Sicko!

So the germs are flying at work. Either people are on vakay or they're sick. We're down 2 bodies in Creative which sucks (since you have to pick up the slack). And of course, others aren't as organized as I am so I'm having to search through crap to find out what to do. Anyway, it's done, bitch session is over. (Potty mouth today, I know).

Anyway, yesterday E was a fab little doll! She was polite, a good listener. It was awesome! She had a nap at daycare...guess she needed it. She didn't want to go to bed last night but after dad's sturn voice chimmed in, she obeyed. She even tidied up her toys (which she's been slacking on over the holidays). So after the kids were in bed, I got on the Wii Fit. Love it! Since I did Yoga aerobics yesterday, I did some strength training and balancing. I suck at the balance games. I think it's coordination that's lacking. Anyway, did that along with the yoga exercises which I used to warm up/cool down. I had 2 days of 1/2 hour each. I'd like to do that everyday. And yesterday I had just 1 dessert...vs. boat loads of chocolate, sweets, Bailey's, etc.

Today I'm doing better with my water. I had the equivilant to 4 cups of coffee yesterday and no water at all!! Today, I drank 2 c of water before my coffee. I'm on my first jug at work (600 ml total). Hey, day by day improvements. Baby steps. And I felt the need to start now and not wait till Jan 1. I'd like to be at a point were 80% of the time I'm "good" and the other 20% not paying so much attention. Or maybe it should be 90/10. Either way, my paints are tight fitting, I feel sluggish and tired, and my esteem was in the shitter. Just 2 days in and my attitude is more up beat. This may be the long way around doing just 1/2 hour a day but it's something. Before Christmas, I wasn't doing anything. And maybe this will encourage more outdoor stuff. Play soccer on the Wii in winter, kick around the ball outside in summer. I think the realization is that we're not active people, but if we want our kids to be healthy, we need to get active.

Well, gotta run. Hope you have a great day! Only 1 more sleep till party time!!!
~B

Oh Happy Christmas!

We had a great Christmas at our house! E was up with the crows...5:20a.m. UGH! Hard to start the day that early. Anyway, she was thrilled that Santa loved his cookie and Rudolf ate his carrot. :) And of course, the presents. Not sure if she played with hers or L's more. She had fun either way. After presents and Christmas breakfast, MIL & I went to 10 o'clock mass to sing in our little rag-tag choir. Everyone said we sounded great...Father Darek was impressed too because we sang a traditional Polish song (in English). At the end of mass, he commented on it and got the organist to play it again while he and 2 Polish friends sang it in their native tongue. It was really nice. So home again for more relaxing. We stayed in, ate, napped, had Christmas dinner and played, relaxed.

Boxing Day was another lounge day. We stayed in till the evening when DH, E & I went to Greg & Jaimee's (Greg & DH used to work together). They have 2 boys so E had fun chasing them around in her fairy dress and wand. :) We headed home at 9 and then crashed. Saturday I went out early to Walmart and picked up next year's gift wrap, cards, etc. I also picked up Wii Play (including an extra remote) courtesy of a gift certificate we got from Aunt Sandy. Jason & Rayanne came over that morning with gifts for the girls too. After tidying up a bit, I had a quick nap on the couch before going to choir practice/mass. In the evening, DH "fixed" the van (yet to be seen, need some cold weather to know for sure) while I made icing for pork pies and shortbreads).

Sun after DH & E went to mass, we piled in the van and went to Enfield to visit DH's aunt Lillian & family. We spent the entire day there: had lunch, ate chocolates all afternoon and a big supper. E & L had fun playing with Caleb and Kaden. What a riot! The boys are 6 and 4 so E was right in there with them playing with everything. L had a ball watching...and crawling everywhere! I need a leash on that girl!!! Aunt Lillian gave the girls cute gifts: E got a picnic basket complete with tin cups, plates and forks and spoons and L got a pull string doggy that barks. Plus, she got them matching jammies, which they wore home. So adorable!!!

So that was our long weekend. Today I'm so tired I just want to crash right now! But the boss is on vakay and one of the other guys is sick so I actually have to work. I had 2 cups of coffee and still I'm tired. Guess I should switch to Redbull. ;) Hope you all had a great holiday!!!
~B

One more (half) day to go!

We had a pretty fun day today. Got most our work done and went out for a long, leisurely lunch with our department. Very nice. We had apps and beer and I had a yummy stuffed chicken entree. Very glad tomorrow we're cut short.

So little miss L is home sick again. Fever, throwing up, lathargic (sp?). I just wish I was there to "mother" her. Poor dolly. Thank goodness Nana's home. I dropped E to daycare this a.m. and picked up L's present to the family. Framed finger painting and a card with pictures of her at daycare wearing a Santa hat. So far E's brought home 2 ornaments...a sparkly pine cone and a reindeer made from a paint stir stick. I can't believe Christmas Eve is tomorrow! The time flew by. Oh, I made 2 Christmas tree cakes for daycare last night (well, DH made them mostly). E & I decorated them this a.m. For her class: I just covered it with green icing, red and purple garland and yellow star (using star tip) and she overloaded it with sprinkles. For L's class: green icing, red garland, purple "bells" (star tip) and yellow star. They turned out great!

Well, I must run. If you're off tomorrow, enjoy your day. I'll be in till noon so I'll write before I'm off.
TTFN!
~B

Good & Bad

First the good...great weekend. Had a ton of fun Sat night downtown with Rhonda & friends. Great supper, fun dancing, embarrassing pics on FB...you know how it goes. :) Sun was just as fun out with DH & E. Went to DH's work's kids C'mas party at Hatfield Farms. I've been there maybe 3 times already and have fun every time. E had an absolute ball! Then Hil & my aunt in law Sandy came over for supper. Presents and sweets. I'm such a sugar addict!!!!

For the bad...L's home from daycare. Thrush is still kickin' around. She spiked a fever today and is throwing up. DH gave her pedialite which helps with dehydration but the sugar in it feeds the infection...catch 22. Anyway, I talked with him and she's wailing over the phone. Hard thing for mama to hear (BTW, DH's home b/c the power's out at work...lucky him). So I'm heading home, picking up E and hopefully my baby will do okay with her meds. :(

TTFN!
~B

Well wouldn't ya know!

The week before Christmas and my van decides it wants to be a pain! It's been running rough in cold weather and it stalled on me twice today on my way to Costco. I turned around and went back to work. No need to get stuck in Bayers Lake. So, now we'll have to figure out something else for supper. What? Take out you say? Sounds good to me. :)


So, did I blog yesterday? Can't remember. No I didn't...had to check. Wednesday night MIL didn't go to see Yes Man and said for DH & I to go instead. Very funny, LOL, ROFLMAO kind of movie. Went out for coffee afterwards and home to bed.

Yesterday the sales staff put on a potluck lunch for us and it was fab! Usually they pick out gifts for us each year...which is appreciated...but...the lunch was a better idea. Cream curry, stirfry, chili, perogies, grape leaves, salads, fantastic desserts and some wine/beer to boot! This definitely has to be a work tradition!!!! Nothing went on in the evening, thank goodness. Even got to bed early cause Grey's was a repeat. Oh, DH got called back to work yesterday to start today!!! Very exciting!! I talked to him during lunch and he's very grateful to have the new coveralls and coat from Costco. We bought them a month ago. It was $46.99 for the coveralls and $50ish for the jacket...the lining is quilted. Very, very warm when you're working outside. Hope he's got a toque and gloves too! Anyway, he thought they might have a month's worth of work...but who knows. I'm just glad he's back, especially since something is obviously wrong with the van.


So, Friday's here...hurray! We're getting our tree (and take out...hehehe) tonight. Tomorrow day I have to get groceries, go to choir practice and mass, and Rhonda's b-day party is in the evening. Doug & Sarah are also stopping by. Sunday we're going to Hatfield Farms with the girl(s) for the Shipyards' kids Christmas party. Then Hilary is coming for supper. And of course I have to bake somewhere in there. Well, I better go. My stew has been sitting on my desk for 15 mins begging to be warmed up. Hope you have a great weekend. Only 5 more days till hoho!!!
~B

Ho-lee snowballs!

Wow, it's coming down here in Hali! Hope y'all got your snow tires firmly attached to your vehicle. Again, thank you DH and the good Lord I have mine on. I totally gapped that I hadn't written yesterday. Got busy, and tired, can you blame a gal? Today's been fairly steady. The battle begins to avoid the sweets at work. I have a game plan to pick 1 and have only 1...yeah, it was a good plan. In my defence, I chose 1 square and enjoyed it...then this afternoon had 1/2 of a "bee bun" and 1 sliver of a lemon square...then one of the sales reps brought in cheesecake. Lord knows how I'm going to get through the New Year. I'll be wearing hubby's sweatpants to work. :) Not very attractive. Maybe during Christmas week, I'll work it all off with the Wii! Let's hope so.

Nothing going on tonight at my house. I gave MIL a pass to "Yes Man" with Jim Carrey. DH has a Pastoral Council meeting. So it will just be me and the gals...if the other 2 don't stay home because of the weather. We'll see. I have a pass for DH for tomorrow night to see "The Spirit." It's one of those comic book style movies (like Sin City). Then Friday night I think we'll get the tree. Saturday we have choir and church, and Doug & Sarah are dropping by. Sat night we're out for Rhonda's b-day...first one I can actually go to. Usually we have our staff party scheduled the same night as her party. I'm excited to go. We're going to the Keg, which we really can't afford now, but we're going anyway. Then maybe dancing. Sun a.m. we have hubby's kids C'mas party and Hil's coming for supper. Another busy wknd.

Well, I'm gonna run. Drive slow and get home safe!
~B

I'm not 21!

...yet every now and then, I need to affirm that it's true. Like Saturday night, when I decided it was a good idea to do a couple of shooters, in between drinks of R&C. My goodness! And the payback was little E bursting into my room the next day wondering where her princesses were. UGH! It was a fun night but I think nights like that should be reserved for times when there are no kids around in the morning. :)

The wknd flew...too busy and very tiring. My work party was fun but we couldn't stay long. Though I think it was just enough for E who really needs a nap in the afternoon still. I left behind her pic with Santa though. Rhonda's party (as mentioned above) was very fun. We kept E out till 11:30...I know, bad mama. But she was wide awake and amused us on the way home. Sun a.m. E had a b-day party at Boston Pizza...lots of fun. That afternoon I was no good for nothing. I went scrapping but left early...just couldn't focus anymore. Last night I made "tree-biscuits" in my sleep. I got rave reviews. The recipe is awesome and will add it to my favs.

Tonight is a blank slate. Nothing to do. I think I'll go to bed early. Hopefully I'll get more energy tomorrow.
~B

Bern says Reeee-lax

I'm so looking forward to heading home and doing nothing tonight. Well, not nothing, but nothing outside the house. DH is trying (the power just went out) to bake cookies again for me today. Pumpkin spice...a delish alternative to gingerbread. You use the pumpkin pie spice, no actual pumpkin in it. Very yummy. Anyway, our movie was really, really good last night. Lots of laughs. And we went to Bubba Rays on Spring Garden before hand. They specialize in wings and let me tell ya, fan-diddly-damn-tastic! I can't wait to go again. Highly recommend it.

DH has both girls home with him today. Both are in great spirits but L is contagious with thrush and both are coughing and snotting up like crazy! I'm not feeling the greatest either. Wish I was home watching princess movies...oh right, the power's off, guess there'll be no movies. Well, I better run. Lots going on this wknd. Choir practice Sat a.m., 2 parties Sat p.m., b-day party Sun lunch and scrapping workshop (tags & cards) Sun p.m. Plus I have to make biscuits for work on Monday (cute tree shaped biscuits with ranch & cream cheese spread and decorated with colourd peppers). At least I have tonight to relax...after I finish the bulletin and icing the cookies. UGH! The holidays can't come quick enough.

TTFN!
~B

Birthday Blues

Poor Miss L is sick...with thrush of all things. I remember E getting it when I breast fed her. My goodness, what a nightmare that was! She must have had it for 3 months. Anyway, it was very inconspicious. Her tongue looked milky but her cheeks were "flaky" looking. She's home with Daddy and on anti-biotics. So I'm at work, without a vehicle, sitting at my desk...figure I may-as-well blog. :)

L was really tired coming home though she napped twice...probably tired of being sick. We opened her presents (we gave L her b-day gift last month: a "gum ball"-like machine for those clear plastic balls that have shapes, etc., inside). E wanted to get her a pink ball...which ended up being a ball with Carebears on it. Nana got her this cool toy that I suggested. It's called a "fun box" - 5 sides of activities. I saw it online at Toys R Us. Auntie Andrea & Uncle Mike sent a SWEET little outfit, which she has on today. Granny & Poppy gave last month: a boat with animals for the tubby. She did very well for her b-day.

So tonight Nana agreed to watch the kids (even with one sicky). She's picking up E on the way home, then when she gets in, DH will pick me up from work. But first he has to get the pics from Superstore. Can't wait to see them!! Oh and then we'll go to the premiere of "Nothing Like the Holidays." I'm glad we're still going. I'm curious to see it. It looks good. We'll probably grab a bite while we're out too...depending on how soon he gets to me.

Well, I should get going. Travel safe tonight...darn ice! Winter would be great without it.
~B

Picture Perfecto!

Well, it's been a stressful lead up. Today we had the girls in to get there pics done. E's coughing up a storm. L's sneezing every few minutes with 10 pounds of snot coming per shot! What a sight??!! But we still managed to get 2 nice pics. In 1 pic, they're wearing "China" dresses that E's godmother bought them when she was in China...they're silk and gorgeous! In the 2nd pic, L's wearing a purple spagetti strap dress with flowers, ribbons and bows. I dug out E's Barbie Fairytopia dress which matches in colour perfectly and very similar style. I can't wait to see them!! I'll get them tomorrow afternoon. Wish I had a scanner to load them on the web. :(

Today felt very frantic till that was done. Glad it's overwith. The week is shaping up to be really busy! Every night, something's going on. Last night we went to Confession. Today is L's b-day with cake and presents tonight! (I can't believe she's 1 already!!!) Unbelieveable that I have 2 kids. Crazy! Anyway, I must be going. Hope the fan base is doing alright! Later kids!

TTFN!
~B

I'm ready for Santa now!

So, since I was so tired yesterday, I went to bed...and set up a wrapping station. And stayed up till midnight. Nice, I know. Anyway, it's done. Ugh! Now I'll still have MIL's shopping and wrapping to do. And baking...but at least I got the majority done.

Well, I'd love to stay and chat but it's storming out, and it's 5 o'clock, and I have to pick up L. E's home sick with daddy. Hope y'all are doing well.
~B

Done in

My goodness, I don't know how I made it this far in the day. I'm zonked! Last night we had my staff party...which was fun: good food, great music, fun dancing, no prize for moi though. Still, hat a great time but I'm tired as heck today. We didn't even stay late. But the girls were up last night and I woke up panicing cause we had no power. We got through breakfast and DH got the girls to daycare after 11 (MIL was home till noon). So it's been a rough go today.

I'm having a great day though. Pretty productive and great news! We decided to forgo getting a Wii and Wii Fit for Christmas since we couldn't get one...and cause our bank account is pretty low these days. But while I was in Walmart, they announced they had some in store. I got both! Very exciting and maybe not so smart financially...however, I can justify it easily. I'm cancelling my Curves membership since it's so hard to get to. For what I'm paying monthly, I'd pay off both the Wii and Wii Fit in 6 months! So, I think it's definitely worth it. And it's a great family gift too. Mari's kids like it and I think E will have a lot of fun with it. Besides, we didn't get much else for each other (socks, undies, jammies, and a bit of scrapping stuff for me). So now all my shopping is done! Onto wrapping!!

Well, hope you all have a safe drive today! I hear there's snow in the valley so there may be more storm for us yet.
~B

Sittin' in the Pitty Pot

I'm so "ugh" I don't even want to write today. Just having one of those days were my world has gone to shit! The thing that sucks is it's likely PMS, which makes me furious! I feel I'm never justified in having my own feelings sometimes...there's always got to be an excuse. But that's the truth of it. I'm sitting here, feeling rotten, angry and sad, wishing I was somewhere else wonderful feeling good about me. But I can't. I'm unhappy about stuff I can't change in an instant. So what'll I do? Make myself feel happy in the short term.

So, what will make me feel happy? (That's not a piece of chocolate cake...which wouldn't really make me feel happy afterwards.) A pedi would be nice. Hmm...need a reservation, and I only have an hour for lunch. Maybe a new pair of pants? I just bought a new top for the C'mas party and decided to forgo the pants since DH isn't working. Truthfully, it would be nice to have something dressy. *Sigh* Well, maybe I'll get in the van and see where it takes me...cause sitting her sulking won't get me far. Hope this day turns itself around.
~B

OCD

I hate to use the term so lightly but dear God, I think I must have some form of it. I can tell by my calendar...actually, calendarS...between my agenda, work calendar, and house calendar, it looks like technocoloured vomit! Every appointment highlighted, with different colours, of importance, or activity (appointments in yellow, daycare/girls' stuff in pink, fun stuff in blue). I think it's getting out of hand! Or maybe I just have a busier than normal schedule. I like to think I'm keeping myself organized. Truthfully, I'm just afraid I'm going to forget something, that's why it's in triplicate. :)

Anyway, enough about that. We had a fun time decking the halls of the girls' daycare. E was so excited this morning when she saw the lights. Same thing when we got home last night. DH did get ours up yesterday...hurray! I meant to bring a C'mas CD with me for the van. Yeah, pretty sad aren't I. :) I'm totally in the spirit. Oh, and today I got my hair cut...FINALLY! My hair dresser just got back to work with only 6 weeks with her newborn. Hard to feel so relieved to have her back when she's missing out on time with her son. But daddy's on Pat leave and she's doing okay. SOOO glad to have her back.

Well, I better jet. Hope you're getting out, enjoying the sunshine...maybe doing a little holiday shopping. :)
TTFN!
~B

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

So excited to be decorating the girls' daycare tonight. It's an annual thing the parents do to surprise the kids. And with any luck, DH put the lights up today since it didn't rain. I really love Christmas though I try not to get too caught up. I remember years past getting let down cause everyone else wasn't in great spirits or the gifts were dismal. I know it's not about the gifts...but a 007 movie??? Please! Plus, it's hard to be excited when you got your hubby just what he wanted but he missed the mark with you. I find lists very helpful. :)

Truly the holidays are all about getting together with family & friends. One of my favourite Christmases was a few years ago...before kids. I was pretty sad because I didn't have time off to go home to CB. It was 2 weeks before Christmas and DH, seeing how lonely it was for me, said let's go this weekend and we did. It was so awesome showing up and surprising the family. This year I'm not upset about missing out on the fun in CB. We'll have lots with the girls. And we're planning outtings with my hubby's family and our friends. It's going to be a great holiday!
~B

Dreary Monday :(

Gosh, Mondays suck! Even more when it's rainy and ucky. I'm trying to keep the momentum going from the wonderful wknd I had. Fun concert Friday night, fun night at the movies w/SIL Saturday night, fun decorating last night. I so want to be in the Christmas spirit but it's hard to when it's raining...granted, you don't have to shovel it, right?

We put out (okay, I put out) just a bit of decorations since there's (a) not much room in our house and (b) L is determined to get into everything. I am terrified to have a tree. Guess we'll be teathering that to the wall. :) Little doll but mighty destructive. The cookie exchange yesterday was really nice. As much as it sucked making so many cookies (8 dozen) it was super nice to have the variety! I made 4 boxes up with about a dozen cookies to give away to friends as C'mas presents. I'm still going to make some cookies for the daycare teachers. The tins I have were too small for the big cookies. I'm going to make small shortbread balls with my marachino cherry icing. SO YUMMY!!

Anyway, nothing's going on tonight. I'll probably finish folding laundry...and maybe watch another Christmas movie with E...yes, we started last night. :) Hope ya had a great wknd!
~B