Why Teenagers Shouldn't Build Snowmen

It snowed like crazy here on Saturday and Son #2 upon my prompting took Emily outside to make her very first snowman. Well a large head with a massive tongue...baby eating head. This is why teenagers shouldn't make snowmen...especially baby eating ones. Em loved it...can't say I did but I did have to chuckle at his creativity. Love those kids. Mama Out.

A Point of Clarity

Ok...I got a call from Son #1 today about the whole pooing in the pants thing....I should add she was wearing a diaper! Don't worry I'm bad but not THAT bad...Mama out

Unpotty Training

Now you have heard of potty training but this past weekend I decided to unpotty train. Well not really but almost. I'm directing the actors for the Christmas play at our church and I had Emily with me. There is this really intense scene...you know the one when Joseph has just found out that Mary is pregnant and he isn't the father...well Don was deep into that scene when I looked at Emily and she had "the look". Now I couldn't walk out so I motioned for her to hold it. Her eyes gave me the "are you kidding" look. So I just whispered...go ahead a poo in your pants I'll clean it after the scene. I got the "are you kidding" look again and then okely dokely. Poor Emers. I'm such a bad mother some days. Just a bit of a setback though. We had a poo in the pottie today so all is back on track. Mama out.

The Call

I got the call this morning from Son #1.... "Mom it isn't a gun it's a weapon". Someone hold me back. Sorry Mattie.... You say tomato I say tomaaaaaaato. Of course he is talking about the "weapon" in the last post I did on his basic training bunk. I chuckled because it made me think about the time the school called for Son #2 because he brought a weapon to school in Grade one. DH and I quickly headed off to the elementary school in shock thinking that somehow our precious little lambie had obtained a lethal weapon and could have killed himself or someone else. When we arrived at the school there was our sweet little angel (NOT just looked like one) sitting around a table of three adults with the weapon in question sitting in the middle. An automatic full assault Power Ranger Ray Gun. He borrowed it from a friend. We all know why from my earlier post. He had great fun pretending to annihilate all the girls on the playground until his teacher walked around the corner and became collateral damage. It was a serious offense! I'm not kidding... they were ready to have him psychoanalyzed. They were concerned because when the teacher took the gun that he kicked her. Now I must tell you in all of the years that the kids were in school this lady was a piece of work. Short and stocky with a major knot in her face. Well when she grabbed Son #2 and accosted the weapon from him he kicked her in the shins. She told me this with great delight I'm sure because she thought that Son #2 would be mortally wounded by us. She had this smug look and before I knew it my lips engaged before my brain and well "I told her if she talked to me the way she was now talking to him I would have kicked her too". At this point DH just wanted to get the weapon the boy and the wife and get out of Dodge. After Son #2 and I went to anger management (not really but almost) we took back the very dangerous Power Ranger Ray Gun to the next door neighbour and brought the boy home. I hugged him. Told him not to shoot girls or kick teachers - kissed him on the head....patted him on the behind...told him to go outside and have fun. We are so serious with our kids sometimes. So thanks Matt for making me remember that and yes sirree it is a weapon and not simply a gun and don't point it at anyone, don't chase girls with it and if you were here I'd kiss you on the head and pat you on the behind and tell you how proud I am of you. Ok I wouldn't pat you on the behind...well maybe it's a nice tushie. Sorry Sorry...Mama out.

Gas Masks not Halloween Masks

Not many people know this about me but I am terrified of guns. I won't get into the whole story but let's just say that it involved a rifle, some blanks and my stupid brother. Enough said. Ever since I have been terrified of guns being pointed at me. Now I know your thinking who points guns at you (other than my stupid brother...he knows I love him in spite of it). I mean any gun - plastic or otherwise. So I spent most of my young motherhood banning them from the house. Banning Lego guns, Nintendo guns, video games with guns. Nothing violent. I was absolutely adamant much to the "boys" chagrin! Emily thought it was great to point water pistols at me...they mysteriously disappeared. So now that you know the background you can appreciate the chuckle Son #1 got from sending me his bunk picture from basic training. He thought I would like a picture of his gun and gas mask...oh like any good mother I was happy about the whole toothbrush and deodorant but a GUN! Mercy. They gave him a GUN! Let's just say I'm glad he's there and I'm here. He loves it of course. What other testosterone filled male wouldn't. So there you go you can spend your whole life trying to get your kids to do something and well this is what happens. Good thing I love him loads! Mama ignoring the whole gun thing out!

Apple Picking

We went apple picking a few weeks ago at a U-pick in the Annapolis Valley. It was our first outing in ages with little kids. It's amazing to me how things never change we just get older but a kid is a kid they never change . I love watching Emily when she sees things for the first time like an apple on a tree. So simple. Things we take for granted but children bring wonder back into. Emily was so excited. "One more Apple Mom....One more Apple". We went on a tractor ride. Try squatting on a 2 1/2 inch board when you haven't squatted since you were sixteen. Now try that when you are bumpy, bumpy along the apple orchard. Heaven help us. Wait until we get our next little girl. We should be almost 50. I hope it will keep us young and who cares if we forget we have kids and can't remember their names...that's what Son #1 and Son #2 are for to check in on us periodically. Mama still eating apples out!

Bloom Where You Are Planted

Having eight months ago left a 10 year career to pursue other opportunities that I felt I was to plant myself in over the next half of my life left me today evaluating am I doing what I wanted to be doing. One of those areas was to start a non-profit organization addressing the world's orphan crisis and the other was to have more time with my soon to be three year old daughter and to work with my DH. I turned 44 this year so therefore qualify as a mature mama. The time I expected to have not working away from home full time has not materialized like I thought it would. Surprise, Surprise. I found myself getting frustrated because I wasn't planted where I necessarily wanted to be every day and then I heard this quote. "Bloom where you are planted". What a great saying. Instead of worrying the days I'm home about doing something else I need to bloom with my daughter, son and husband. Isn't that the way we guilt ourselves as mothers or fathers sometimes. We forget that there is no more important job. I can say this because as well as having a three year old I have a seventeen and a nineteen year old. They have bloomed into two incredible young men. Sometimes I kick myself and say don't be too proud but it's hard. I know that things can change in an instant. I am all to aware of that and things that were once well can turn instantly upside down. I think as individuals if we bloomed where we were planted more often we would grow in our faith, our skills, our families, our careers and a myriad of other things. I'm home today with a sick baby and will be all week. I am going to bloom at home this week and love every minute of it. Mama out.

Modesty

A good friend of mine sent me an email today because I have a daughter. I love that it was a guy who sent this to me. I love that this guy and his wife are soon going to have their own daughter and he is thinking about this stuff. Modesty in our young girls. I had a conversation with my boys over the last few months. Separately, but about the same thing. I am one of those Mom's much to the dismay of my sons who asks lots of questions about what they want in a relationship....who likes them, who do they like. Now I have a daughter. Completely different beast. She is a beast too some days. Gotta love her though. I loved the simplicity of these few guidelines that if followed should help any woman young or old to do a modesty check on themselves.

"Four Guidelines for Modesty":
1. If you have trouble getting into it or out of it, it is probably not modest.
2.If you have to be careful when you sit down or bend over, it is probably not modest.
3.If people look at any part of your body before looking at your face, it is probably not modest.
4.If you can see your most private body parts or an outline of those parts under the fabric, it is
probably not modest.

These were taken from Michael Hyatt's blog.

I love the simplicity of them. I love common sense which many in our society today seem to have lost.

"If you think these guidelines are helpful, you might want to pass them along to the young women you know. Evidently, not many are getting the message elsewhere."

Well said and a good place to end. Mama out.

Photo-Deviant Art - LaVolpe

What I Learned Last Week

As a mother who has started all over after the age of 42 with a lovely little girl from China I am sometimes between three worlds. The world of a kid in university, the world of a kid about to finish High School and the world of soon to be trying threes. Last week was well one of "those" weeks. I thought that I would look back on the week and list my lessons learned:

• Snot from a three year old or a seventeen year old is still gross
• You can't be in two places at once well
• If the baby stops drinking bottles don't give them to her just to get some quiet time
• Cartoons aren't like they used to be
• Fox News Rocks don't watch anything else
  
• Sea salt and table salt aren't the same but too much of either is still bad
• Sick kids at any age are draining
• When you stay at your mothers you feel like when you were young and that's OK
• Don't take your mother for granted because when she's sick it doesn't feel good
• Chestnuts hurt when you put them in your pocket before you take them out of their prickly coating
• If your baby falls teeth first on your nose it hurts and it bleeds
• Don't go to a movie if you don't know what it is about you can't stay and watch it
• Write down your commitments no matter what because you WILL forget them
• Don't watch yourself on the Internet
  
• Watch where you are walking because babies put bad stuff on the floor
• Drink more water not more tea

I could go on and on. Thank goodness this is a new week. Mama out

Oh the Difference a Week Makes

Oh the difference a week makes. We went to Indiana last Tuesday and our son was a civilian attending university. We came back last night and in the week we were gone he was sworn in as an officer cadet and voila this is who we came home to. He's so serious! We truly are so proud of him. Please remember him in your prayers. He will be in basic training until Christmas. He will be in the best shape of his life assuming he doesn't eat like crazy. He is definitely my son because his big excitement was the food they fed him where his training takes place! This year while he is in university and while he works his way through basic training and moving forward with his pilots licenses his schedule will be very very full. He can't go to church until December. So all you out there that know him and can contact him through Facebook do this Mama a favor and encourage him every so often and ask him the hard spiritual questions. He has a couple of accountability partners he has put in place so he understands the importance of having people like that in your life. Podcasts are awesome because now you don't necessarily have to be in the building to hear the message and go to church but fellowship with other like minded people of faith is so important. God is at work in his life and I'm excited to see how he will grow over this next year. My kid rocks...but I'm biased. This is a great time in his life. He's driven and loves God and wants to serve his country how awesome is that. Mama...very proud...out!

I....Son #1

... do Solemnly swear I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors according to law, forever. So help me God."

Well he finally did it. Son #1 is officially an officer candidate for the Canadian Armed forces. We are so proud of him. Truly we are. As freaked out as I was about the whole thing the reality is that our son wants to serve and protect his country. What an incredible calling. What better place for a young man who loves Jesus. What an incredible opportunity to live out his faith. What an incredible opportunity to serve. We are overjoyed for him. He has wanted to be a pilot since he could talk and now he is one step closer to living his dream. I love that he has never wavered from what he believed God called him to do. Here is what sucks about this though we were not able to be there. He has been waiting forever for this call and of course we are in Indiana when it happens...grrrrrr....oh well I'm guessing the last thing he needed was his Mama blubbering in the background but I wish I was there. It was kind of like the big award he got in Grade Twelve and we walked through the door just after her received it! Ah well he knows we are crazy about him. Pray for him y'all as he begins boot camp on the weekend. I won't see him for three months because he will be in training until December and with university, flying and that well he has enough to do. We love you Matt and think you will make an incredible officer. Proud Mama out.

Traveling without the kids

It has been years since DH and I traveled without the kids and here I am with my nose stuck in front of a computer. It's awesome how Emily is adjusting without us. She has settled in with childcare and still has big brother to attend to her every need! I think that it is healthy for her to know when we leave we will be coming back so that she can keep that sense of security in knowing that every time we walk out the door we are not leaving forever. It's good to know that she is adjusting and adjusting well. DH's niece is being a surrogate Mom and doing a fine job. All on the home front is good and all here in the beautiful United States of America is just fine too. I love it when things go well. Enjoy it I say because I know all too well in an instant it could all change! Mama out.

Referral Dates Change

China Centre of Adoption Affairs is the organization that facilitates all adoptions within China. The process is such that when you want to adopt from China you send all of your paperwork to this office. This office then reviews your information and gives you a log in date. Our log in date for Emily was August 25, 2005. We received a referral package with Emily's picture in November of 2006. Each month the CCAA releases the dates of the dossiers that they have approved for adoption and have successfully matched children with. It's pretty exciting. This process has been at a snails pace since we came home with Emily. Just to give you a sense of how things have slowed. In November of 2006 they approved dossiers for families including our date of August 25th,2005. It is now September 2008 and they have approved this month the dossiers registered from February 1st - 9th, 2006. It has moved only 5 1/2 months in almost two years. If that rate continues it will be another six years before we return to China for a sister for Emily because we registered again last August. Do I believe it will be that long. No way! Things slowed because of the Beijing Olympics. Now that the Olympics are over it isn't any coincidence that the dates moved 9 days in one month this includes more days than what they have usually approved. It will be interesting to see if next month it moves even more. All you adoptive people waiting and reading this out there do not despair it will get better and before you know it you will be there with your heart child in your arms. Mama out.

Energy Drinks

I have always loved to drive. I think it was a control thing but if I wasn't driving I wasn't going. I say was because the older I get the more I hate it. In keeping with the whole well kept woman thing I've become very very comfortable with being chauffeured from place to place. I sit in my passenger seat and instruct whoever is driving, I help choose the music and point out any unforeseen obstacles. I'm into the "Driving Miss Julie" thing. I really rather enjoy my new role. Therefore, when I realized that I had to drive back from Ingonish yesterday I wasn't looking forward to a five hour drive. Son #2 and Baby girl kept me company. Now I forgot to mention the whole sleeping in the car thing. I could never sleep but seems the older I get I just can't stay awake. Are you starting to get the picture? Can't stay awake - doesn't like to drive. Let's just say after only an hour all I wanted was a nap. I struggled big time just to make it to the Irving station and hoped that a bathroom break and walking around would help. I thought that I would have to pull over and nap. It didn't help that the rain teemed down. So I send Son#2 into the lady at the Irving and told him to get me an energy drink. I know I know...me on an energy drink. It's like giving a squirrel an upper. DH just giggled and said good luck. How bad could it be? Son #2 after some threats went and got it for me. After I downed the bottle about the size of the shampoo bottles in hotels I thought I should read the side effects. Problem is though the bottle was so small it could have said your teeth would fall out I wasn't reading it. I guess middle aged people don't drink these things. Son #2 warned me of the redness and hot skin. So what else is new this is menopause in a little teeny tiny bottle. After about an hour my pupils were the size of dimes and there was no way I was going to nod off. At hour number 8 after we were home the little bottle wore off. I crawled into bed and woke up at 9:00 this morning. It is kind of like liquid happy pills. Pills to calm me and liquids to keep me awake...yeah baby this being on the ragged edge thing isn't so bad as long as I keep this stuff around! MMMMAAAAAMMMMA....a little jittery out!

Toilet Licking

Well my little sweetie has taken up a new habit while we have been on vacation. It is stemming from my attempt to pottie train the child. I should preface this as saying I am the most laid back person on the planet when it comes to this kind of stuff. Son #1 pretty much pottie trained himself because he was so old he figured it was time. The soother he sucked on stayed in his mouth until he finally walked up to me one day and said "I don't think I need this anymore". True story. Son #2 was pottie trained by my mother in law (I love that woman) and had a baba until he was seven. Twelve thousand dollars later and he still has work to be done on his teeth. I have yet to meet a ten year old with a soother, with a baba, with a diaper or not able to talk. I hate conflict around this stuff because honestly I don't care they will figure it out eventually. But the "girl" well they say girls are different from boys. I decided I should do the pottie thing because it seemed that everyone else was. Temporary insanity. I diligently put the little princess on the "pot" every hour on the hour. We bought pottie stickers, pottie dolls and party hats for when the blessed event happened. Which was far and few between. All I have succeeded in is making her addicted to bathrooms. She relishes a new place so she can see what the pottie looks like. No matter where we go she wants to pee on the pottie. She isn't successful that often but sometimes she "gets it done". What is disturbing me is the disgusting habit she has picked up along the way. She has started licking the toilets. Yes you read correctly. She either sticks her face on it tongue fully extended while I am locking the door or sticks her hands in the water and licks all of her fingers while I am trying to get the diaper off. It sends me off the deep end! Which of course is why she is doing it. She gets a reaction from me as if I have been jolted with an electric shock. Grouse Grouse Grouse. I've decided that pottie training is for the birds. If she is still wearing a diaper in high school well then we have a problem but for now I can't take the licking thing...LICKING TOILETS give me a break. Mama out.

Lost in Ingonish

I have yet another new addiction in my life. I think that I was possibly one of the few people around that had never ever seen an episode of Lost. I remember many a time that we would be engaged in an activity of one sort or another and have to halt because one or two couldn’t possibly stay because “I can’t miss Lost”. I would think twits. I don’t watch much tv. When I first left my job I became a tv junky and decided unless I wanted to be 400lbs and pasty white I had best find another hobby. I’m still pasty white but I kicked the habit so now I just watch a few carefully selected “good” programs. You know the ones I mean – How to Look Good Naked – The Biggest Loser – American Idol (woot woot) – Extreme Home Make Over- The Amazing Race (woot, woot, woot) and of course an occasional Oprah. I don’t watch Oprah much anymore I’ve had to boycott her because she’s gone weird on me. But that’s pretty much it. I was at one point in my life addicted to CSI. Another time I was addicted to Star Trek. I unfortunately passed that along to Son #1. I am usually a reader not a watcher. Last week we were at Blockbuster to rent a movie. We’d seen pretty much everything that looked interesting. Son#1 and I passed the “Popular TV Show” aisle and scanned to see if we could pick something out. We had already cruised through House whenever I visited him at university last year so we wanted to pick another one. As I scanned the titles....Friends ?– Nah.....House ? Been there done that. 24 Hours? A possibility. Lost? NO...Maybe...Seems popular....oh why not. Lost is about to start season five. Lots of potential to watch four other seasons over the next year visiting at university. The rest is as they say is history. That was Tuesday. This is Saturday. I have been travelling back and forth to Blockbuster getting my fix. We left for Ingonish on Thursday with the usual supplies however I added one extra to the list. Six DVD’s of Lost each with four episodes. I thought that would last me until Son #1 came next week. This is Saturday we came late Thursday night. I only have two discs left! I love this show. No wonder the twits wanted to leave when we were out doing stuff...I don’t want to leave the trailer. DH and Son #2 are watching the Olympics at night and as baby girl sleeps I’m balled up in the bed with my mini DVD player two inches from my face saying things as I watch like....WHAT! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! NO WAY! I’ve laughed – I’ve cried – I’ve covered my eyes- I’ve jumped just about out of my skin. I am completely and utterly addicted. I have to take a break today. My ear is killing me from the headphones in my ear. We’re beaching it today the sun is magnificent and it’s a beautiful Ingonish morning. I can’t wait to see Son #1 on Thursday to tell him how much I love him, to spend the last few days of his summer vacation with him and well did I mention he’s bringing my next fourteen DVD’s of Lost with him. Mama Lost in Ingonish Out.

Lobster Rolls, Naps and I'm Lost for Lost

I ended up spending the afternoon with my Mom, baby girl and Son #1 today. We stopped and picked up a couple of lobster sandwiches. She's been craving one so I thought why not I can force myself to eat a lobster sandwich. Thirty dollars later! Thirty dollars for two lobster rolls. Now this is almost exactly what it looked like. I started to wonder only in the Maritimes can you take a can of lobster mix it with some Miracle Whip loose pack it all in a HOTDOG bun and charge $13.89 plus tax for it. I suppose... a very rich man once told me that "profit is not a dirty word" and apparently he spoke to someone in this establishment as well. I ate the sandwich in a nano second and laid back in the lazy boy to watch Season one Disc one of Lost with my elderly Mom and Son #1. I don't know what it is about my parents home but I don't last there very long without wanting to go to sleep. So I spent the afternoon curled up on the floor with Emily and Mom curled up on the couch snoring away with the "boy" just shaking his head with the volume up to hear what was going on with the show. Just for the record I'm now addicted to that TV show even if I did sleep because I watched the same episode the night before. Pathetic but what else do you do after about 14 straight days of rain....Mama water logged and shack cracked but loving Lost...signing out to go and watch Disc two of Lost....woot woot.

Home for a Few Days

The forecast in Cape Breton is rain until Thursday. DH was coming home for the week and we decided to take a break from the rain and come home for a few days too. I wanted to see Son #1 and my Mom and well I'm getting a bit shack cracked or RV cracked. We have done everything we possibly can do in the rain. It hasn't rained continuously and there have been a couple of afternoons where the sun has come out but the temperature isn't above "holy crap it's cold" yet. It didn't matter to Emily though Son #2 and I took her for a walk to the beach at the end of the campground. It was just so amazing to actually see the sun! Emily decided that she had had enough she stripped off her clothes and decided to go for a dip in the freezing lake water. The little brook that we usually wade across well you will see in the pictures wasn't something we were going to attempt. The seaweed...oh my glory mounds and mounds of it covered the beach. The stink...ewh....I wasn't too interested in walking through it because you never know what washes up with it. I'll leave it at that. If you look at the beaches the sand is gone and only the rocks remain. It actually looks like rock beaches and it looks like the rocks are on top of the sand but actually it's the sand that left not the rocks that came. I've posted some picks for you to see of our first sunny afternoon! Enjoy - Mama out!

The Sun is Finally Out!

We came to Ingonish a week ago tomorrow and as I look out the door of the library finally some sunshine! Who knows how long it will last but hey you need rain and sun. We went to Chetticamp yesterday and bummed around the trail. It hasn't rained in Chetticamp which is odd it just goes to show on one side of the mountain rain and on the other side no rain. What was incredible is the shoreline and the incredible sight of the waves and waterfalls. We talked to a couple from Ontario yesterday and they didn't want the rain to stop because they said that they couldn't believe the beauty of the ocean. So one persons whoa is anothers ecstacy. I love it here rain or shine it really doesn't matter to me. We just do other things depending on the weather. I'll post some of the wave action pics they don't really show them justice and a couple of my favorite pics so far. Mama from Ingonish out.

Waves at Ingonish

I finally left for vacation on Thursday. I ended up driving the 5th wheel up Cape Smokey for the first time. I don't know exactly how high it is but I would guess at 1200 feet...don't laugh if that's way off! It wasn't that bad at all. Both boys were with me and of course baby girl. The truck engine sounded a bit like an airplane about to go into full flight but all and all it wasn't so bad. We actually got a site with a fire pit. How awesome is that! I had a dream last night that it snowed...if that gives you any indication of how cold and windy it is here. But you know what cold and windy means...WAVES BABY WAVES. DH arrived yesterday and my three men donned their black seal like outfits and headed for the waves. Now DH had a wee bit more trouble donning the "suit" this year but perseverance paid off in this instance! It blessed my heart to see the three of them laughing and giggling and getting the snot pounded out of them in the nasty Atlantic. The water was as warm as bath water...really...I kid you not. I'm still a bit spooked over the near death drowning experience I had a few years back so I decided to be the photographer until the waves die down a bit. All and all it was awesome to have our whole family together even if it was only for a day and a half. Emily has started to call her dad Mike...hee hee. That's gotta stop. She loves the beach hates the water but that will change...all the more reason for me to lose this stupid phobia. That's it keep checking in for updates from the most beautiful place on earth..usually....Mama out.

Go RVing

Forecast for the weekend....

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

Tomorrow we head off for our 12th annual trek to the Cape Breton Highlands. I was checking out the weather on Son#2's Ipod....a sea of rain. Rain Thursday, Rain Friday, Rain Saturday, Rain Sunday . But guess what it doesn't rain in the Highlands. That's my story anyway and I'm sticking to it. No rain baby no rain. DH will join us later cause work is heating up and well good thing cause it looks like it's the only thing heating up for the weekend. God is good. I figure if it rains like it says it is somebody must be praying pretty hard. Mama packing up the umbrellas - out.

It's a squirrel party!

We are finishing up our last minute stuff getting ready to head off to Ingonish. We had squirrels living in our trailer for the winter. The little critters had quite the rodent party frolicking from drawer to drawer. Eating whatever was left in the trailer that they could gnaw their little buck teeth into. Oh the nut shells it was like a Sunday morning at a bar in downtown Halifax that served shelled peanuts. I had visions of this guy and girl squirrel whooping it up all over our trailer. They even ate one of my wooden spoons and the poop...everywhere. I have been two days washing and disinfecting everything. We know there was a boy and a girl because well they had babies. DH was cleaning out a drawer and I tried to warned him there was "something" there. "No there isn't"! Oh yes there is - two deceased baby squirrels. Apparently when they aren't putting their stupid nuts in my cars carburetor they are making whoopee in my trailer and chewing up my stuff. So I said it once and I'll say it again..."squirrels gotta die"! Mama out.

Stuck then Unstuck!

Yesterday I told you about our stuck trailer. Oh it was stuck bad at the bottom of our driveway. Now usually...who am I kidding I always have an opinion. This time I decided it was best to keep my mouth shut, stay in the house and mind my business. I went to church this morning and just prayed when I got home all would be well. It's a great way to go through life sometimes. Just tell yourself it's all ok and then viola sometimes that is exactly what happens. I had visions of the whole Ingonish thing being simply us camping in the backyard. I thought I'd post a couple of pics. DH rocks he got it unstuck. Ingonish here we come! Mama sleeping a bit better tonight...out.

Oh How the Time Has Flown

This is my nephew Billy Joe and his new wife Leanne. We went to their wedding tonight. It was in Hubbards and was one of the nicest outdoor weddings I've been to in a while.
This is Jenna their daughter isn't she a beauty! She is my great niece. One of the nicest parts of the wedding was when during the ceremony Billy-Joe and Leanne included Jenna and said a vow to her that they would always love and honor her. They even gave her a little ring too. It was so touching. The wedding was in a barn. All I know is the next house I buy is definitely going to have a barn no question. What a great spot for a party. They roasted a pig. I tried to ignore the fact it was walking around this morning and it had a spit shoved up it's butt!
Did you catch that I'm a great Aunt. I know I know you think I'm too young for that. I am but there are some sweet kids in our family. This is Cameron. Cameron is going to be finishing up his final cancer treatment in November. I've told many of you about him and in fact I've had some of you have prayed for him. One handsome dude! One fighter. God is good and we are trusting that this last treatment will be his last treatment!
These are five of my great nephews. My nieces all had boys! Must run in the family because I had two, my sister had three, my other sister had one and here are five more! Gotta love them.
Little Blondie's. Family is so important I am discovering. Time flies by and before you know it these little ones are growing and growing. I guess that is to be expected. I didn't get a shot of my nephew Jamie's daughter. Mmmmm...not sure how that happened? I'll have to get her the next time around. I had a great time tonight because I got to see so many of my siblings and their children and their children's children. I don't know if I say this enough but I love love love coming from a large family. We aren't perfect and we tick each other off at times but that's ok that's to be expected that's normal. I'm up early for church tomorrow. I'm playing at two services in the band so I'm going to call it a night. DH has our fifth wheel trailer stuck in the driveway...don't ask. I have all the confidence in the world in him that when I'm finished this blog it will be out and pointing in the right direction...otherwise instead of Ingonish we will be camping in the backyard. Ho Hum. Mama out.

Oh the Humidity!

It was 37 degrees with humid ex today...98F so of course today was the day I decided to clean the house and get caught up on some laundry. Yes that was wise. Lets move and bend and turn on the dryer all day! Yeah that's smart. The only good thing is I think I perspired oh about 25lbs off of myself. Not really but mercy at one point sweat was rolling right down the middle of my back. How's that for a visual. I remember once a great lady rebuking me and saying "Julie...boys sweat - girls glisten. Boys get hot - girls get warm". I don't think this women had entered into the land of menopause. Oh yes I did glisten from head to toe. As a matter of fact I'm sure they saw me glistening from the airplanes flying overhead. I went to the hardware store tonight and hung out around the portable air conditioner. I convinced myself for a nano-second the $599.00 plus our beloved 13% sales tax was worth it but I snapped out of it as my body temperature lowered. I'll be in Ingonish soon in my air conditioned trailer. I will not be back any time soon. Maybe Fall when this heat is over. I am not a warm weather girl. I'm a spring if it isn't raining, Fall if it isn't raining and winter if it isn't freezing raining type of girl. This is not for me. I wonder if skinny people mind the heat like us over weight, 40 somethings? Those are the chicks who are glistening those are the yummy mommies...whatever! Well I'm going to attempt to go upstairs now and take my new $19.99 Honeywell fan with me. That's the difference between a stay at home Mama and an executive Mama. If I was still an executive I'd be unpacking the $599.00 air conditioner right now but the new stay at home Mama is glad to have the fan and a baby girl that appreciates the sacrifice. Oh she'll appreciate it because I'm already practicing my speech...yes I am. Mama- glistening in the night air - out!

Movie Night

Son #1 treated me to a movie tonight. I think he just wanted to get me out to a 3D movie so he could see me have multiple heart attacks with the little black 3D glasses on. The movie was good don't get me wrong but there was a couple of times in the movie I nearly landed in his lap. I tried putting the glasses up...I was ok it was blurry but that's how my nearly 44 year old eyes see now anyway. "MOM put the glasses down". "Fine". It was a good night though and good for a laugh. I love being treated by my kids. I figure they could treat me every night of my remaining lifetime and still owe me two million dollars but they are worth every penny. As crazy as it gets at our house by times I thank God always for my children and the blessing they are. Don't get me wrong they are a pain in the butt however I was the biggest pain in the butt that ever lived with my parents. No wonder my poor mother has every conceivable ailment that was written about. I know they must tee hee about my frustrations some times because whatever I am receiving I know what I gave them was way above and beyond anything I might be experiencing. My DH would still say I'm a pain in the butt but that's tough he has to live with it hee hee. I wish someone had told me what you dish out you will probably get back I might have behaved better. Oh well too late now. All and all my kids "today" are doing fantastic and today I am going to bed with a smile - Mama out!

The New Cleaning Lady

If I had to describe my house right now I'd call it a house of horrors. What a stinking mess. I had a brainwave yesterday to purge some stuff. Well you know what that means. The stuff you go through gets pulled out and placed from one end of the house to the other as you decide is this a toss, keep or toss item. Add to this a 2 1/2 year old that decides to help by dragging said stuff from one end of her world to the other. Add to this a nineteen year old that is sending me over the edge with laundry that he finally decided to pick up off the floor in his room and dump it in the laundry room. Add to that a days worth of dishes because I've been out since 2:00 and the teenagers are minding the house. I am now sitting at the only spot in my house literally where there is room to place something. I need to go with my DH tomorrow morning to do pics for him so I won't be home until about 10:00 so add to the mess more dishes and said baby who is now feeling better running through the house like a loon bag. Let's just say a wreck my house is a wreck. I have a window of three hours tomorrow to get it ship shape because we all know that it's about this time that dear old aunt Edna decides to visit for the first time in ten years and wants to surprise you and just shows up on your doorstep to which you have to click off the lights, crawl on your belly to the door and pray its closed and then lay in the fetal position hoping she goes away and won't walk in. I had someone cleaning my house on Fridays for years but well that was when I had my job making the big bucks....I had a terrible realization today....I'M NOW THE CLEANING LADY!!! Serenity now. Mama ignoring the mess for one more day and off to bed oh and p.s. don't come visit because well I won't let you in.

On the Ragged Edge!

I play in the worship band at church as a fill in. It's a long story I used to play all the time but felt that God wanted me to step back...anyway I digress. I played this morning. After watching The Dark Knight last night I was a bit off going to bed. It has been so muggy this past week. I tossed...turned...tried sleeping at the opposite end of the bed....my feet in my DH's face didn't go over well....two pillows....three pillows...one pillow...I hate the pillows...feet are tingling...oh my mind is whirling....1:00....1:30....2:00....2:30....I must go to sleep....I have to get up at 6:00. Some time after 2:30 I dosed off. I'm really really trying not to take the happy pills. That's not what they are for they are for my terror in the air when I fly. So I am up at 6:00 because I'm somewhat excited about playing this morning. I jumped in and out of a couple of vehicles determining which one is going to cost me less for gas and after I ironed the whole households clothes I headed off to church. Somewhere between here and there my nose decided to bleed. Did I mention I wore white pants this morning. Anyway nothing 10 minutes in the bathroom didn't fix. Of course now the issue is the big ole wet spot. At one point one of the band guys was talking about a girl-friend not girlfriend and said he wasn't sure if she was on the ragged edge or not. Ragged Edge? You know Menopause. That's it! Light bulb moment. I'm on the ragged edge. That is a perfect description and you know what people on the ragged edge are like...EXACTLY. Now picture that person...sticky with the humidity, overtired from lack of sleep, shack cracked with the not so well baby but praising God praising God...I'd rather be on the ragged edge in Canada with my family than anywhere else. God is Good.

On top of Everything Now a Rash!

I didn't post yesterday because we had a yummy yummy did I mention yummy dinner at our good friends Jim and Shelly's house. It was sooooooo good. I ate way too much but hey it's good to splurge once in a while especially when you are with good friends. Emily sure does love her Uncle Jimmy and Auntie Shelly. We stayed just a bit too late and I crashed with a full belly I know I know not wise but oh well. Emily woke up today with a rash on top of the fever on top of the pain in her back and on top of having her bum hurt. We went back to the doctor who wasn't too concerned at first then decided maybe he should check her out. He said "she has a fever" duh yeah that's one of the reasons we are here....four days of it. Her throat was red and one of her ears looked like it might be getting infected. At least now we have antibiotics. Hopefully by Monday she will be on the mend. Pray for Emily she is a trooper but she just isn't herself and I'm sure she is sick and tired of being sick and tired. We want to go and see DH's new Great Nephew but wouldn't dare go near because we just aren't sure what she has and we want to make sure that it is not contagious. We saw The Dark Knight tonight. Good movie but dark...hence the name. It was intense. That's it for today. Mama out!

Still Battling a Fever

I've been out of commission for a few days. Emily is still sick. She woke up with a fever a few days ago. I was a bit spooked because of the whole near death experience she had with the head whack so I took her to the walk in clinic. They didn't think the two were related but her fever is still high and this is the second day. She isn't herself and she whimpered most of the afternoon. Today she seemed OK but by 6:00 her temperature was almost 103. I asked her if there was anything hurting and she said her back. When she went to pee this morning she cried so now I'm thinking she might have a kidney infection or a urinary tract infection. Both I have never had or have I ever dealt with it in Son #1 or #2. If her fever is still there tomorrow I'm going to take her back to the clinic. If anyone out there knows anything about this in babies can you put a comment or email me and let me know what I should be looking for and how does it get fixed. That's it for tonight I'm off to bed early probably to toss and turn but I'm going to give it a good shot anyway. Mama out!

Oh Sweet Babies and Sweet Menopause

I snapped this shot at the beach in Michigan City. Isn't she so cute. Whosdavingo is the brand name of the t-shirts Son#2 is designing. I say that he could use this cutie patootie for advertising! She has such a look in those eyes. It is so humid in our next of the woods tonight. I can see it's going to be quite another night of up late because I can't sleep. I want to know why we were never warned about how menopause would change us. Hot then cold and tingley legs not to mention the whole I want to kill someone one minute and love them the next. I blogged about an accident that Emily had on my Straight from the Heart blog. If you read it you will be happy to know she is doing much better. Actually a menopausal woman is kind of like a two year old baby. One minute they are up and the next minute they are not so up. Babies scream...I scream. Babies can't remember to count to ten or their alphabet and suddenly neither can I. Babies don't pee in the pottie...I almost can't make it to the pottie anymore. Babies are up every four hours I'm up every four hours. Babies drool I think in one of those flashes I'm having I'm drooling. Babies get diaper rash we get prickly heat! Babies toot and giggle...we toot and giggle. Oh...and somethings are the reverse...babies get teeth we lose them. Babies grow taller we are the incredible shrinking women. Babies grow hair we lose our hair. Can you tell I need sleep. So there you have it we aren't going through menopause we are reverse aging just at a very rapid speed. Mama up way past her bedtime signing out.

Back to work

I was back to work today really for the first time since my trip to Odessa. I'm praying about going to China in January or February to visit the orphan villages there run by the Phyllip Hayden Foundation. A friend's daughter wants to go and I'm thinking if she goes I may use the opportunity to go with her and help her get settled in. I have to pray about it though. I'm contemplating perhaps looking at taking a team with me I just need to contact Tim in China to see what the need is. Also later on in the year I want to also go to Uganda to visit the Watoto children's village as well. I need to understand why these villages work so we can replicate it when we begin to construct our own villages. Anybody interested in going to either of these places...start praying and we'll see if God opens the door for it to happen. It's always more fun to travel in a group!

Back at It

We finally made it to our own church service today. Not that I haven't been to church just not ours. The music was great and the sermon thought provoking. It is odd in the summer though because I didn't really know a whole bunch of people because of all the services meshing into two. We did see some good friends though we hadn't seen since I left for Odessa which was awesome. I'm playing the next two Sundays which is awesome too because I haven't played in so long. Hopefully it won't show. Well it's late, and I'm wiped so this is Mama with a short short post down and OUT!

What a Blessing

Did I mention that my good friends Jim and Chris built us a wicked awesome shed. Oh yah way over an above what I expected which is stupid because they are the most awesome builders ever and why wouldn't I expect that from them. What a difference just to have a place to put a lawnmower...hey this thing is so big we could put ten lawnmowers and still have room left over and it even has a window...just because I wanted one. God has blessed us with incredible friends that are always there for us no matter what. We spent the day digging up plants. This place is like a jungle. Someone and not me had the brainwave here to plant about 5 of the most invasive plants on the planet on this property. As soon as I think they are gone about five more of the crazy things sprout up elsewhere. Goat wart is one of them. Evil Evil plant I'm sure brought from Satan himself to choke off and kill anything beautiful from God. I am almost winning the battle. What is it with the tall dandelions? The short ones are bad enough but all of a sudden big mutant tall ones are everywhere. I am so tempted to spray...oh...don't get your knickers in a knot you environmentalists....I won't but oh how I miss the days of pesticides and green lush yellow flower free lawns. I know we were growing a third eye but at least it was green grass and not yellow flowers we were seeing with the third eye. Mama going to bed to rest her aching back out!

Dolls, Dolls and more Dolls

I survived my mammogram. I knew I would. I did however forget that not only do they flatten you front on but then want to flatten you side on too. The poor little technician was about four feet tall. She almost needed a foot stool and certainly her arms could have been a few inches longer. It was kind of funny because she kept saying look up not down. I wanted to look down I was fascinated that you could squash yourself like that and sideways too! I went to my favorite hangout Guy Frenchies waiting for my business to fluff back up again and found a big ole pink container full of Barbies all shapes (well only one shape) and a "boy" barbie and baby barbies. Clothes and accessories. I scooped the whole lot up for $2.5o. Too bad they didn't make an overweight Barbie. You know like the Dove models - not 120lbs but look fine and realistic. Not the perfect Barbie shape but maybe a Barbie with a muffin top and some stretch marks and while their at it what about some varicose veins. Sorry Sorry you have to admit it though it would be funny. So Emily and I sat down to dig out the girls. Before I knew it an hour had passed, Emily was long gone but I gave each of the girls a new hairdo and co-ordinated their outfits and lined up the shoes. Emily loves them! Hee hee. In four short months I've gone from running the Atlantic region of a busy propane company to playing Barbies by myself at the kitchen table. Gotta love it! Much less stress if they bug you just put them in the pink box! Update on Son #1. He passed his medical and is good to come home tomorrow. It's a done deal now he just has to wait to hear when he starts. He's hoping September. Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement. Mama off to pack up the Barbies for the night!

Tomorrow is Mammogram Day!

I had a weak moment a few months ago. Now don't get me wrong I absolutely understand the value of a mammogram that's why I'm going to have my second one done. However, the second is significant because the first time I went I didn't know exactly what to expect. I couldn't book locally so my hubby drove me to the mobile exam clinic in a remote country location. The mobile exam clinic was simply an RV parked in the mall parking lot where women went to have their boobs flattened. So now that I know what I'm in for I'm not really looking forward to it. That's why subconsciously I booked it so long ago perhaps hoping I would forget it. No such luck DH took the message off the phone - concerned look - "do you have a mammogram tomorrow"? Ahahahahaaaaa....they confirmed the appointment! Now the joke after the last one was he was going to haul our 5th wheel down to the local mall and hang out a shingle. His concern this time I'm sure is..."do I have to drive you"? This is one of those things I guess I'll drive myself to. I'm blaming Eve for this one. Actually I blame her for all the crappy stuff us women have to endure. Periods, painful child birth, the whole submit to your husband thing and I've decided I'm adding mammograms to the list. Some day when I am in heaven I'm going to give her the old palm to the forehead and say "girl...were you stupid or something...do you realise what we had to do". All joking aside this being a mature mama has stuff like this involved. When I was in my twenties and a Mama all I worried about was what little outfit I would look good in and the boys and I did our thing. Now well between the support bras, support hose, support undies, mammograms, regular check ups, sleeping pills, cold sweats, hot flashes and twitchy legs, and that was just last week - Poor Emily will be going through puberty but I say good luck because what I'm going to be going through will trump that baby! Mammogram day...oh happy day. I should say in all seriousness that we are blessed to live in a country where these are available and I know too many family members and friends that have been dealing with this insidious disease. So for them I will endure this because what they have to endure is 100 times worse than this. If you know someone who has had breast cancer or is current suffering from it why don't you take the time today to just say a prayer for them. In my case I think of Linda a good friends wife who is back battling her second bout of this cancer. Pray for her and her family. So here at home Mama's enjoying her pain free boobs while I can. Mama out and soon to be all out!