edge)

I believe the foregoing evidence makes my er the Wife's case. These were a few photos taken over the course of two days. All of the aforementioned picks are still residing where they were taken, the Wife feeling that she has 3 children already and should not have to pick up said picks.

Should your Honor require further evidence, you are welcome to visit their home.

I have no doubt your Honor you will find the husband guilty of wilful public mischief and desecration of the "no go zone". I ask that your Honor make an example of the husband for the sake of the couple's children, not be lenient, in short throw the book at him.

May I propose a few sentencing suggestions your Honor:

1. Pick up all offending toothpicks and promise heretofore never to leave the picks willy nilly around the house again.

2. A bouquet of flowers for me.. preferably Peonies in Pink or Champagne

3. A dinner out on the town, the accused may or may not not choose to come

4. A solemn promise to never leave the %@$! toothpicks lying around the house again.

5. A heartfelt apology and acknowledgment that I am ALWAYS right.

and if I'm not going to far with this your Honor..

6. A girls day at the spa paid in full by the accused for whatever pampering I choose to do.

Thank you, your Honor, for your thoughtful and careful consideration of this matter. I am sure you will see it my er the Wife's way.

Sigh.... he did buy me a Blackberry.

Back to School Giveaways at Mom Central

Mom Central is not only a great resource site for Moms for everything under the sun but right now it is also Giveaway Central for Back to School.

Check out this week's giveaways. I particularly like that they itemize which giveaways are open to us in Canada. I hate having to scroll a whole post just to find out it's for US only. So check it out. It's worth it.

Note: this is a list only not links. To enter go Mom Central Giveaways

Week 1: September 1-13

Win a set of Mommy and Me necklaces (Open to US)

Win a Lunchbox Simplicity Sampler from Revolution Foods (Open to US)

Win a set of Toddler Snacks from Plum Organics (Open to US)

Win Plum Organics Baby Food (Open to US)

Win a Jeep 2-in-1 Booster Seat (Open to US and Canada)

Win an All-in-One Printer from Lexmark (Open to US and Canada)

Win a $75 Gift Card to The Children's Place (Open to US and Canada)

Win a Baby G Watch from Casio (Open to US and Canada)

Win Muddy Pigs Bath Toys from Munchkin (Open to US)

Win Fruitabu Organic Fruit Snacks (Open to US)

Win Green Works Glass Cleaner (Open to US)

Win Green Works Laundry Detergent and Stain Remover (Open to US)

Win $1000 for You and $1000 for Your Favorite Charity with the Dole Bowl-a-Day Giveaway (Note: Link will take you off Momcentral.com. Open to US. Enter by October 2.)

So what are you waiting for?

Top Ten Thursday - Buh Bye Summer

It's LZ's turn at My Messy Paradise to host the Top Ten Thursday this week. Her topic? Her Top Ten Reasons why she's glad to say buh bye to summer.

If you’d like to play and this is your first time visiting - or your first time playing - here’s what you do:

1. Grab our button, located in the sidebar to the right

2. Choose your Top Ten topic (or use ours!)

3. Write up your list and post it on your blog

4. Visit this week's host and Link up!

Easy peasy, right? Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s play!

Now here's a peak at LZ's Top Ten List:

10. Are you ready for some football? I love the Patriots, and love that I have games to look forward to every Sunday. Not to mention, the start of football season means the start of crock-pot Sundays.

9. The lazy days of Summer are a myth! There is nothing lazy about Summer. The weather is nice, and people feel obligated to be on-the-go. What about just hanging out? Why do we always need to go somewhere?

8. People are finally home. Try getting together with friends on Summer weekends. It’s tough…vacations, plans, cookouts, parties. No one is ever around. See #8. It’s true!

So head on over to My Messy Paradise and find out the other 7 reasons LZ's glad to say buh bye to summer!