August 31, 2006
The last day of August. Why does summer always feel like it's done when September hits, and yet it still can be 30 plus outside? We try to stuff ourselves into our new clothes for the fall season, curse the temperature when it rises above 20 and wonder why we swealter. I'm sure wearing our faded out t-shirts for another month really wouldn't be so bad, but wearing new clothes is SO nice!
August 30, 2006
It looks like we might have found our van. 2003 Honda Odyssey EX-L. I just hope we get the price we want. We originally saw it on Ebay (really!) and it turns out the seller is local. I fell in love with the van as soon as I started to drive it. Honda's are amazing vehicles.
Granni is doing much, much better. In fact, she's expected to be out of the hospital in a week. It's amazing what happy pills can do for a person. I've never been a big fan of anti-depressants but seeing the remarkable "recovery" of my granni makes me reconsider. I hope she doesn't remain on them forever and that she just needs them for this interim aspect.
Besides the run that we're doing at the end of October, we're now signing up for the CIBC Run for the Cure. It's only a 5k run, so it's a good introduction to me to running in a race. Especially considering we're doing the 10k at the end of October. Now I just have to get my hips feeling better so I can run. I went for a long walk last night and was limping by the time I came home. I'm such an old woman already. 
One more week and the kids start school. This summer has flown by! They are quite excited - especially my daughter. She also gets to start ballet next week - something she's been asking for since she was 3 years old. I resisted until now - I've always thoughts ballet followed such a traditional "girl" route and I'd much rather see my daughter in soccer, ringette or speed skating. But, this is what she's asked for so we'll try it out. Considering she's asked for it for such a long time, she'll probably enjoy it. Now I'm just trying to get my oldest son into judo and I think we'll have our activities set for the year. My youngest is in preschool and swimming lessons so he's happy. I think he is - when he talks marble mouth, it's hard to figure out exactly what he wants.
On a different note, I received an email from a long lost friend - hello, Carlos! We met when I was in high school (ages ago, now!) and Carlos found me through our Fall 2006 brochure that was uploaded to the college website recently. I was absolutely floored to hear from him. It made my week. :)
August 28, 2006
I hate buying cars. It's so much of the unknown that I hate. Is it going to be a good car. Am I paying too much. Is this guy trying to screw me? Most of all, I hate dealing with car salesmen. On the whole, these are normal, decent people trying to make a decent living. It's a living that I'd never choose and have respect for anyone that's decided to make it a career. To me, it's like fighting an uphill battle every single day.
However, what really gets me about car salesmen is the cheesy lines. For example, today hubby and I went to the dealership to look at two vans. We're both in business clothing - hubby in his suit, me in business dress. Hubby knows one of the delearship owners and he forwarded us to a sales guy. Very nice guy and all, but his first line to us was "I just told so-and-so, Here's comes a dad in to buy his daughter a new car." refering to hubby and I. Okay - hubby is 38, I'm 32. The last time I looked remotely like a 38 year old man's daughter was maybe when I was 18. I'm a 32 year old mother of 3. On a good day, I might look 30. Not 18 by a long shot. I am proud of my age and in no way do I ever want to be 18 again. I think the only thing on my body I'd like to be 18 again is the "girls". I realize that he was trying to flatter me, but in the end, I was a bit offended.
Crazy September is hitting early. We got our brochures out and students are calling. I actually love this time of year - it's a challenge to keep going, make things work and actually see things go. It's like having all of your past months planning finally coming into place.
I'm trying to take pictures of the kids and I for my desk at work. I'm trying to get my youngest to smile, but he always looks constipated. Maybe I can just like the picture and tell him that he was in a "phase" at that time if he ever asks. Crazy kid.
August 27, 2006
We went test driving yesterday. Turns out the Mazda 5, as much as I love it, doesn't have the room we need for a family of 5. I'm not sure why they think a trunk space no bigger than my 3 yo will do for a larger family. If we had two kids, it would be a contender, but that's not going to happen. So, we're now looking at a used Honda Odyssey or used Toyota Sienna. I hate vehicle shopping and would much rather have one pop up in my driveway, ready to go. Unfortunately, if vehicles grew from trees, we wouldn't be having the problems we are.
On the good news, my granni is much better. She's on happy pills and is almost back to her old self (mentally). Wow - it's amazing what drugs can do for someone. Both good and bad. :) I haven't seen her since Thursday, but will go up there today with my eldest child so he can say hi to her. Besides, I have to go into town and buy laundry detergent. I swear that dirty laundry knows when you're out of detergent as it starts to grow at a much faster rate. Isn't that called an inverse effect? The rate of laundry detergent decreasing increases the rate of laundry piling up? I should ask my sister - she's the math whiz. It's been too long since I did math at school. I was a business major - what kind of math did I do? ;)
August 25, 2006
Grumpy children rule the roost today. Wow - are they ever grumpy. Only 13 more days until school starts.
Turns out my granni is very depressed. Apparently it's normal for stroke victims to become depressed. It's hard seeing her like this, but she is now walking and is slowly gaining her strength back. We hope that she'll return to her independant care facility, but again, it's day to day. They're trying to move her into rehab at the hospital, but are waiting for a bed to open up.
We're looking at a Mazda 5 for our next vehicle. I haven't test drove it yet, but 4 years ago we test drove a Mazda 3. I loved the car and it was what we were going to buy until I found out I was pregnant with our third child. That third child sure does cut out your vehicle options.
August 23, 2006
When things go, they really go. Our van is broken. Turns out the transmission is shot. Only $4000 to fix! Yeah, I don't think so. $4000 into a $7000 vehicle doesn't make sense. So, as much as we can't, we're going to lease a vehicle. Appears to be our only option. Today my dish washer is going on me. Won't fill up when I want it to fill up. Granni is still in the hospital. She's walking now, but doesn't really want to get out of bed. She spends all of her time sleeping and it's hard to get her involved in being social.
On the bright side of things, we went on a tube ride down the Shuswap River on Sunday. The ride was fantastic and the kids had so much fun. That's summer in the Okanagan for you! Only two more weeks until school starts. I so can't wait. I'm watching my girlfriend's kids today, so can't spend too much time on the computer!
August 19, 2006
These are all of my monkeys. I realized today that I didn't have an updated picture of them. They have their moments, and they sure keep us busy. But, I wouldn't trade them in for the world.
I visited my granni again last night - she is doing so much better. She has some colour in her face and it appears that she has better control on her left eye. She is still too weak to walk, but at physio, they did have her standing. At this point in time, we're still not sure of the outcome, but at least things are improving.
I went for a run today - it's been a month since I ran last. I've been having problems with my hip and needed to take some time off. I only ran 2.5 miles today, but it's a good start. I don't want to overdo it and then not run again for a month. My friend and I are preparing for this run in October. I can't wait!
On another note, here's a picture of a sock in progress. I've been working on this since February, so you can tell how often I get to work on it! It's the Creeping Vines Socks pattern, which you can find here. I'm thinking that a solid pattern would show the sock better, but I love this yarn and the pattern, so why not combine the two?
August 18, 2006
My granni had a stroke on Wednesday night. My aunt found her Thursday morning and took her to the hospital. It's in a critical part of her brain - she can't walk and is very weak. At this point in time, they don't think she'll be leaving the hospital and if she improves, she'll be moved to assisted living. Hubby and I visited her last night at the hospital and she's so tired. She had a series of mini strokes in January 2004 but this is so much worse than before. I am happy that it appears she still has all of her mental capacities, but I'm devastated to watch her declining health. I feel so helpless. This is my granni - I can't even begin to tell you how important this woman is to me in my life.
On other news, our van is acting up again. We've put $1100 into it these past four weeks and have another $500 to put into it for an ABS Controller. Now the transmission is acting up and it could be another $600-$1000. Considering we haven't had anything major done on the van in two years, I shouldn't complain. But $2000 in 6 weeks is a bit hard.
Anyways, I'm going to make my peach chutney that I planned for on Wednesday and be a little bit productive today. Get the kids off the boob tube and run some of their energy off outside. If I can, I'll take a picture of the three of them and take it up to Granni at the hospital tonight.
August 16, 2006
Still plugging away on Crumpets. As you can tell, it's getting there but I need at least another six inches to get the length I want. I'm working on it at lunch and at night time when the kids have gone to bed. Considering that I started it July 30th, I think I'm doing pretty good.
Stomach flu has hit our house. My eldest was up puking last night. Even after two doses of gravol, he still managed to puke up his supper. Nice. Now I just have to wait and see which kid is next. Guess we won't be going anywhere for my day off today. Although I was going to buy a box of peaches to make chutney. I think I'll still do that today.
We bought a new storage unit the other weekend and I was given space for my yarn stuff. At first I thought it was a bit small - but then I have other options. There's the two rubbermaid tote bins I use too. No problems! Although, I think I have to stop buying and start using. There's stuff in here that I totally forgot about!
August 14, 2006
22 days and counting. I am celebrating that there are only 22 more days until school starts. 22 days until the endless nitpicking, nagging, screaming (and that's just me!) ends in this family and the kids go back to school. My eldest was quite dismayed at the fact that there's only 22 more days left of freedom. For me, I'm seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
We've figured out childcare for the staggered entry into kindergarten for our daughter. Apparently kids need the staggered entry to get "used" to school. I'm not sure how going to school for 30 minutes a day for three days, and then one hour for two days, allows a child to become accustomed to school - but what do I know? All I know is that it's a bitch trying to figure out where she goes, who's picking her up, who's dropping her off. Considering that bus service doesn't start until she's a week into school is making it that much more difficult.
Things are still slow at work, which is nice. I took my daughter's dress into work to knit on at lunch. I have this love hate relationship thing knitting at work. On one hand, I love the quiet time it gives me, sitting in the staff room, working on something I enjoy. On the other hand, I dread someone coming in and seeing me. I usually hear, "What, you knit? Really? What is that you're making?" I can't figure out if people say that because they can't believe I'm knitting or if they can't believe someone actually knits.
CommentsAugust 13, 2006
Summer is close to over for us in the Great White North. Although the daytime temperatures are still around the high 20s, low 30s, it's getting a bit chilly at nighttime. We went to the river for the first time this year with my cousin and her two children. Where does the time go? Last year we went every week. This year, we've been too caught up on doing things around the house. Although being a responsible home owner is a good thing, it's much better spending time with the kids. And considering I haven't seen my cousin in about two years, spending time with her and her kids is more fun that cleaning toliets. Actually, most things in life are more fun than cleaning toliets. We're heading to the river this afternoon with my parents and my aunt. It will be entertaining watching my youngest try to steal other kids' sand toys today.
I worked on my daughter's dress last night at my parents' house. They had a big dinner with tons of family. I think there were 30 of us there - maybe? With that many people, kids included, it's hard to count. My mom and aunt were in awe of the dress and my one aunt didn't think that I'd be done for this summer. I'm 4 inches into the skirt part and started at the beginning of this month. It will be done soon. I am considering making it into a babydoll top like this one. I love the straps and will probably do the same for the one I'm making. Wendy did a beautiful job on the top.
August 11, 2006
New! I'm trying out a new format. I love the look but it's difficult to manage. Or rather, I don't have the freedom that I'm used to with Frontpage.
We took the kids to the drive in theatre last night. We had a blast! We ended up watching Monster House and Click. Great movies, although Monster House scared the poop out of the kids. What I discovered is that I can knit in the dark. I ended up doing 3 inches on the princess' dress - considering there's over 200 stitches on my needles, that's a bit of knitting.
In case you're ever wonder where my time is taken up when I say I garden, here's a picture of my front yard. I had to take a picture of it - it's not too often it looks this nice! It's a bit bare and there are a few places I need to add some more perennials. One year at a time!
I did back to school shopping for my daughter today. Actually, it would be starting school for the first time shopping. As part of starting a new chapter in life, she got her ears pierced. She was stronger about it than I was. Here's a picture of her showing off her new earrings. She was so proud of herself and I was proud of her making through it without a fuss.