Happy LabourFree day!!

For most people that is! I did labour around the house...and I'm sure there was a woman or two labouring somewhere today! But that's taking the term literally...

This morning I woke up to children as I do every morning, but with Howie on vacation, I wasn't expecting them! Their snuggles are always the best tho! DJ was funny...he came in, snuggled for 30 seconds and said "Can you feed me now Mummy?" The child is seriously in a growth spurt! I think he grew an inch over nite!! I kid you not! Its visible that he's taller...he doesn't do the tummy thing before a growth spurt...I have a nephew that whenever he was ready to sprout up, he'd get this little belly on him first...it was cute!!!

Howie hadn't made it upstairs yet...he slept in...but we were both moving at the same time...so I made a yummy eggs n toast breakfast!! Everyone gobbled it up! Only missing bacon....where's my dad when I need him!?!?! Oh yeah, back in Ontario!!

During breakfast Howie surprised all of us by suggesting Miss Samantha get a real bed!!!! At first I thought he was suggesting turning her crib into a day bed...but he clarified that he meant a REAL bed!!! DJ's bed is part of a bunk bed set...and since he doesn't have bunk beds set up in his room, the second bed was in the garage with the mattress under DJ's bed. Man, I was not ready for this!!!!! At this age DJ was going into a toddler bed at my mom and dad's....and then a real bed when we got back after he turned 3. Miss Sam is going to be 2 and a half in a couple weeks...yikes!! But when we asked her if she wanted a real bed like DJ's bed, she clapped her hands and said YEAH!! How do you argue with that!??!

So the dismantling of the crib happened soon after breakfast settled...it was kind of sad...this is my last baby!! She was pleased as punch! Even helped bring part of her crib out of her room to the top of the stairs just to prove the point! Once all the pieces were in her room the chore of finding the hardware to put it together was a difficult one. Now, smart people would tape the baggie of screws and whatnot TO the bed....yeah, we're not smart like that! Altho, it will be done next time we move...its a good idea! So, instead of turning every single thing upside down in the house and garage trying to find that baggie, Howie dug around his parts containers and found what he needed to put it together.

He got to work alone for the most part...we put Alvin and the Chipmunks on for the kids and since it was something new to them, they sat and watched for the most part....and before we knew it, he was vacuuming up his mess in her room and the mattress was gotten. She was so cute...trying to help me make her bed up! I got pictures of her fake sleeping...the smiles were cute!!

After lunch, she was excited to go lay down for a nap...and she did AWESOME!!!! Didn't get up once and slept almost 2 and a half hours!! I can't believe she's old enough for a real bed!  While she was napping I headed over to the shed to deal with the books! It was so nice to be by myself...I backed the truck right up to the shed door as it was pouring down rain and put Trace's cd on and went to work! I got everything sorted and dealt with!! I couldn't do anything about sharing it out, as the library and goodwill were closed, but its out of the shed ready for the next run tomorrow!

I did run into town tho to grab a free movie (turns out it wasn't! I'll be complaining) and some horrid chew for Howie...to my surprise, the grocery store was open and the dollar store was too! I thought it was Labourfree day...guess not! It is also the day before school starts...so maybe that's why. I got a total Howie movie...Clash of the Titans. I know NOTHING about Greek mythology, so this movie was lost on me! Howie enjoyed it tho...actually stayed up to watch it! After he went to bed, I put on Bachelor Pad...and they were just dumb dumb DUMB to keep Elizabeth and Kovacs!!! I wish we could see who voted for who like they do in Survivor! Ah, mindless entertainment!


Til next time...pray for safety for all troops!

I can smell Fall

Samantha came running in from playing outside this evening she smelled cold...like Fall smells...all earthy...its definitely in the air! Howie and I noticed leaves starting to fall on our way home from church. Seems like we just started summer a month ago...oh wait, we DID!! Too short!! Meanwhile, I know back in Ontario they're dealing with heat...and just starting to cool off. My mom's glad tomorrow is the last day of the C.N.E...18 days straight working those long hours is taxing!!! Sure glad she had the help she did!  I miss all the deals!!

I have to say, today was a most excellent Sunday!! After church we came home and had lunch and that was pretty much it! Howie took a nap on the couch, the kids played, Sam went down for her nap, and Howie woke up (his phone rang) and I laid down and took a nap. How perfect is that!?!? And DJ didn't nap which is even more perfect!! He did get to go down in the garage and learn some fishing stuff...he was telling me about it! Cuteness!

Dinner was AWESOME steaks grilled to perfection!!! The corn was not nearly as good as the corn we tried to get on the way home...we saw this truck at a gas station on the way to church with all these fresh goodies...and when we stopped by on the way home, he'd run out of corn. Bummer too! I much prefer white corn over yellow corn...and tonite was yellow. Even the kids weren't interested! Good thing it was 5 for a dollar! They did however devour the watermelon I'd cut up! We all did!!!

After dinner the kids got a bath, which means I got a shower! Sheesh!! All the sloshing and splashing...and its not even 6 inches of water! ha! DJ likes to think he's in a pool and Samantha seems to think she's in a stomping room! Clean babies tho, are just the yummiest!!! Almost as good as sleeping babies!!!

Which they soon were....ahhh bliss!! Howie happened on America's Funniest Videos....oh my word, they did a special "over the past 20 years" contest and the one that won it all was TOTALLY awesome!!!! I have thoughts already on how and when to scare the sh!t outta my kids like this family did!!! hahaha Even Howie got a chuckle out of it! Then he caught some Jimmy Buffet live telecast...such great music!! Howie realized the time and went to bed while I happened on Days of Thunder!!! Man, its been YEARS since I've seen that movie!!! Such a good one too! I have to say tho, I'm quite shocked its already 20 years old!! How did that happen!?!?!!

Til next time...pray for safety for all troops!

Daddy leeping

Is the song she was singing while we were at costco shopping!!! I swear my kids were competing to be the loudest kids there...and they WON!!! Insane! Maybe it was all the extra people there on a long weekend Saturday...ugh! Either way we were there an extra half hour longer than normal....and that included lunch!

After there we headed to Albertsons to get some corn for dinner...and the local stuff is in!! Its SO good!! We had some the other nite and it was super sweet! Makes me excited to grow some next year!  At this point Samantha was getting punchy from not having a nap...and DJ was being a typical 4 yr old all over the place!!! The free cookie they got from the bakery only kept them quiet for a few minutes....

I was unloading the buggy and realized I'd forgotten something, so I got Sam back out of her car seat and back in we went...if it wasn't a necessary item, I'd have left it for another time, but if I'd come home without the beer...HA! I think it was just about 3 when we got home and DJ was most excited to get out of the truck and play! Sam was actually a helper today! She carried in a pack of Capri Sun and then the coffee...it was so funny how she brought the coffee into the kitchen, put it on the floor, and gave an enormous sigh! Like she'd carried something more than her own weight! She does enjoy helping tho! As soon as she was done helping tho she took off for outside! Well, outside, inside, outside, inside...that's more her thing...just in case we missed her!

I quickly grabbed a shower and then got moving with dinner prep. Howie's dad and his girlfriend Ellen were coming for dinner! So while I was out shopping, Howie was napping (he had to go in to work this morning) and then did all the vacuuming! What a guy!!! House looked good too! I got a couple candles going and it smelled good!!

Dinner was delish!! Pork chops grilled to perfection, pesto noodles (Sam's choice) and corn on the cob! Dessert was a carrot cake (I am turning into my mother...) which Samantha thought she'd help bring to the table...from the counter, that's still taller than she is...yeah, it was sideways for 10 feet! Such a helper!!!! lol  DJ enjoyed helping me blow out the candles...he insisted on the candles! His enthusiasm was fun! As soon as the cake was consumed, they were both back outside! Then we enjoyed more conversation with Dad and Ellen. Its cute when they're loveydovey with each other! Awwwww

They left at 8 and I brought a super sad SamSam in for bed...figured we'd deal with them one on one tonite. As I was gettin Sam ready DJ came in on his own and got ready too. Both were in bed by 8:40! Not too late. Before the bed time prep I realized I had to go back into town to finish the groceries at Freddys as the sales would be over today. Totally spaced on it being a Saturday...Howie worked...sorta...so off I went after kissing Howie goodnite! Fairly easy shopping with hardly anyone in the store at that time of nite...whew! I was back home by 10:15 and unloaded and put away. Sat and watched some tv...kind of a boring nite really! Gotta have those days tho...makes the adventurous ones even more exciting!!

Til next time...pray for safety for all troops!

P.S...in case you didn't figure it out, Sam was singing "Daddy sleeping"....and he was!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!?!?!?!?!

This morning dawned bright and early!!! After last nite's changing-of-the-sheets at 2 am, I was exhausted!! I've been warned that Jasper has his final days with us now...saddens me, but damn the mattress can NOT take anymore pee!!!! Last nite before I went into the bathroom the bed was fine, he was in there with me, left and when I got done washing my face, he'd peed the bed! NOT cool!!! And not something I enjoyed doing by myself! 

The kids were up just after 8 and raring to go!! I kinda felt a little off...date wise, day wise, time wise, sleep wise...just all over! Like the rabbit in Alice...late! I hadn't done up the grocery list yet and today was pay day...I hadn't brought up the kids clean clothes, and they're running around naked! DJ somehow convinced me to let him put his swim suit on and go swimming at 10:30 in the morning...yes, the sun was shining, but it wasn't HOT out! The kids next door were, so he joined them...turns out, he didn't actually go in the pool! And ended up wrestling on the trampoline.

Meanwhile Samantha is refusing to get dressed, so I leave her be and work on the grocery list. At one point I look over and she actually dressed herself!!!! The pants were on right but her shirt was backwards! I was shocked!! She was pleased with herself...she did it "by myhelf!" Still hasn't mastered those S's!! It cracks me up too! I'll take a picture of her and she'll say "Me hee Ham!" How silly does that sound!?!?! She's starting her own language!

Lunch was a chore for some reason...DJ was being obstinate! Samantha ate everything by herhelf and DJ was being a baby about wanting me to feed him. I refused and went to get ready for the game. The original plan was to leave at 2, go to the book run, and then head to Edmonds for the game. It was 2 when I got done getting ready and DJ hadn't eaten one bite of his green beans! And it took another half hour to get him to finish up! It was 3 by the time we were out the door...I had the backpack with our sweatshirts, the cooler with some food, my purse, two sippy cups and shut the locked door behind me...yes, LOCKED!!!! I had no keys!!!! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I check the truck for a spare, nada...the garage door is locked, and I know for a fact that the sliding door is too as I'd just done it 5 minutes prior....so I go next door and grab the spare I gave them, get the keys and hit the road! Thankfully the next book run isn't til Tuesday, so the books didn't HAVE to go today, and I skipped it! Instead I went thru the bank drive thru and headed to Edmonds...with two sleeping children!! So I put my new Trace Adkins cd on and enjoyed all the new songs!!! They're hilarious!!! And that voice gets me every time!!!! The song Brown Chicken Brown Cow makes me laugh out loud!!!


I got to the school a half hour early, so I let the kids sleep a bit more and surfed my most annoying-ready-for-an-upgrade phone for a bit. About 4:50 Sam woke up so I got our stuff, woke DJ and headed into the stadium.  Perfect evening for football...til the sun started setting...kinda tough to watch a game with the sun in your eyes...who designed that!?!?  The first game was actually well attended since school was out, it's a long weekend, and it was at 5 pm. And they kicked some Shoreline BUTT!!!!! Final score was 34-2 we trounced them!!!!  We even got to hear Jake's name called a couple times over the p/a system! For good things too! lol

The plan was to go out for dinner after, but Howie bailed on us, so the kids and I went to Burger King to eat and then Dairy Queen for a treat. Even after all that, the kids still wanted a hamburger bun (I had a pkg in the truck) DJ gave Sam a 1/3 of one and ate the other 2/3 and then asked for ANOTHER one!! Of which he ate half of it before saying "I think I'm filled up now Mum!" we're in the midst of a serious growth spurt!!!! The past couple days he's been like an ant hoarding food for winter!!!!

When we got home at 9:30 DJ was asleep and Sam was just about to drift off til I opened the door and the light came on. Howie was still up and came out to grab DJ  and carry him in...got them both pajamaed and in bed quick! Howie was immediately following them....til he sat down on our bed and smelled pee again...I don't think it was new pee, but it was strong! So we stripped the bed, I febreezed it, and he took his pillows downstairs. I'd totally join him, but there would be serious tears if the kids couldn't find me in the morning!! It would be kinda funny....for a minute!

Til next time...pray for safety for all troops!

She'll always have DJ

The past couple days the bond between DJ and Samantha has gotten stronger!! I've noticed a few things and they just melt my heart! The other day we're driving, they're in the back talking to each other and DJ says "Know what SamSam? I love you!" Totally out of the blue!! And what mother doesn't want to hear that between her kids!?!?!? DJ has also shown that he can protect Samantha from harm (unless he's the one doing the harm that is) and its quite endearing to watch. And just today, I'd told Sam NO in a firm voice about something and she got all upset, went to DJ and he gave her a hug, patted her on the back and told her "it's okay" Awwwwwwww!!! right!??! How awesome is that??! The best!

Today was a go-nowhere kind of day!! Yet I had a lot of phone calls to make!! Turns out, I now have 3 reps under me!!! Yesterday a friend of my 1st rep signed up under no one, and then learned Shirah had. She wanted to join forces with her and be on my team, so phone calls were made and as of this morning she's on my team!! SOOOOO awesome!!! I got to talk with her a bit today and she's super excited to get going!!! LOVE it!!! Sounds like me a year ago!! :D

Since we had no plans the kids got bathed this morning...I find it less rushed to bathe them during the day than right before bed time. DJ was showing off his going under water skillz! He's blowing me away with his new found talents!! He thinks he's diving under water to get the toys...hahaha! Crazy kid! 

While Sam napped DJ and I snuggled to watch Veggietales...he likes the pirates that don't steal anything the best! The neighbours were gone to the fair today, which made DJ not want to go outside...and it was SO beautiful out too!  When Howie got home I took the kids outside to get the mail...and then checked out my garden...turns out I am growing some rutabagas after all! So I thinned them out as they were crowding each other...and the carrots are about half way done...couple more weeks yet! I also pulled all the peas out and got the last few green beans picked. Next year will be SO much better! Plus, I'll write down the exact day I plant things so I can keep track of when they should be done. The tomatoes on the back deck are thriving!!!! I've got 8 plum sized ones so far...keep growing toms!!!

I had the pleasure of putting the kids to bed as Howie was napping as he had to go in tonite for a few hours. Surprisingly, they both went down easily! DJ only came out once and that was to tell me that Jasper was under his bed...easy to get him out!! He didn't want to be there! I woke Howie up about 9 and he actually scared the crap outta me by being awake  and when I reached for him, he grabbed me!!! Yeah, he got me! But I was able to return the favour 10 minutes later and got him good!

Once he was on his way I grabbed a shower and then settled in to watch CMA Fest from last nite on dvr. I love being able to fast forward thru things I don't have to sit thru! Kid Rock being one of them!!! UGH!! Since it's 3 hours long, I stopped just after watchin Blake and Trace sing Hillbilly Bone! LOVE that song!!!

Til  next time...pray for safety for all troops!

Moon Lover

I am truly a moon lover!!! I love looking in the dark sky and finding it! Tonite was low and half crescent like...and a gorgeous colour! I'm such a night owl!!! I'd make a good vampire...sorta....lol

This morning both kids gave me the wonderful gift of sleeping in...DJ joined me but went back to sleep til 8:56 when SamSam got up. I'd changed her last nite before I went to bed, so she wasn't soaked when she got up! Might be the new game plan for her!

Unfortunately, with the kids getting up so late, we were kinda rushed to get out the door by 10 am!!! I signed up my 2nd recruit with Avon this morning!!! That's 2! I've got one more in the works, which just leaves 2 more to get before I attain Leadership!! Moving right along!!!! I'm so pleased with this! Look out world!!!

After signing Kody up, we stayed for lunch and the kids played while we chatted...just about 2 we headed to Everett to a new-to-me place called Cash And Carry...O M G!!!! What a place!!!! Its just jam packed with all kinds of stuff! Like costco, but you don't have to 10 of something to get the deal!!! All I went for was little containers with lids for sampling out liquid stuff for Avon. WOW! I so want to go back kidless!!!

We stopped on the way home at Freddy's to see what they had in the way of mattress covers...I'm beginning to think maybe Jasper's just getting old...and crotchety...and I could go on, so instead of losing the mattress completely, let's try and save it some! They didn't have the Queen sized cover, so I went with a pad for now, and I got the plush ones as the other ones sound like a shower curtain...I don't want noise while I lay down! I also got DJ a cover for his bed since we've already had a couple accidents...so might as well start now! He thought it was cool! lol What does he know!! 

We beat Howie home I got working on the sketti sauce right away! Howie worked out in the garage when he did get home and the kids ended up out there too! It was a beautiful day here considering yesterday!!! I think it got to 72...not too bad at all!! It always strikes me funny how quickly my birthday ends with September! I wait all month for it and BOOM its over just like that and into a new month!!

After dinner I kissed everyone good nite and headed off to Seattle for a follow up with Shirah...we went to her as she had to work late. Can I just say, I'm SOOOOOOO glad we don't live in downtown Seattle!! Those streets are CRAZY!!! Insane! We did finally find Cafe Ladro, and I'm so thankful Rachel drove instead of me!! I'd have needed caffeine just to recover...and I don't do caffeine! I had a good hot chocolate tho!

It was close to 9:45 when we headed north to Lynnwood again...and after a stop at Rachel's house to learn a few things online, I headed even more north (and east) for home!! I don't think I've sat in my chair for more than a diaper change all day....must. go. sit!!!

Til next time...pray for safety for all troops!

Another year older

Another year wiser....maybe! But when you turn 29 over and over and over again, you're smart enough...right!??! I mean, I could totally pull off telling someone I'm only 29...right!?!?!? The only answer here is YES!!! lol

This morning Samantha was the one to wake first, just before 6 with wetness...so changed her up and plopped her in bed beside me where she fell back to sleep easily....til DJ joined us just before 8 and a snugglefest ensued!!!! I told the kids then that it was my birthday and that I'd let them make cookies for me..DJ thought I meant right that second...he was excited!

The rains were here today....if I was a duck, this would have been perfect weather for a birthday...but I'm NOT a duck (nor do I sound like one or walk like one...just for clarification!) and was bummed to see it raining! It wasn't drizzling, or sprinkling, it was outright raining! Today at the fair, it was 2.00 Tuesday...go before 2 pm and its only 2.00  person instead of 10.00...and since the kids are both under 5, they would have been free! BUT with the rain, no thank you! Did that last week, not doing it again!


After lunch I got a  text to go meet a client with her order...simple 5 minute drive there and back..with maybe a 5 minute pit stop to chat...on the 5 minute ride home, Samantha falls asleep...so DJ and VERY quietly get out of the truck and she sleeps on...thankfully with it only being 59 degrees out the heat was on in the truck and it was nice and cozy in there. DJ took off for the neighbour's house to play with K and I came inside and got laundry going and dishes washing...typical birthday stuff! lol

About 3 I got another text to go meet another client, called on DJ and he was good to stay playing, so sleeping Sam and I took off for the church where I was meeting my g/f. She woke up just as I was parking the truck and scared the crap outta me by talking to me! Denise showed up about 5 minutest after we arrived...and since it was coming down pretty hard, I drove her over to the entrance of the fair...she was attending a concert tonite.

Howie got home just after 5 and the phone calls started!! My sister Joanne called, my g/f Joanne called, my mom called and my FIL called. The number of messages on facebook alone is truly mind blowing to me!! And SO special!!! I feel loved!!

Dinner was a wonderfully grilled steak, baked potato, green beans and bread!! And the cookies the kids made! That was fun actually! We seriously cheated and they "made" the frozen pre-shaped ones we got with Jake's football team...they didn't care and sat there for the first few minutes watching thru the window of the oven! Before serving them, DJ and Howie sang Happy Birthday to me...Sam sat there just smiling watching it all til the end and tried vocalizing. Love it all!!

Bed time...man, now that was a chore!! Samantha was all worried about something I couldn't decipher, and refused to hug Howie til she'd had a fit...then DJ was being ornery and wanting a different cd in his player...and then finally silence came over the house! Howie started off in our bed, but the cat has peed on the bed twice now in three days, and he was having scent issues, so he's downstairs snoozing away...fun! Here's hoping my spidey nose doesn't pick it up! Must get a mattress cover!! This is getting SO old!

Til next time...pray for safety for all troops!