My daughter.  She memorized a scripture verse.  If this doesn't convert you, I don't know what will! 

(Click on the attachment)

I see that it's been a while since I've updated...  hmmm...  I think I may have gotten caught in that phase where I do plan and write a post in my head, and then forget to transfer it all to the computer.  Such is life, I guess. 

So, until you can all just read my mind, or until I can somehow beam the posts in my head onto my blog, I have to resort to typing.

Yesterday I had a temper tantrum.  A pretty big one.  Okay, not so much a temper tantrum, but some mega thinking of having one.  We've gone for almost a year without having a virus protector that was up to date.  Last week we decided to fork out the extra $2 a month for Cogeco to supply us with a constantly updated virus protector, I downloaded it, and after fighting with the thing for an hour or so, finally got it to accept our emails.  ((Notes from my mom are NOT SPAM!!  You hear me, you stupid virus protector???))  ahem.  I don't understand, nor do I want to understand, the whole deal with firewalls, acceptable ip addy's, etc, etc.  I just want to receive my email and not get a virus on my computer.  Is that so much to ask for a mere $2 a month? 

Anyways, I got it all worked out with most of my dignity intact, and some calming words from Ja over messenger. 

Then... then...  I just recently found out that I am not as unloved as I thought, that I should have been getting email notifiers for a few of the message boards that I'm on, but alas.  INCREDIMAIL WAS BOUNCING THEM ALL BACK.  Yup.  grrrr.  I sure had a few choice things to say about incredimail, and I can tell you, it's a darned good thing that the kids were in bed.  I think I may have even sunk so low as to call them a bunch of poopy heads. 

After discussing with Ja, the voice of calm and reasoning in our dramatic household (I really do wonder where our daughter gets her drama from), and he suggest I uninstall Incredimail and just use Outlook Express.  Regardless of the fact that we hate Windows, that Bill Gates is attempting to take over the world one computer at a time, blah blah blah.  BUT, I had to figure out how to get the address book from Incredimail into Outlook.  Took a good 40 minutes.  ((again, all you computer savvy people can just shut up about how easy it is.  If it was easy would it have taken me fourty minutes?  hmmm??))

THEN, oh no, merging the addresses isn't the end of the saga here!  I had some emails that I did need to save.  A couple of online purchases that were still pending, a few sweet emails from people.  Some links that were emailed to me, that kind of thing.  For some reason ((be quiet you with the computer degree in the corner!))  I could not force Incredimail to merge the messages with Outlook.  This was probably Outlooks, and ultimately Bill Gates' fault.  Punishment, if you will, for daring to not use their product.  ((Man, i hope they don't find out about FireFox!))  Wanna know what I did??  I set Incredimail to not receive any emails, and then I forwarded all the ones I needed to keep to myself.  I really did.  Hopped over to Outlook to kick the receive button, and slapped them all in the appropriate files to be perused at will at a later date.

So, now I'm feeling pretty good.  Only two hours, and I've almost got myself all switched back over to Outlook Express.  Oh yah, look at me, I am the queen of program manipulation!  I can do anything!  I am woman, hear me roar!

I uninstall Incredimail.

I realize that I uninstalled Incredimail without responding to any of the emails waiting for responses in my inbox.

@$%#

Can't get them back now, no sirree. 

So, if you emailed me, and are waiting so very patiently and with a held breath for my response, then maybe you should email me again.

Or leave me a comment.

Or phone me.

I promise I will answer the phone for today and today only because I totally screwed up.

Man I hate computers.

 

In other news, there's a new button in my sidebar.  I know that it kind of looks like it says "2000 sucks" But really it's "2000 SOCKS".  Just a little thing to see how many socks are made in a year.  Let's blow them out of the water!  Made one sock?  Made two?  It doesn't matter!  Any sock that is finished in the year 2006 counts.  Even if you're Great Great Grandma started it on the boat over, and you're just finishing it now, it still counts.  Click on the button or on the link above for more info.

 

Also, I haven't posted much about TV FREE, either.  I blame Coolbeans.  This whole thing was her idea, and I do believe that she may have promised me my own button... and alas.  Nothing.  We've actually decided to make Friday's our TV Free night.  It works well that way.  In fact, I'm trying to make it a TV FREE DAY.  But we'll see how that goes.  Tuesday's don't work because of ballet, Wednesdays are respite, Thursdays are Care Group.  But we did do this this past Friday, and the kids had a blast.  We played this crazy game called "Snitch" and we played Topple.  Much fun was had by all, and the kids were happy when we put them to bed.  TV Free Friday's it is!  Not to mention that it has a much better ring than TV Free Tuesday.

 

And that's an update in a very large nutshell.  Okay, maybe a bucket.  A large bucket.  A large bucket with no holes in it.

 

I need tea.

 

I've been having this problem.  I've always wanted a bedroom that was like a "sanctuary".  A warm and relaxing place to be able to go and... well, relax, I guess. 

When we decided to paint the house, I really wanted everything to be bright and cheerful.  Bright colours make me happy, and more than anything I wanted to make this place a happy place to be.  We have a living room that's yellowy-orange, a blue kitchen, apple green hallway.  Our bathroom is purple.  I love that I get bombarded with colour as soon as I walk through the door.  To me it says, "Come on in!  Kick those toys aside and make yourself at home!"

Our bedroom is much more subdued.  And now, it's beautiful.  The wonderful sweet amazing Sharlene brought in her decorator eye, and this is what she did...



We went to Homesense and Sharlene beelined directly for the clearance art display... well, after a slight detour through shoes.  She found that big frame up there with that tree in it, showed it to me, and I did love it.  I didn't, however, love the price because I am cheap.  Then we argued about if I should get it, if she was going to pay for it, if I was, blah blah blah.  The original price tag on that big picture was $199.99.  It was marked down to $70 and then to $50.  I thought $50 was more than I was willing to spend for a couple of reasons.  One, I have no vision.  While I really liked the painting, I couldn't picture it in the bedroom.  And two, did I mention the cheap??

Sharlene also insisted that I buy the little picture that you can see to the left of the picture.  Again, skeptical, but that Sharlene, she is pusssshhhh-y!  And now?  I love it.



This is the view of the other side of the bed.  We took out Ja's nightstand and put that corner shelf in there.  Also something that we already had... then the brilliant idea to turn the leaf pictures that I took on their sides.  I know.  It seems nutty to me too, but it WORKS!  (((I have no idea what that white spot on the wall is...  It isn't actually there, it only showed up in this picture!!)))

We put the lights behind the bed, and ta-da!  It seems levelled out!  I'm still trying to talk Ja into centring the window in the wall, but he says something about the structure of the house, blah de blah de blah.

We got rid of the long dresser that we did have at the foot of the bed, and now we have this tall one.


So, from my side of the bed, I can see that gorgeous painting, and those two pics above the dresser that my cousin Ben took.  (((the fan is an evil necessity to drown out the neighbours gabbing, the kids chatting, and cats yowling...)))

I love it.  I keep sneaking up there so that I can do that sighing thing when I glance in the room.  It really is great.  And?  As an added bonus?  Ja loves it too!

I always said that I didn't want to put anything in my bedroom that I didn't love, and I think we've finally accomplished that.  And all for the bargain price of $35.

Sharlene, I love you!  You totally rock my world!

Get out there and vote today!

Make your voice heard and all that jazz!

And especially remember, you can't complain about the government if you don't vote!

Ooooeeee, now those are some warm and toasty feet I have.  Feet made toasty by the creation of a pair of socks.  Created them with my own two hands, four pointy sticks and some string, I did, I did.

I wasn't expecting them to be finished today, but, it turns out that while I was doing respite work with Aimee, I had an hour to sit and watch her shoot arrows in her archery class.  It's a good thing that I just happened to have unfinished sock number two in my bag! 



Aren't they purdy?  Made on 3.75mm dpn's with Regia Cotton Colour.  Nice stuff.  I've been wearing them for a little more than an hour now, and even though they have a decent wool count, they aren't itching me!  It must be the high content of cotton that offsets it.

If you look carefully, the striping matches up quite niceley... except that the stripes are all reversed on the second sock.  I didn't care enough to try and make the stripes match at all.  One ball must have been wound in the reverse of the other ball.

I think that now I have the hang of it, I quite enjoy making socks.  They're a nice easy fast project that I can slip into my purse and haul around with me anywhere.  I did make these a titch too short for my foot, so the next pair will have to be a bit longer.  I'm still keeping them for myself!!

Next up, a toe up sock pattern.... stay tuned...

Have you ever read that book by Robert Munsch, Purple Green and Yellow?  Or something like that?  In it, the kid gets these wonderful markers and keeps drawing this great stuff.  The mom always says, "Wow, my kid is an artist!"

And here I am, cliche moment of the year, but, "My kid is an artist!"  She has such amazing fine motor control.  It really blows me away.  Her printing is, I think, even neater than mine!  She can write her name, Ephraim's name, mom, dad, and the other day she did Oma and Pake with some help.  I can spell off letters to her and she will write them down.

Now, I know what you're all probably thinking...  she is my daughter, and I probably am a bit biased...  but honestly, this kid is a GENIUS!  Must be the good genes she got from me!

Which brings us to the other genius child in the family, our son.  At his two year checkup, the doctor told us that the speech goal for two year olds is two word sentences.  Eph then told him a story about how Daddy took him on the bus.  I have to remind myself that he's still the young side of two...  his vocabulary is huge.  His understanding is amazing.  He blows me away. 

Last night, clear as a bell, he said, "I looked for Zia upstairs!  I looked but I couldn't find her anywhere!"  You can have a complete conversation with the boy.  Probably even on socioeconomics... 

And now, now he's almost there.  At the magic moment that all parents of young children wish for.  The toilet training.  He is doing GREAT.  Most of the time...  well, mostly as long as he's wearing his Bob the Builder big boy undies.  You see, the thing with these undies is that there's a little picture of Bob right on the front...  on the little flappy thing.  ((is there a technical term for that flappy thing??  What is it's purpose anyways???))  Saying "don't pee on Bob!"  Brings whole new meaning when he can look down and see Bob right there on the front of his undies.  The Franklin people need to get with the picture and put Franklin on the front...  it really doesn't do much good when the picture is on the back all the time!

I'm still putting him in trainers for naps and for when we go out anywhere.  Diapers at night.  But the messes are getting to be fewer and fewer.  Except, of course, when he takes himself to the bathroom.  I'm not really sure how he managed to get poop on the wall and on his socks...  and I'm not really sure that I want to know that one!

It's a hard life, you know.  Being the parents of such geniuses (geni-i??) as these.  What's especially hard is knowing that they're already smarter than us.  It makes me lose sleep at night.

In case you were wondering, I am married to the most wonderful man in the world. 

Right now, as we speak, he is taking the children all bundled up out to the ice cream store and for a walk. 

Which leaves me, here, in my house, all alone.

sigh.

Sometimes I forget what the silence of an empty house is like.  I mean, I still get quiet, but you're always aware that there are people around.  Little people that could need you at any second.  Little people that need snacks, bums wiped, noses wiped, toys fixed, fights broken up, hugs and cuddles.  Doesn't seem like much, but it does take a lot of time, and sometimes it takes a lot of effort. 

It's funny though.  Funny because they've been gone for about twenty minutes now, and I'm already feeling a little bit lonely.  Feeling a bit like I'm not sure what to do with myself.

Don't get me wrong, quiet is good.  Quiet can be productive.  But a little noise sure adds to the excitement of this life.

Several months ago, something like three months ago, my friend Allyson and I booked a day for just the two of us.  We very carefully kept this day a secret from virtually everyone...  everyone, except, of course, the poor husbands who were doomed to be abandoned with the children for as long as we deemed necessary.

On Saturday morning Allyson scootched over and picked me up, and we were off!  Off with a whole day where no small children were grabbing us!  Where we didn't have to change any diapers!  Where no one's food needed to be cut up!  ((Well, Al did try to slice up my sushi, but I beat her off with my chopsticks...))  Toronto didn't know what hit it.

We went to Toronto with very little in the way of a plan.  We wanted to do Ikea, which we hit first.  We didn't spend too much there.  Had a bit of lunch, were disappointed in the dresser selection, although happy with both of our purchases.  I got some art for the living room... broke the glass and cut my finger as soon as I got home...  cried...  blah blah blah.

After Ikea we hit Romni Wool. 

Let's all take a moment, shall we?

(((awed silence...  the light sound of angels singing)))

Click on that link up there, then click on "About Us" to get a vague vague idea of the sheer size of this place.

It was actually overwhelming.  We wanted to buy something, but there WAS SO MUCH.  So many possibilities.  Silk, cotton, wool, bamboo, every colour you could possibly imagine...  it really does boggle the mind.



Al and I touched everything.  Seriously.  We were in this place for about two hours, and we were compelled to touch it all.



((note my hand here...  posing for a picture, and still have my hand in a basket of yarn))

And this is just the main floor.

I thought that I had a picture of the basement, but it isn't on the camera, so I'm thinking not...  The basement was packed full of cones of yarn.  Mostly fine lace weight type stuff.  And... they had spinning wheels and fleece.



Check out the colours of that fleece on the right.  Oh my goodness.  And it was soooo soft.  I really really HAVE to learn how to spin.  If I don't?  I might die.  And really, wouldn't that be a travesty??  Think of my poor children!

I'm still kicking myself for not buying a skein of fleece.  I could have gotten a skein for around $6.  Guess we're just gonna hafta go back, eh?  heh heh heh.

After we dragged ourself out of Romni, shook off the yarn induced stupor we were in, we went to Sushi Sky on Queen Street.  It was lovely.  It was the best Sushi and Sunomono salad I have ever had. 

Coming out to a $30 parking ticket certainly put a downer on the day though.  ((I didn't see any signs!  Al, did you see any signs???  Stupid Toronto!!))

The best thing about the day was that we had no pressure.  No plan.  We didn't have to be home at any specific time.  We didn't have to stop for anyone but us.  It was awesome.  And, the best part, it was totally renewing.  I came home ready to resume the mother and wife hats.

So, Al, how's May 20th for you?  And don't you think that this time we need to go overnight?

You know, when I'm miserable and crabby, I really don't want to be around cheery people.  I would much rather wallow in my misery.  Content to spread the crab to all who see me and are forced to be in my presence...

I was going to hit the library today.  But then the thought of trying to keep the kids relatively quiet just made me tired.  Then I had to sit down.  All this while the two horribles are giggling and running around like maniacs...

SO, a change of plans.  I kick them outside so that I can sit in the peace and quiet for twenty minutes.  Maybe I'll pick up my bible, look for that renewing sense of peace.  Hope that I'll be granted a fifth wind.

It's the tired that kills me.  That bone numbing tired that just makes you want to sleep for a year or two.  When I'm this tired, the life just seems to be sucked right out of me.  It leaves me barely enough to get by, never mind with enough to pass over to the kidlets.

And yet, I will pull through.  I'll have another cup of tea.  Read some blogs.  Tidy up a little.  Then I'll look at my children tucked snuggly in their beds, and I will know that I would do it all again tomorrow.

---

Edited to add:

Had a nap today, and am feeling much much better.  It's amazing what a little bit of sleep will do for you, isn't it???

 

I am not delusional.  I know that I don't have a lot of readers...  (Hi mom!)  But there's got to be some of you out there, doesn't there??

It's delurking week!


I promise to send each and every one of you that comment one penny...  sometime in the next fifteen years or so.  Really, I do!


I know, I know, it's a pain to sign up for a FREE account just so you can comment... blah de blah de blah.  But, I tell you what, you comment here, and then I will go and comment on your blog!  'Cuz comments are where it's at!

Please don't make me beg.