No your line is just fine…

So why am I calling you on the cell phone?

I am going to phone your line, and prove that nothing is wrong with it!  We are not going to send anyone out to check anything, your line is fine.

silence…

huh, it is saying your line is disconnected.

seething silence from me

Oh, yeah, guess we had the wrong switch.

still seething

You’ll be getting a  credit for X amount on your bill next month.

Dude… cutting me off from the internet, and phone for two and a half days while I begged pleaded and TOLD you all that I didn’t have service…

That credit doesn’t even cover it!

ahhh that is better

Got a good hour of sleep.  Went off to the toy store and purchased wee girlies Christmas present and midsized boys birthday present (yes, it is in the spring… it was 1/2 off!!!!).  Forgot to pick up garlic.  Might bundle up the littles and walk over to the store later.  I have teeny tiny cucumbers to make in to pickles.  Please note, I don’t actually eat pickles.  I’ve got dibs on the garlic cloves though!

There are dishes to be washed and laundry to be folded too.  Do I care?

Nope.  I got an hour of sleep and I’ll survive the night!  WOOT!

Busy day.

I just spent about an hour holding biggest boy… while he tried to figure out why… WHY?! couldn’t the doctors fix the sickness our neighbour had.

She died this afternoon.

I was at a friends housewarming party. Which was lovely and nice and wonderful… but I’m emotionally and physically exhausted.

We went to the farmers market this morning and then to dance and swimming lessons. WHY wee girlie chose today to be afraid of the water is beyond me! But she did, and we worked through it. If I have to go and show all my flab to the world, she can get in the water with me and sing songs and play games! By the end of the class she was blowing bubbles and giggling so who knows what that was all about. Oh yeah. It was a show… silly kid!

Tomorrow is the potluck luncheon at church. I’m just waiting for my stuff to cool before I shove it in the fridge and go to bed. Making something I can shove in the crock pot at 8 and give it a 15 minute break on the ride to church to plug it back in again.

Going to bed now.

I’m too tired to figure out how we can manage to get to the funeral, this week. Too many funerals. And I refuse to have a category for death… I just plainly refuse.

Drained.

My eyes are puffy and sore.

I’m so tired I could cry, but then again… I’ve been crying a bit too much lately.  We have two empty houses now on either side of us.  The  couple to the South split up (no, I don’t miss the yappy little dog or the dope scented days) and to the North, her Breast Cancer diagnosis, subsequent surgery and recovery did not work out as well as everyone hoped.  I hate having to explain death to the kids.

Had a nice visit with the parents.  The bike is too big.  LIKE WAAAAY too big for him.  So we will cover it with a tarp and figure it all out in the Spring.

Two orange garbage bags FULL of yarn from my mother.  Which I did not get a chance to hide before husband came storming home.  And storm he did.

Vacuum is still broken.  Husband, instead of heeding my advice of ‘wait until the monsters are in bed’… went at it full blast for an hour.  I would not have cried had the husband expired during this time.  About to THROTTLE HIM!

Eventually the Supreme Sock Goddess showed her face ’round these parts.  Of course midsized boy had been waiting “so all day” for this event.  She was, I believe suitably happy with the wee cards and ‘knit group’ themed gift.  Here is hoping she arrived alright at her camping destination.

Biggest boy woke with a nasty fever yesterday.  Spent the day in bed/on the couch being medicated as often as possible.  I believe that the 4 a.m. dosing was what finally ‘broke’ the cycle of spiking and dropping.  He is arguing with his brother at the moment.  So all is well in the health department today again.

If you shall excuse me, I have an owl to knit.  From the acrylic/mohair/wool combo in white… thank you great orange garbage bags of yarn.

Sorry about that.

Very VERY stressed at the moment.  The central vacuum needs to be ‘fixed’.  So life is a little hairy around the floor.  Top that off with daily ‘arts and crafts’ time and a smattering of food, drink and playground pea-gravel… and you have one unhappy mama.  We won’t even discuss the husbands feelings about it!

Went to meet the creature with the boys tonight.  I’m glad we got the sitter for wee girlie.  The boys had our undivided attention and could tell us all about their rooms and things they do and such.  It was good.

My mother called a little while ago.  They are coming in tomorrow for the day.  Which will be nice.  I miss my parents.  I feel terrible that we haven’t been home in so long.  And it isn’t going to get much better come next weekend when dance and swimming start up.

My father is very much living ‘for the now’ at this point.  So when I called laughing to tell them that the ‘third one’ got up on the tricycle that they bought biggest boy four years ago and rode away… much to middle boys horror!  The end result was that he had a total and complete FIT.  Any way I was laughing.  They laughed too.  Then… then a few hours later they  call again.

Can we buy midsized boy this?

This being the bike you see above.

Apparently it is coming with a helmet and pads too.  As well as four garbage bags of yarn from my mothers stash.  Thank goodness husband won’t be home to see that bit coming in the door!

Needless to say.  Tomorrow will be interesting to say the least.

Now then… I hear howls of ‘upseeee dayyyyyyssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?”  I think we have lost our little friend in the chaos that is her bed.

Tomorrow is Friday and tomorrow is GOOD.  The supreme sock goddess will be by to pick up her wee cards and such and my parents will be here to shower midsized boy with a new ‘bike’.  Which he doesn’t know about.  tee hee.  How about Wordless Wednesday brought to you by Friday?   Sounds like a plan to me!

Husband has gone to work.

And not a day too soon.

Come to think of it.

A FEW DAYS LATE!

ahem

Off to set up the paints for the little monsters. I promised painting today. Then we can get dressed and do play dough and bake cranberry oatmeal cookies and if I’m lucky/smart/adventurous I’ll make some banana muffins too. I’ve got supper ready to toss in the crock pot in an hour.

Woo hoo for being back in to the swing of things…

Trust me, it will all collapse in to a mess by noon. Or is it I will collapse in to a mess by noon?

a few more…

Pounds are gone.

I am drinking water like a mad woman… and trust me, I do not like water… so yeah.  Crazy woman.

I am eating.  And I have found out the bad way that I should not have junk food.  It just isn’t pleasant.

The dog is snuffling/snoring next to me at the moment.  I’m tired.  I’m grumpy.  I’m stressed.

I have no idea what I need to do to feel better.  Once that baby is born… I’ll figure it out.  Right now… I just want that baby to come out.  I’m looking forward to seeing what it looks like, the siblings definitely look like siblings!  But… they are also sooo different.  c’mon kiddo.  let us see what you look like!

Tomorrow, like yesterday and today.  Swim lessons, lunch, nap/quiet time, wading pool, supper, bed.

Life is…. well it is.

Fun and games!

This afternoon I got to use Skype for the first time on our computer. *I’ve been on skype before at a friends house!

OHHHHHHSOOOOO COOOOOL.

This was a kind invitation by Sarah in New Zealand (MIDWIFE!!!), who was going to make sure that Elluminate worked for me. That way I’ll be somewhat prepared for the PD thing on Tuesday.

Things I learned…

a) the built in microphone works quite well. I hadn’t bothered to go poking around in the computer to see if it was set up properly or not… I figured listening and typing if I have anything of interest to add was good enough. The reason we know it works… see b).

b) using your computer to talk to people exacts the same behaviour from my children as when the phone rings. For example, wee girlie who was quite happily set up with water bottle, snack and Little Mermaid video… had to come and see who mummy was talking to! She proceeded to have to ’show mummys friend’ her toys and such… which also caused the dog with long nails to clip clop all over the hardwood driving me insane trying to get the two of them to beeee quieeeetttttttttt! without actually using my mommy voice!

c) I need to get over to Elluminate and review how to excuse myself from a conversation should there be some pressing need for my attention that husband just can’t cover. Done. Session option lets me leave… Sarah told me that… but I was trying to get the dog and child to hush up and didn’t quite catch it all. I tried to be a good student… really I did! Thank goodness they should all be tucked away, don’t care if they are sleeping!, during the actual session.

And just for ‘mummys friend’… here is the vicious shark that you heard the sound effects for. Swiped from biggest brothers bed.

Done… like a dinner.

I am done. like a dinner.

Tired. Tired of not sleeping, the adrenaline that courses through me and makes my heart hammer in the middle of the night, because something went bump.  I’m tired at the inevitable grumpiness that is coming with getting used to living together as a family again.  Last year we had house guests which helped IMMENSELY!

this year we are not so lucky.

Cancer care sucked tonight.  I got in right away, just not a good appointment.  I hate the hormones.  I HATE the hormones… I hate the way I feel and the way I am and everything.  Cripes… I hate the hormones.  Like the not bleeding.  Hate the hormones.

Knit night was quiet and nice.  There was talk of a knit along with a shawl pattern for the fall. The answer is no.  I am not doing a shawl.  snort… me knit something that pretty and intricate.  HA!  No, I’m sticking to the plan.  Make things for people for Christmas.  and well, y’know… actually finish them.  I have a whole post about the scarf I am knitting right now.  Just not sure if I want to share the background and the rocked my world epiphany about it.  Maybe later… when it is done.  I’ll be ready to share that one.  Totally a ‘duh’ moment fraught with ‘holy crap, no wonder!’.

I’m going to bed… okay so first I see if anything of interest is on tv.  Wee girlie is still up.  Which does not bode well for the morning.  She only slept for about a half hour this afternoon… then shivered like a leaf went swimming a friends house in their pool.  So, why she is still concious is BEYOND ME!  If I go up now… she will be chattering away at me.  And trust me the randy squirrels are chattering enough in the dawns early light for me.

enough drivel from me… how are you?

ACK!

It is six pm.  I should be racing around getting things settled for when the babysitter arrives.

I’m not.

Too freaking tired and well, without anal-retentive husband around to tsk tsk the state of affairs… I’m not out to impress anyone today.

The house has been vacuumed, the toys sorted and stowed in their appropriate spots.  PJ’s are set out, toothbrushes already toothpasted.  Snacks are ready.

On the other hand.  I have no idea what to take with me to knitting… hence the problem with a ’stash’.  IT CAUSES HAVOC!

Have wee socks for Mr. E in California made, must find something for the siblings….  YO!  Mr. Sam in Georgia…. need foot length.  ahem…. yes I mean your speedy little son Ms. Cooler Doula, don’t make me leave a request on your husbands blog!  All I have left now is to make the socks for mr. Indigo in the UK…   boys boys boys! and another two due in my world coming up.  Friend and client from last summer (micro-preemie, no ‘heroic measures taken’).

Thinking of taking little people to a historic park tomorrow morning.  I just said thinking.  Not sure if I am up for it, let alone the cost.  But… we shall see.

Yeah… should be getting ready shouldn’t I….

Hey, cut me some slack.  I made snacks to take tonight.  So, HA!  I am somewhat prepared.

Pouring rain…

Bugger.

It is POURING rain and that means that play date for this morning is so not going to happen.

Drat.

I get to escape tonight. Which is good. But the hours between now and then… will be long.

double drat.

Edited to add that it is blistering hot out there… in the sunshine.  Two somewhat successful hours at the playground with ‘friends’.  Seriously… this parenting thing would be a lot nicer, if I did not have to socialize with other ‘parents’.

Everyone is dressed…

And we haven’t left yet. I really REALLY should get my butt in gear. I have a lock to purchase, and attach. A house to clean and knitting to do. I really, REALLY want to be done the Christmas thing before… y’know…. Christmas.

Does it count, when you are making the handmade?  hmmmm.

Whatever, it is what it is.  Thankfully the in-laws will be thousands of miles away in the Southern US for Christmas, and I won’t have to deal with the hoopla about Christmas with them.

TGIT…

Thank GOD it’s Tuesday!

I get to escape tonight.  and the dog is running out of food.  No, I don’t think that getting a 35lb bag of dogfood with two kids in tow would be fun.  Huzzah… getting errands done without children!  Worth the money! SO WORTH THE MONEY!

Biggest boy is on his way home from his vacation with the in-laws… next week, midsized boys attempt to go with them for a week too.  I am having serious reservations about this folly of theirs.

Been raining for two days now.  I’m not going to complain.  The rain barrel was emptied last week in an effort to keep the outdoor plants alive.  It is brimming this morning.

I need to hit the Hardware store and get another lock for the back gate.  Why yes, I do know how to use a power drill.

I had to take them somewhere with all the rain!  Yeah, they are ‘driving me’ crazy!

photonotes for blind mama  midsized boy dressed in the flight suit ready for blastoff in the rocket, midsized boy and wee girlie in the map car, midsized boy and wee girlie driving the train.

Second hand clothes…

Hand me downs…

Those are some of the best words ever! I love second hand clothes, hand me downs are always welcome in my home too! Though of late, I’ve been swamped blessed with more than I can handle! Wee girlie does not necessarily need three snow suits for the coming winter… does she?

I scour yard sales, I flit through second hand stores and thrift shops with a keen eye. I can look up from this computer and see four new ‘toys’ that I bought for less than 20$ in the last few weeks. Which have given the kids hours of enjoyment. As I type this out… I have five new items waiting to be washed. Yes, I wash things over, despite being bought from the immaculate favourite second hand shop. I’m just picky that way, once it is washed and dried on your own line, it is yours! At least, that is what runs through my head.

I have people in my life who will settle for nothing less than brand new, brand name. As much as that sounds nice, it just doesn’t work for our household budget or our household values. We have one income, which means that the cute little outfit at insert big name kids clothing store here isn’t going to always happen*. If I can get a bunch of t-shirts and shorts, a few pairs of jeans and whatnot else for less than the cost of a single shirt from the same store. I find myself happy with that. I also try my best to think globally. Having friends who have spent time in many areas of the world I try to remember the people who are making the clothes… if I want something truely frightening and icky… how about human rights and treatment in the garment industry? Not the fact that someone else has worn it before you did.

Maybe I am delusional, perhaps soon my eldest will be horrified at wearing something someone else had first. I hope not. I hope that we are teaching him that buying clothes that are still good to wear is a way of recycling. At the moment he loves the fact that it is his cousins shirt, or one of the ‘big kids’ wore these pants before he did! It is cool to have that connection to those other people! Wee girlie loves to find herself wearing midsized boys shirts! Of course I end up putting something else truely meant for a girl on her and a ‘pretty’ in her hair. Not only so people know she is a girl, but because I have called her midsized boy out of habit, right clothes right action… must be midsized boy?! whoops.

I know that I am not a poster mom for doing everything that I should. I did do cloth diapers for all three of my children, though not all the time. I like to think I’ve done a bit to reduce the footprint I’m leaving. I found unopened packages of cloth diapers at a yard sale once. The mom never even opened them, it was ‘too gross’… fine by me (yeah, sometimes it was gross!), I was happy to give her the fifteen dollars for 15 diapers. I don’t think she noticed the price tags for 48$ at the Bay on the side. whoops. I am hoping that someone will see them and think “scoooore!”. I bought some of them outright and new, but a few of them were like the yard sale find, others had been worn by other babies. I didn’t have a problem with the stains I knew from experience that blueberries and avacados after digestion will not come out of 100% cotton flannel. I’m okay with that. I hope that others are too. The ones that were wearing thin at the edges and leaky, I cut up to use as rags. No use tossing them out, with three children one always needs something to sop up whatever they have gotten in to or made! Something I don’t even tell some people, because how gross is that? Diaper flannel as a floor cloth? ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww? Um nope, great heavy duty cotton flannel works wonders on all kinds of goo my kids bring in or create. It is 3.99 on sale at the fabric store per meter, and no, it isn’t even a meter wide. I know this because I have bought it before, to sew up other things… but that is another post, for another time.

It never fails to amaze me the amount of people who just won’t even entertain the concept. I realize that I am really and truely not perfect. I still use the dishwasher, I still drive the van when I could walk (yo! I walked three kids up to eight times a day back and forth to school in the -40 with the windchill and the rain and the heat/mosquito weather.. think before bashing me too hard!), I still used/use disposable diapers. I do chose to purchase second hand clothes and get some great hand me downs from friends (and I to others with smaller children), I pick toys carefully for my children and when I see something they may not need (no, they really don’t need anything else at this point!) at a yard sale or second hand… I pick it up. It is always a treat to have something new.

Something new to them. And does it really matter where it came from before that?

*my moment of cute little outfit from insert store name here…

Hedgehogs and toadstools!!!!! … dress, shirt and shoes… and yes, I went at ten a.m. the day the sale started… I made myself wait for it to go on sale. I only felt a little bad, because I save hundreds of dollars a year, just getting second hand clothing and the occasional toys!

wee girlies Christmas present in 2006…. okay it was mamas Christmas present to dress her up!

Serves me right…

Smug thing that I am.

Was very productive this morning… yes, I know morning is just starting for some of you… but I was awoken at the crack of dawn early by my circadian rhythms deciding I had enough sleep. Then my little grumpy irritated and up too early sweethearts came down the stairs wanting to be fed.

So feed them I did, packed up the biggest boys for a day at work (biggest boys school has PD today? Yeah, I know what the heck?!. Midsized boy and wee girlie were fed and water bottles filled.

I got the laundry started, hung out and another load in the machine…

Then. And only then did I take note of the sky.

And the forecast.

Serves me right for having laundry hung out before 9 am.

I’m leaving it until the rain starts to fall… at least I won’t have to let the dryer go for a full cycle…. worth every single penny to have the machine that take note of how much is in them and how dry they are to begin with?! AWESOME!!!! I know I’m a sick sick woman… I like laundry.