Female Superhero Shortage

My nephew's third birthday was coming and he wanted to have a super hero party. This is a very popular theme in my nephew's home. The last time my girls dressed as princesses. This time I wanted to make them a super hero costume. Then came the challenge; trying to find a female super hero that was predominant and not vague in her moral character and didn't get on my nerves. That left out The Powder Puff Girls, The Power Rangers, Poison Ivy, Cat Woman, Supergirl (who?). I didn't want them dressing like Zena Warrior Princess or She-Ra though I suppose I could add more cloth to their usual costumes. And the girls weren't interested in being Invisigirl or Elastigirl. That left Wonder Woman, my heroine of years and years ago. And the girls actually knew who she was thanks to watching retro cartoons. Retro. shudder. Way to feel old. So we managed to throw outfits together for both girls as they both wanted to be Wonder Woman. The most difficult part was finding star stickers. So, they arrived at the party and the two other girls there were dressed as a princess, and Wonder Woman. Girls today, apparently, are in desperate need of female super heroes to look up to.

More Money

I had no idea this year that when my daughter went to school this year that it would cost me more money than I had been spending on a sitter. I had expected to save money. Ha! I only had to hand over twenty dollars for school supplies but then it was book orders (I'm a sucker for children's books), hot lunch and milk orders, fund raisers (magazine subscriptions and coffe), green Christmas, and school photos. Silly me, I thought school photos were only in the fall but now they have spring ones as well. And well...instead of writing a note and saying this is just another way to solicit money so I won't give my daughter permission to have her picture taken, I signed the form. Now she brings home her proofs and it's so.... cute. What parent doesn't like photos of their kid, even when they're crying? So, out I fork more money to send photos to the grandparents. And with a divorce in the mix that isn't two pictures, that's three. Then I'd like one for the half sister who lives in another province, one for my daughter of course for her memory album, and me. I think my sister had many reasons for deciding to home school her children, and this is one of them. Don't we pay taxes so our kids can go to school for free? Yet we send in boxes of tissues, wrapping paper, photo copy paper, and I drive my daughter to and from school because there is no busing for French Immersion. Money, money, money, always money, in a rich man's world.

Now We Can Go!

On Sunday both the girls had a long chat with Grandma on the phone about what they wanted to do when they go visit her in early June. Trying to explain when we were going proved difficult. We told Taylor another 87 days or three pages on the calendar, when school is over, and it's warm outside. Mackenzie, as a three year old, was more difficult to explain to. Monday morning Mackenzie was in the flyer getting dressed to take Taylor to school when she started getting excited, "now we can go to Grandma's. There's no snow." Oh dear. Time is going to go very slowly for Mackenzie as she waits for her trip to Newfoundland.

JUST A MOM? (email forward)

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office,
was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

"What I mean is, " explained the recorder,
"do you have a job or are you just a ...?"

"Of course I have a job," snapped the woman.
"I'm a Mom."

"We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation,
'housewife' covers it,"
Said the recorder emphatically.


I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself
in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,
efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like,
"Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."

"What is your occupation?" she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know.
The words simply popped out.
"I'm a Research Associate in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations."

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in m midair and
looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.
Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,
in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest,
"just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice,
I heard myself reply,
"I have a continuing program of research,
(what mother doesn't)
In the laboratory and in the field,
(normally I would have said indoors and out).
I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family)
and already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,
(any mother care to disagree?)
and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers
and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she
completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career,
I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model,
(a 6 month old baby) in the child development program,
testing out a new vocal pattern.
I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
And I had gone on the official records as someone more
distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another Mom."

Motherhood!

What a glorious career!
Especially when there's a title on the door.


Does this make grandmothers
"Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human
Relations"
And great grandmothers
"Executive Senior Research Associates?"
I think so!!!
I also think it makes Aunts "

Associate Research Assistants."

Pool Crasher

Easter Monday came and I needed a way to keep us away from the candy and baked goods and to burn off some energy so we headed to the sports stadium for a workout and a dip in the pool. I picked the girls up at the daycare and we headed for the pool to meet up with their cousins. As usual, Mackenzie was so excited to get in and got herself dressed in her suit in record time; beating me. We put our towels on the counter, showered, and headed for the water, each of us picking up our own towels as we went. Also as usual, Mackenzie headed for the edge of the pool and fearlessly jumped in. Then she held up her right hand and looked at me puzzled; she still had her hooded animal towel in her hand, now sopping wet. Good thing I always take a bath sheet rather than a towel; enough to share with a friend or daughter.

Silly Bunny

This was the first year that Easter and more specifically, the Easter egg hunt, meant something to both my girls. Taylor was advising Mackenzie on where to look for eggs. She says the Easter bunny can be tricky and likes to hide things up high like on the top of the pictures. In the morning, the girls slept in until 8am. Taylor had to wait a grueling 30 minutes for Mackenzie to wake up. The second Mackenzie awoke, they were on their way. They searched the upper floor then, missing many eggs on the way, they went to the basement to check the laundry room. They found one chocolate egg and headed toward the window ledge for the pink chicken egg. The second they approached the motion sensor detection window, beep, beep, beep.... I had to stop my movie making and run to turn off the alarm. They alarm monitor person thought it was funny and asked how the Easter bunny managed to not set the alarm off. Taylor asked the same question and then decided it must have been magic. That shock over with, and the basement searched, the girls retraced their steps and found more eggs they had overlooked. Mackenzie found a Cadbury egg in her winter boot and bent over, hands on hips, laughing, "silly bunny!" She is still telling everyone she meets about the Easter bunny putting an egg in her boot. Now I just wish they would stop asking me how many days until the next Easter.

Non-Competetor

More and more, Taylor exhibits some unfortunate traits of my own. sigh. For the last four weeks of skating lessons she has been asking, "is this the last one?" and saying with conviction, "I don't want to go." I used to love skating lessons, I just never liked the competition or the grand show off event at the end. At least she doesn't have to endure that. Well, the last day of lessons came and she was most excited to receive her level two badge; however, she also had to ask, "is this the last day? Can I not go to lessons any more and just go after school?" Works for me. She's in enough activities now and it's rather cold for me to sit and wait in the arena for her for an hour. Here's for moving onto warmer activities. But are swimming lessons really warmer?

I'm Getting Smart!

Taylor announced to me the other day, "I'm getting smart. I know lots of things about penguins, and seals, and...." She has taken to asking about the animals she sees on tv and in books and I have to opportunity to check out books on the library about the animals. I have to admit, I'm getting smarter too for I now know lots of things about seahorses, seals, penguins ...."

Opportunity or Disappointment?

Over March Break, Taylor was given the opportunity to go with her cousin to Kindermusik. Her aunt was teaching and able to get her two children in in exchange. She opted to trade her youngest for my eldest, thus giving Taylor a chance to try it out. For the week before Taylor was pleading not to go. Finally when asking why she didn't want to go, she said she was too shy. She didn't seemed convinced that it would be OK even though she had attended one class before at the library and that both her cousin and aunt would be there. The night before she was excited when told that Grammie had made capes for all the kids who were going including a pink one. What a turn-around in attitude! Well she had a blast the first day though my sister said she was hard to read as she is very quiet. But Taylor was very happy when she got home and excited to go the next day and the next. She was not happy when on the third day she wasn't allowed to stay all day like the other kids. My sister only kept them there in the mornings. Then there was none on the fourth day. That evening Taylor wanted to know when her cousin could sleep over. Well, I began, he can't stay over tonight because he has Kindermusik in the morning. Her face lit up as she asked, "am I going too?" Her face fell just as dramatically when I told her, "no, you just got to go to the camp and he's going to his regular classes." She then wanted to know if she could sign up too. When told she's already signed up for a lot of activities she wanted to know if she could take it in the summer. The poor thing, for it isn't offtered in the summer. She seems content, for now, with my promise to look into it. I'll have to check the website soon.

Mommy's Going to Be Mad

On Sunday, my husband found a table and chairs for sale that are similar to our own. When it comes to family dinners we often don't have enough chairs to go around. So he went and snatched these five up at $6.00 a chair. They aren't as sturdy as the ones we have so he took our youngest and went off to buy some good wood glue before taking on the challenge of gluing them back together. He wrote me at work to say, "Two of the chairs have had the legs removed and glued back in place. Kenzie thought you would be mad that the chairs were apart. She said it was silly when I got her to sit on one of them with no legs." It's funny how little one's minds work.

Where Are My Cousins?

What is in a name, a title? On Wednesday afternoon past, friends came over for a visit. The mom's used to chat while the older girls played together, usually in the Burger King playroom. Our second children hadn't been born yet. We have invited them to all our birthday parties and have made a point of getting together on a regular basis. While they were visiting on Wednesday, Kenzie fell asleep on the rec room floor. Our company left and then it was time to go to Taylor's skating lessons. I scooped Kenzie up and she awoke when we arrived at the stadium. When we returned back home, "you-hoo!" Mackenzie called and then turned to me in bewilderment and asked, "Where are my cousins?" Puzzled, it took me a moment or two before I asked her, "Do you mean Joy and Hope?" "Yes," she answered. I guess, closeness isn't in being related but in time spent together.

Prescription Medication for Dummies

For three nights in a row, my youngest daughter, Mackenzie, has been running a fever hovering around 40 degrees Celcius. It's odd, but she hasn't had a fever in the day time other than Sunday afternoon. So, my husband was going to take her to the walkin clinic on Sunday afternoon while I was at work but Mackenzie slept all afternoon and when I got home it was too late to go. This morning I thought I'd have an excuse to get out of going to the gym but her temperature was normal, 37.2. So off we went. She did her usual things of watching tv, sitting in my lap, joining me in the shower, and then getting speedily ready to go pick Taylor up at school. Mackenzie, like usual, fell asleep on the way to school and keep on sleeping even when I moved her into bed once we got back home at 3pm. At 4pm it was time to get her ready for swimming so Daddy went in to get her. She was a bit whinney but who isn't when they are woken up (even though daddy said he didn't wake her). We packed up and took off, late for lessons. While dressing Mackenzie in her swimsuit I realized she was hot to the touch, again. She tried lessons anyway but unlike herself she got upset about being splashed and wouldn't blow bubbles. Ten minutes later, I scooped her up in a towel, then rinsed her off and dressed her for home. At 6pm we found ourselves on the way to the walkin clinic. Mackenzie slept the entire way there and on my shoulder in the waiting room. In the exam room she woke up wanted a drink of water and saying she was too hot; so she dramk from the tap and stripped out of her coat and shirt. Once examined, ears, chest, and throat I learned that her cough wasn't the problem, her lungs were fine but she has strep throat. Oh dear. I just wanted to be put out of my misery when I had that. But she wasn't complaining about her throat. Hmmm. Oh, uh. What about the kids at daycare? Guess it'll be a sick day for work. We got her prescription filled and put it in the cart under the infant seat for she was back to sleep again. I then picked up oralgel for Taylor who is getting her new teeth coming in front of her baby teeth and she finds it rather painful. I had to pay for my second purchase at another cashier. When leaving, I scooped Mackenzie and my second package up, forgetting the first with the prescription medication in it and our reason for being here. It was under the infant seat and I couldn't see it. Halfway to the car, I remembered it. I hoped no one had noticed my oversight. I went back in the indoor, carrying my sleeping three year old, my purse, and my second package. On my way I had to pass the magazine and book section. On the end of the display, in a bright yellow with black was one of the For Dummies series, "Prescription Medication for Dummies." I thought this quite funny. - I better go for Mackenzie crawled out of bed and came looking for me and is now passed out at the top of the stairs.

The Quiz

That seemed to be very, very easy even without taking notes and only took me about 10 minutes. I wish quizes were that easy going through school.

Thing #23: Twitter - the final thing

Instant messaging "stuff" again. sigh. As I said before, I have no patience for instant messaging. Use the phone. What happened to that personal contact? I can understand instant messaging's purpose if one has to contact serveral people quickly like when the storm cancelled my Pampered Chef party last week but many if not all of those people don't have instant messaging. Instant messaging is just encouraging and further developing the growing trend of "I want it now" in today's society. We have fast food, faster cleaning products (that create more waste and harm to the environment), priority post, quick fixes, etc. What happened to taking your time to do the job right or looking forward to the moment or savoring the present time? I don't want an instant message Valentine greeting, a fast food meal, and virtual flowers for Valentine's Day this year. It leaves something missing. Rush, rush, rush. Like in a song I like, "I'm in a hurry to get things done. I rush and rush until life's no fun. All I gotta do is live and die but I'm in a hurry and don't know why." I'm also wondering what gets left out when their is no body language or intonation to help interpret what one is saying. I know that I have often been misinterpreted in email without those two key elements. I've heard that 20% or meaning is in our body language. Smilies can't make up for that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter

Yes! I'm finished all the challenges! Can't say I'll remember enough to complete the quiz though. I should have taken more and organized my notes.

Thing 21 and 22: Meebo

I found I couldn't do much with Thing 21 to try out meebo without going onto visit HRL Meebo chat room. It figures that once I take the time to go there and for once in my life try instant messaging, that there is no one there. But I'm used to talking to myself. But typing is more time consuming and I can listen to the lilt of my voice. LOL Seriously, I have no patience for instant messaging. I'll use the phone if I want to talk to friends or family and email or facebook allows us to exchange communication without being available at the same time.

http://blog.meebo.com/about

Thing #20: Folksonomy part one

The Wikipedia site describes Folksonomy as the practice and method of collaboratively creating and mangaing tags to annotate and categoize content. This method of tagging makes a body of information increasingly easy to search, discover, and navigate over time. Folksonomy enable Web users to label and share user-generated content, such as photographs, or to collaboratively label existing content, such as Web sites, books, works in the scientific and scholarly literatures, and blog entries.

The Term folksonomy is generally attributed to Thomas Vander Wal. It is a portmanteau of the words folk and taxonomy that specifiaclly refers to subject indexing systems created within Internet communities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folksonomy

Now, I'm not sure how to find "a folksonomy" in order to describe it here.

Thing #19: Friend Someone

I have done this already using facebook. Facebook did cause me some trouble though when a stranger was able to read, copy, and forward my communication. I have since learned that there are many privacy settings so that various information can be seen by everyone/friends only/ or only me. I have also learned that wireless conncections and public computers increase the risk of privacy breeches. Facebook also told me that no one should be able to read my email unless they have access to my account or the person I am corresponding with. I am also able to block certain people. There are many privacy features in other online services as well such as blogspot. In my blogspots, I have one that is viewable by everyone, and three that are by invitation only. I have also discovered there that I can invite up to 100 authors to my blogspots which is very useful for members of my girls' night group.

Mommy's Nurse

Yesterday I was beginning to feel what Taylor was complaining of Monday, crampy stomach, nausous, and just plain tired. I left the girls in front of the tv and went to bed. Taylor (who is 5 years old) came in shortly after telling me they would be in the kitchen if I needed anything to just yell and they would empty the throw up bowl if I needed them too. She also went and got a stool so she could close the blind and the curtains, saying, "there, is that like night time?" She then left shutting the bedroom door behind her. Minutes later she came in saying, I thought I'd get you some books in case you'd like to read. She then went to my bookshelf and filled a container with my books and placed them beside me on the bed, "Are these your favorites?" Mackenzie also ran in carrying what they called bedtime books from her own bookshelf. Again, Taylor left with Mackenzie, returning shortly after, "Here's the lamby (the hot water bottle) in case your tummy hurts." Again, she left, and a little more time passed before she returned with Mackenzie at her heals, "Mommy, here's a get-well card for you." They had both made one. Then they left and didn't return for over an hour. At that time they returned saying, "We're bored and hungry." So I got up and hurried through getting their supper and putting them to bed. I felt weak but better after my rest and Taylor's care. Where did she ever learn to bed so empathetic?

Skating Pro

I have been taking Mackenzie skating Friday mornings since October 2007. We usually only lasted on the ice for about 20 minutes and during that time Mackenzie was usually being pushed on a chair by me. "Faster, faster!" she'd ask. For the last month she has been taking her chair support and hitting the ice before I have my skates on. Also, for the last month I have been taking Taylor along as well, switching from morning skates to the after school skates. Both have been gaining in self-confidence and can now out-skate me. Yesterday, Mackenzie abandoned the chair minutes after getting onto the ice and only the last five minutes was being pushed around on a chair. She even skated once around the entire rink with me. She has also learned to get back up without holding onto anyone or anything when she does fall down. Now, now, I have to learn to skate again. My two girls don't need me any more and without pushing one of them on a chair, I no longer have it to hold myself up. I had to send Taylor after Mackenzie once when she crossed the barrier between the beginning skaters and the practiced skaters. I just can't keep up. However, we are all getting better. I can now stand up after a session on the ice for my legs are no longer reduced to jello. They are ;however, frozen for I'm not skating as quickly as I could while using a chair to hold myself up. As for Mackenzie, she has declared, once again, "I'm a big girl now. I'm five. Are you proud of me?" We must invest in a proper hockey helmet with a cage for she just skates full out. Even the supervisor commented that she could use a caged helmet for "she has no fear and she's cute as a button so I'd hate to see her fall on her face."

Things #17 and #18

Thing #17 says to try flickr. I set up an account but I do not have photos of my own at work to use flickr at this point.

Thing #18 requests that participants "tag" something. I have tagged people in photos on my facebook account. I hope this counts. This tagging helps to share with others with brief clicks rather than forwarding something that requires a lot of memory.

Mommy Sandwich

Way.....back when I was single (about 12 years ago) my bed often seemed to be very cold and lonely. I now long to have some space to myself even after moving up from a single mattress to a queen. Sunday night I was awoken by the slow creak... of my bedroom door which was then followed by a click with its closing, the pitter patter of bare feet, and tense silence as my little one stood next to the bed waiting to be addressed. "Hi." "Mommy can I come in with you?" As Taylor crawled in we had the usual exchange of I had a nightmare, what was it about, and I don't know, before we both succumed to sleep again. Sharing my bed with my girls is such a regular occurance that I don't always wake up when they do climb in. An unknown amount of time passed before I was rudely awakened by a smaller someone climbing up over the bed and me. "Hi, Kenzie." "Hi, Mommy." she replied as she roughly wedged herself in between her father and I. Now I lay between Mackenzie, on the left, and Taylor, on the right, making me the sandwich filling to this family submarine. The rest of the night was a bit rough. One arm was pinned under Taylor's head, at her request, and was falling asleep. I was also incredibly hot wedged between two young ones with high metabolisms. The limited space was hurting my hips so I rolled over on my side to release the pressure. Oh, to have my bed to myself again. But for now, they are both still so very little and still want to cuddle with Mommy. I shall take their affections while they are still willing to give them. In addition to this, they are both sick at the moment and only Mommys will do. But when is there cuddle time for Mommy and Daddy? And how much bigger do they have to grow before someone is falling out of the bed?

Thing #9 & 10 Capture an RSS feed

Yes!!! Thanks to help from a co-worker (here's to quiet Sundays and helpful co-workers) I have completed thing 9 and 10, capture Challenge 2.0 and an RSS feed. I can see how this could save a frequent internet user a lot of time closing and opening windows switching from one site to another. Where has this feature been all my web-surfing life? But then I just learned about control tab in firefox...

A Little Off The Top

Taylor had her first school concert last week and as she was standing there in her dress, necklace, and silver braclet between two young fellows in their spify ties, it occured to me: Taylor needs her hair cut. She looks raggedy and I should have had it cut before the concert. Ahhh..... So, since then I have been mentioning on and off that when I get paid next we'll have to go get our hair cut, that Taylor's eyebrows have disappeared, etc. Yesterday Taylor asked if I could cut her bangs. I told her that I used to cut my own but I don't want to cut hers because when my mother used to cut my bangs they would be crooked so she'd trim them again and again and they would end up way....up at the top of my forehead. Well... later that night I was on the phone talking to my on-the-road hubby and Taylor made a rush for the bathroom. A bit later she hadn't returned so I called for her, "Taylor did you get stuck in the toilet?" No answer. "Taylor!" Still no answer so I went to check. What to my wandering eyes should appear, but a pile of hair trimmings all over the floor, and a pair of fine scissors in my daughter's wee grip. Oh my. "Look, Mommy, I trimmed them myself." I couldn't understand how she got by me to get the "hair scissors" out of the kitchen cupboard while I was in the kitchen and then returned to the bathroom to trim her bangs almost up to her scalp in a jaggedy line and around her ears in a haphazard manner. sigh. "Good job Taylor but they're a little short. I thought you wanted to grow your hair out and only trim your bangs." "And I trimmed around my ears too." "That's going to make it hard to grow your hair long. Come here and we'll trim it up a bit." So...to make the most of it, I had a seat and trimmed off the stray bits still floating around her forehead, leaving the patches around the ears to remain as is. I just hope she doesn't get teased and tormented at school today. I suppose, in another month or so, her hair might not look too short any more.

Me a Big Girl

Sometime last week after the girls were put in bed for the night, I heard a banging sound. I sent my husband to investigate. He found Mackenzie kicking at her collapsible bedside railing, "me no like that no more. Me a big girl." I folded the railing up and put it in her closet. She has managed not to fall out of bed, yet, but I wish her blankets would stop falling out. Mackenzie has also declared, after a month of "accidents" that, "me no pee on the floor no more. Me a big girl now." That girl can be determined which is both a blessing and a curse at times. But true to her word, she hasn't had any more "accidents." Now I just hope she'll soon be able to finish her breakfast before it's ready to leave for her sister's school in the morning, "Mommy! me not ready to go yet! Me not finished!"

Deferred to Grammie

More and more lately, the girls are saying, "take it to Grammie, she'll fix it." I am starting to think they doubt my abilities. If Mackenzie needs her blanket satin edging, it's take it to Grammie. I guess I started it for Grammie's sewing machine and serger are always set up. My sewing machine is in a box in the basement. Then Grammie mended a sock or two while the girls were being babysat. Hey, I've sewn on buttons and repaired socks. But the other day, I will admit, I was a little hurt when Taylor said, "this curls up on my sock. Can you drop it off to Grammie to fix when you take me to school tomorrow?" Indignant, I finished putting Taylor to bed and went and dug out my sewing box, promptly sewing the snowman patch back onto Taylor's sock. The next morning, she turned the sock over in her hands, pulled at the edges of the snowman and asked, "you fixed this?" ugh. I guess a mother doesn't have the time to do those little things between running kids here and there, cooking meals, doing laundry, and trying to have together time. But Grandmother's, they make the time, for they are helping you and your kids, their grandkids, while proving their worth, and perhaps, doing the little things they wished they had done when they were "just" a mother.

Thing #15

I am getting behind on the challenge. I still have skipped thing 9 and 10 but alas, I'll get to it. Thing #15 was to try del.icio.us. It's useful for organizing my bookmarks and still be able to access them from any Internet computer (great for websites used for programming and be able to work for various computers). I can see it being very useful for patrons who use the public computers. It is also useful in that you don't have to use your own computer's space to bookmark. A co-worker swears by Notebook because one can add notes to it as well. I have found; however, that I have added most of my bookmarks to my blogspot already to do the same thing: save computer space and to be able to access it from anywhere. I am also getting tired of all my user names and passwords for I'm losing track of them. Is there a spot to store them? Ah, technology...attempting to keep up is a full time job.

First Lost Tooth

Just recently Taylor discovered that she had a loose tooth; her first loose tooth. Mommy, in all her wisdom, predicted that Taylor's tooth would be out by the weekend. This was about December 12. On our drive to go to the public pool for a swim, Taylor excitedly announced, "my tooth came out! Now the tooth fairy will come tonight!" We then had to scramble for something safe to put her baby tooth in. We found a discarded Christmas card envelope inside our darkened car. Upon returning home from our swim, Taylor had to phone and share her exciting news with her Grandma, her other grandparents, her cousin, and her (half) sister. In the morning, she had to call them again and tell everyone that she got markers, fairy markers, from the tooth fairy. Yesterday, she lost her second tooth. This time it was while sitting at the kitchen table and watching Christmas cartoons. So she sat down and made herself an envelope of her own design for her second baby tooth. When she finished making her envelope, to her great panic, Taylor couldn't find her tooth and was in a great panic, "it's gone forever." Mommy found it on the floor next to Taylor's knee where she knelt searching frantically. This time Taylor only had to phone her grandparents. This morning she asks her younger sister, "do you want to come with me and see what the tooth fairy left me?" Mackenzie in her usual form emphatically answers, "Sure!!!" Taylor soon returned to my room, shoulders slumped, listlessly flapping the item through the air, the tooth fairy left me "just a book." Her second tooth, and already her standards are set so high. She and her sister soon discovered that the book had foil stickers in the back that they had a grand time making up crafts with. Go figure.

Photo Flop

In all our brilliance, we decided to take our own photos this year. Usually I book an appointment in October at the Superstore to take the girls Christmas photos. We have the tripod, a better camera, flood lights, etc. so my husband suggested we take our own photos. We usually have to carefully write down who would like a photo and then decide what package we want accordingly. Then if we want more prints it's either break copyright law and scan it or pay $7.99 for another sheet of photos. It seemed best to take our own. We can even send to photos for printing in various provinces and have the relatives pick them up so they don't get mangled in the mail. So.... I showered the girls, they got dressed in their finery that Grandma bought them, blew dried their hair, added some pale lipstick (Taylor wanted to be like Mommy and look as pretty as she could with makeup), and some hairspray. Tah, dah. Daddy hooked up the flood lights, cleared the wooden bench, attached the camera to the tripod, used Taylor for some practice shots and we were ready. Or so we thought. Warren took two photos of the girls together, and one with me as well, then the batteries died. Figures. We'll have to try again later. Guess I won't be the first one mailing out my Christmas cards this year. There goes my reputation.

Strawberry Obsession

Mackenzie has discovered Strawberry Shortcake, the cartoon. I'm not sure how she learned about her though I did buy her a Strawberry Shortcake jacket last winter. I then bought her a comforter this fall but it just has strawberries all over it. We then borrowed some movies from the library (I have to sneak them back) and found a doll at Value Village. Hmmm.... I guess I started it. I still don't understand why she gets so excited about Strawberry Shortcake though. To me, she's as annoying as Dora the Explorer. They are both just so gosh, darn, chipper. We did lose the doll at Value Village when she got put down for a bathroom break and we were unable to find her again. I then asked on freecycle if anyone had one up for grabs and got a tip to check kijiji. We were able to buy two for $5.00; and one talks! Mackenzie was thrilled when Daddy brought them home. Now I'm loosly considering a Strawberry Shortcake theme for her birthday this month... I think I'll stick to a Doodlebops theme and try for Strawberry next year. There is so much available online for parties. Either way, Mackenzie is just thrilled to be having a party and "all my friends coming!"

Memories

glorified from the past,

frozen in time,

resurface through

reminders of location,

sensation, and activities,

unconsciously in dreams

and consciously through regrets.

I wish to metamorphize

this past relationship

and bring it into the reality of now,

paste over the rose-colored glasses

of yesterday

and capture it in realism.

I cannot pursue what wasn't

for this isn't the time

or the place for it to be.

I will have to take a new direction

of old and aging friends,

to purge myself of our past

that continues to reemerge

and interfere with my present.

I find I cannot turn my back

and let the past be past

so it shall have to change

and it shall have to mature

as my body, if not my mind, has done.

There is no place for that past

in my today.

With it, I cannot move on,

within the relationship I now have.

Brave Girl

Taylor's dentist appointment sadly didn't end with her being posted on the cavity free wall. Mommy's slacking off on flossing Taylor's teeth resulted in a cavity between the tight upper back teeth. Taylor, since receiving her shots for starting school, is rather afraid of needles. She was not thrilled about the idea of having to get a needle to have her tooth fixed. With a quavering voice she asked the dentist if she could have gas instead of a needle as mum had told her that sometimes people have gas instead of needles. She wasn't able to have that option. The dentist explained that she would put a type of jello on Taylor's gums so that the needle wouldn't hurt as much. Taylor said she had to get a needle for school and it really hurt. The dentist then expained that this needle wasn't going into her muscle and wouldn't hurt as much. Mum and little sister had to leave for Taylor to get her work done. The dentist didn't want to scare Mackenzie for any of her future visits. About 30 minutes later when Mackenzie was asking if she could see Taylor now the dental hygenist arrived and said Taylor did well and we could go see her now. Taylor, cheek all puffed up, was rooting through a treasure box of stickers and tattoos for being such a good girl. She wasn't phased by her experienced at all. She puffed up in a big grin when mum told her she was proud of her. Taylor then wanted to call all her relatives and tell them what a great job she had done getting her cavity fixed. She then announced she was hungry and wanted something to eat.

Thing Number 8: try an online processor

I tried google documents and created a xmas shopping list and wrote a wee poem (also published here on my blogspot). I used to do a lot more poem composing. I can see the convience of keeping documents online so that they are accessible from any computer rather than having to download and upload in order to share or to edit. This option has great potential.

Relationships take work.

Great relationships take even more work.

But they're worth it.

The more you put in,

the more you can get out.

Relationships are also a two way street.

It takes two of you to move forward.

Or only one does the work,

and burns out feeling unappreciated.

It takes honesty even when it hurts,

for the imagined may be worse.

It takes understanding;

attempts to understand and

help to make one understand.

It takes agreeing to disagree

rather than having to always win

thereby creating a loser.

It takes respect.

Respect for self so that one doesn't lose

too much of oneself and have nothing to give.

Respect for the other

so that one tries to accomodate,

compromise, and please.

It takes choosing to love

in spite of little things that irriatate

or things we don't agree with.

True love begins when the lust wears off

and we choose to stay

and we choose to do

because we want to.

Wikipedia's view of scrapbooking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrapbooking

Thing Number Seven: Wikipedia article

Being the crafty person that I am (take that expression as you wish), I decided to read an article on Scrapbooking. I was very interested to learn the history of it such as that it began almost as soon as printing began and that it was similar to oral story telling only with a more visual and tactile element. Makes sense to me. I'm more a visual learner than oral so it makes sense that I would enjoy passing on my families stories through scrapbooking. Hey, I'm now amongst the elite of Thomas Jefferson and Mark Twain who also scrabooked! Scrapbooking as it is now understood was started in 1976 by Marielen Christensen who made 80 albums in 4 years. And I thought I had too many albums! I think I have 14 completed albums in 7 years. I thank Marielen and her huband, AJ, for starting and devolping scrapbooking as it is known today. It has been an emotional outlet for me, has helped me to find time to be with my friends, and has helped me to capture and preserve the memories and moments of my family. I'm addicted.

Another Year of Treating (no tricks)

My eldest, Taylor has been counting the sleeps until Hallowe'en for the past five days. This morning she was excited that it was today. However, she must have been too excited as she stepped over her costume on her way out of the car when I dropped her off at school and forgot it. I had to find parking and then run it into her after the bell had rung. Then at supper time she exclaimed that it wasn't time to go treating yet as it wasn't dark. Sheesh. First she can't wait then she's making me wait to get it overwith.

To Kenzie, this is all still rather new and only her second time out trick or treating. It took some coaxing to get her to put her costume on to go out trick or treating. Finally finding something different from what she wore at the sitter's or to Grammie and Grampy's, we headed out the door. At the first house she asked, "me go home now?" At the second house she asked, "me go home now?" At the third house she asked, "me go home now?" At the fourth house she asked, "me go home now?" At the fifth house she asked, "me go home now?" Well, Taylor answered and said, "I'm having fun, we're not going home until we get to the end." Fifteen houses later, Mommy was asking Kenzie, "Can we go home now?" Kenzie replied, "No, me not done yet." Figures. She also didn't want to let me empty her treating bag into a grocery bag so she could continue collecting. I think she wisely doesn't trust me with her candy. Twenty two houses later, we got home and only 30 minutes past bed time. Getting them to bed and asleep, well that is another story.

A Shot in the Arm

It's that time of year again when I take us all to the doctor's office for our flu shots. Taylor has normally been very good about needles; she rarely cries but rather just sits on my knee and take the shot in the arm. This time was different. I should have taken backup. As soon as I parked the car Taylor was protesting, "I'm not getting a needle, you and Kenzie get a needle but I'm not going to, no, no, no...." Fortunately the waiting room had the distraction of Hallowe'en coloring sheets. They helped in the exam room too until Dr. T arrived. Taylor scooted between my chair and the magazine rack faster than I've ever seen her move and immediately started arguing about not getting a shot. I got my shot first; trying not to show any reaction. It wasn't that big a deal this time anyway. Mackenzie had been sleeping on my arm in a long-sleeved sweater (in 23 degree weather, but there's no accounting for her choice of clothing) and had to be woken up to retrieve her arm from its confines. She started protesting right away as well screaming, "NO!!" and kicking her legs and waving her arms. The doctor was still talking with Taylor that the needle helps her to not get sick and that it wouldn't hurt as much as her needles for starting school. - Oh...that's why she's suddenly so opposed to shots. - I held Kenzie against me holding her arm and pinning her legs with my other arm. She still succeeded in giving the doctor a good kick before bursting in to big rolling tears. The doctor was now telling Taylor that Kenzie's kick hurt more than the needle. It was a challenge to try to pull Taylor out enough to get access to her arm while trying to comfort and hold Kenzie. We never did get her out from her spot between chair and magazine rack but we did get her arm. The doctor even asked Taylor if she'd like some stickers afterwards, asked her to be big girl and show Kenzie how she could take a needle, I offered ice cream afterwards, and the doctor asked - with permission - if pop would help afterwards. Taylor continued to protest and squirm. So, I held Kenzie with one arm on my knee while holding Taylor's arm with the other and hoping she wouldn't bang her head on the table behind her. The shot was quickly given while Taylor protested and Kenzie attempted to kick the doctor and save her sister. The tramatic event now over, the girls were both asked to come pick out a sticker. While Taylor was picking out her sticker, no tears visible now, the doctor appear with her pop for Taylor. We then had to wait for five minutes to see if we had any negative reaction and there was no sign of the trauma from a few moments before. The girls were both dry eyed, intently persuing their endevors from their toy box selections, and stickers and pop both set askide, forgotten. I had to ask myself, what was all the broohaha about and... no wonder some people opt not to get the needle and deal with the symptoms of illness instead. Sheesh. The trials and tribulations of being a parent.

New Car

Well, we did a great deal of looking around on the weekend and replaced the family car...for an automatic transmission. I was grumbling under my breath this morning about how it's going to take some getting used to as I attempted to use a clutch that wasn't there when Taylor piped up, "I like it, it's quiet." The car we had been using is long over due for exhaust work so she was understating the lack of noise. She also added that she likes how smooth the lock buttons are and the colour. Some people are so easy to please. Too bad we're not all like that.

Thing Five: Comment on an aricle about Library 2.0

Ok, for my Librarary 2.0 Challenge I have to comment on an article I read. One article I read is about how teens are involved in the library. As of late, or three years ago, we realised we have programs for 0-8 year olds and programs for adults but nothing inbetween. Hmmm. Major oversight. So a teen services person was hired and some teen programs started developing. We even have a teen section complete with magazine racks, new table and chairs, new area rug, and a new couch. We are hoping that if we make teens feel welcome and part of our library environment they will help us to look after it. But back on track to my comments on the article. The article asks why are we being asked to voluntarily complete 23 things in six months. The author states that the teens already know how to do these things, they do not need our help. My answer is, now we will know more about them and understand what they are doing. We will understand what their project took to accomplish. Maybe then we can build a bond and their self-esteem when we have to ask them for help. We can help them show that teenagers can contribute to society. I have also found that many teens love to share what they have completed on the net or to help me accomplish something with the computer. They also have more time and interest to learn the new ways of the internet so they have a great deal to teach me. It gives us some positive shared experiences so that when I have to ask them to quiet down, they listen to me just a little more.

Sleeps Through Anything!

I've witnessed the girls both sleep through the house alarm and other loud noises but today's was a first. I was heading to my sister's and her family's new home when I realised my head was pounding. I decided to make a brief stop at mum and dad's for some cold medicine before continuing on. Mackenzie fell asleep in the car en route. I was pulling out of my parents' driveway, looked left, then right, saw the gold-colored van and then BAM! I hit someone's pretty mustang coming from the left. Though I'm still not sure where they came from. Their car did a 180 and ended up resting on the far side of my parents' property. I couldn't help wondering what CSI might show about travelling speed and what made the car do that. However, back to Mackenzie sleeping in the back. She slept through it all! She slept through my swearing, the bang of the impact, the screech of the tires, the police officer opening her door to peek at her, and my mother moving her inside for a sleep. We had to wake her two hours later when we were able to leave. Kinda of frightening to be able to sleep that soundly. Glad she's safe.

Too Busy?

Unfortunately for Taylor, after she had signed up for skating and for Sparks, the days were set. Skating from 5-6 and Sparks from 6:30-7:30, the same day. This week was our first week of running to both events. Our day began dropping her off at school for 8:30. I worked, swam some laps, then picked Taylor up from school only to hurry home and get homework done. We had about an hour of free time when I realised we were late! We grabbed everything and flew out the door. By the time she was geared up for skating, she was already 15 minutes late getting onto the ice. But...45 minutes later, she claims to have had fun. Hmm. We rushed upstairs to grab her something to eat before heading to Sparks. She placed her order for fries and was advised to have a seat and, "we'll let you know when your order is ready." A family came and ordered after her, received their meal combos (with fries) so I suggested we ask what happened to her fries. They had forgotten. So...I shooed Taylor off the the washroom while I waited for her late fries. We met up and raced off up the hill to Sparks. I think Taylor managed to choke down ten fries and chew on a ketcup cup before we got there. That task accomplished, I drove back down the hill for my monthly meeting only to drive back up the hill 50 minutes later to retrieve Taylor. Actually running on time, we returned to my meeting where I took over my secretary duties or taking notes. Thirty minutes later, we were on our way back home for some well deserved rest. I'm glad there's nothing scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Melt Down Morning

At least once a week my 2.5 year old has a break down in the morning. This week it was this morning. She started off wanting help getting dressed but cried the entire time, not wanting that shirt or that pair of pants. So I told her to speak nicely or I'd have to leave. I had to leave. When I returned she spoke without yelling and did get dressed amongst the sniffles and made it to breakfast and through teeth brushing. She then had a melt down over her mittens when she couldn't get them on. She asked for help but didn't like it and threw the mittens and started stripping out of her shirt with her temper tantrum. I left to pack the car and Daddy stuffed her into her coat. When I returned and carried her to the car she had a fit stripping out of her coat on route. I forced her into her car seat as she continued to cry. She cried the entire ten minute (seemed longer) drive to the sitter's about mittens. She wanted the mittens her sister was wearing (they belonged to her), the ones Mackenzie had thrown when she didn't like how they fit. The sitter had to pry her from me as she continued to complain about her mittens even though I assured her she no longer needed any as it was warming up. ugh. She is normally a very pleasant girl but get her off on the wrong foot in the morning and everyone suffers. Good luck to the sitter!

big girl

Mackenzie, at 2.5 years, has decided that she is a "big girl" who is "five" where her five year old sister is "you one." Taylor is most distraught whenever this arguement begins.