I 'kicked the pig' Julie!!!

Head on over to Julie bo bolie's (http://www.jaabeemom.blogspot.com/)and you'll know what I mean :)

The alternator in the van died on Monday. Add it to the damn list of "What's next..." However, it means we're down to one car until we can afford to get it fixed. It's not a big huge deal, now that Al is working in town, I can drive him in the mornings I need the car.

Today however, I didn't drive him. But I needed to get JulieQ's package out, and we needed fruit. I could have waited until Al got home. But instead, I decided to kick the pig. So, I put Mason in the stroller, and off we went to the nearest grocery store and postal outlet.

According to mapquest, it's 1.35 kilometers away from my home. However, while walking with a 2.5 year old and a 5 year old and pushing a stroller, I think that number should actually read 27.84 kilometers. Times two.



So, there you go Julie. I kicked the pig today. And it felt good :)

~Lisa~

Oh Dear...

I'm killing myself laughing over here.

Jenna has this little case with 'make-up' in it that her friend gave her. It's just some eye shadows, very pale, and I let her wear it occasionally, at home.

Well, just a minute ago MY SON! came over to me and said "You want a make-over Mommy?" I laughed and said yes, of course :) He very carefully put three different colours on my right eyelid. He went for more, but I asked him to make my left eye match. To which he replied "of course, of course". And THEN! He ran the brush over the pale pink and put it on my Cheeks!!

I am seriously laughing Still!!

~Lisa~

Finally!! A yummy cough medicine!!!

For many years now, the only cough medicine that hasn't made me want to vomit is triaminic. That's right, the kids stuff. You can imagine how well that worked.

Until today.

I've been sick for almost a week. Just a cold/flu type bug that won't. Go. AWAY! The cough set in yesterday. A hacking, phlegmy, painful cough. Annoying too. This morning as I was sending Al on his merry way to work/training, he said "Hey, have you ever heard of theobromine? It stops coughing." "Huh? no. Gimme it." And then, like music to my aching ears he says, "It's in Cocoa. Make yourself a cup, I bet it works." And Hallelujah!! IT WORKS!!!!!

Here's the recipe for the yummiest cough medicine EVER!

2 heaping teaspoons of cocoa
2 heaping teaspoons of sugar
1 mug of warm milk

Mix the cocoa and sugar together in the bottom of the mug. Pour in a little of the warm milk to make a paste. Add the rest of the milk, mix well, and enjoy!!

You're welcome :)

~Lisa~

Julie...

The name Julie has always stood out for me. I love the name (And all like it, Julia, Jules, etc.) Al and I always circle around it like curious vultures when naming our babies, and should we be blessed with another girl(though 99% impossible as that is) I am quite confident that her name would contain the name Julie in some way.

My mother and I have both often encountered people forgetting or mis-hearing our names...and we're called Julie. My Mom I can understand, as her name is Joy. As a Lisa though, I never understood how people could get Julie from that. But, since I love the name so much, never minded much.

For about 3 years now I have had a very special Julie in my life. We met on BabyZone. We fell in like over common likes and dislikes(of certain BZ users but we won't go there), and I'm pretty such we fell into friendship the instant we met in real life, and held each other's babies :) Julie has been there for me so many times it is hard to keep track of them all. She's lent. She's given. She's driven to Barrie to meet my newborn baby boy, and then turned around and drove back after only 30 minutes(With Jenn I can't forget to mention...and they brought me snacks!!). She's fed me cheesecake :) She's made me coffee, and tea. She's shopped, and advised. She's just the kind of friend that you can pick up right where you left off the last time you saw each other. And I love her to bits. Julie turns into a very special kind of Ghoolie at Halloween. And that Ghoolie just sent us a money transfer to buy my boy a Buzz Lightyear Costume. However....

There's another Julie in my life. JulieQ. She's the sweetest, kindest, gentlest kind of Julie. I also met her on BabyZone. But I got to know her so much better on her Blog. She inspires me, with her 'large' family of 4 incredibly brilliant, beautiful kids. Her concern for them always touches my heart. She makes due, she fights, she laughs, she reads, she plays and she just seems like such a FUN mother! I will never give up hope of meeting her someday. Michigan isn't that far really. Just at the end of Ontario :) It will happen. And when it does, I am sure that her Zachary, and my Jenna will hit it off just as well as Julie and I :) This Julie offered us her sons beloved Buzz Lightyear costume from last year. I was just overwhelmed at the kindness. The thoughtfulness.

When I told Julie-Bo-Bolie about the offer of JulieQ's costume, and of course, offered to send her money back, she immediately told me no way. That I am to spend it on Mason, or Jenna, or...ME! I am overwhelmed with all this kindness. I haven't decided what I will be using it for yet, but she certainly gave me some lovely ideas :)

So thank you Julie and Julie. I am so lucky to have you BOTH in my life. And trust me, if ever another girl should grace our family, and I call her Julie, know that I will be thinking of both of you everytime I say her name.

Much Love,
~Lisa~

What's a Mom to do??

Aidan wants DESPERATELY to be Buzz Lightyear for Halloween this year. The Disney Store is still carrying the Buzz costumes this year. But they're $50!!! I'm sorry. I LOVE Halloween, and I LOVE my son, but I just can't afford that. I found a cheaper one at the grocery store(who knew?!) but it's true, you get what you pay for...$22.99 gets you a one piece, polyester, cheap looking Buzz costume. Also not going there. I looked on ebay...prices there are also crazy, and the bidding wars are already starting. Looks like I'm gonna have to either search harder, or convince my son to be something else for Halloween. But man...he would make a really cute Buzz :)

It's going well :)

Al's new job is working out so well for all of us. Except Al :) Poor guy is positively EXHAUSTED when he gets home now. It's about all he can do to come in, shower and eat dinner. But, I'm sure with time it'll get better. The kids bear the brunt unfortunately, as when he's tired, his patience is thin. But that too will come around I'm sure.

I must say, while in the beginning I found it a little odd that my husband was employed as a "Garbage Man" (Which he totally is not, he's on the recycling crew YAY!!!) I don't know that I have ever been more proud of him. He's in a job that I respect, that gives us more freedom as a family, and that is guarenteed to always be a required profession. I love asking him about his day. And hearing that he lifted about 15,000-20,000 pounds that day. I love hearing how many blue boxes he tagged, and how he's getting better at driving the truck. I guess it all just feels right to me.

I'm sure he'd rather be doing something much much different, but for now, this is great.

~Lisa~

A shift in perspective...

Al started his new job this morning. Things were much the same around here. He turned off his alarm clock. I turned off mine. I woke up 30 minutes later with a start because it was 5:30, and Al was supposed to start at 6! oops! New rule, no one turns off their alarm until their feet are on the floor! And by no one, I really just mean Al :) The kids are my alarm clock :)

I went back to bed after making his lunch(Also new, that's usually his job :)) But when I got up with Aidan, like normal, I turned on Breakfast Television. I used to watch the weather and the traffic in Toronto (And to see what's going on in the world of course!) But today was different. I watched the traffic...and didn't need to! I used to watch to see if there were any delays on Al's route. I don't need to do that anymore!!! I need to listen to the radio now, I guess...but since he only take 3 roads all the way to work, I'm doubting I'll hear much :)

I was also thinking that I would go grocery shopping this morning, since we didn't do it this weekend. I am not a huge fan of shopping on my own with all three kids. It always cuts into Mason's morning Nap, and I usually either forget things, or get too much. But now, Al is (we think) due home at 4:15!! We can go then...or just after dinner!! Because I KNOW WHEN HE'LL BE HERE!!! Oh joy, oh bliss!!!

This is so lovely :)

On a not so lovely note. All the people involved in 9/11 5 years ago are close in my thoughts and heart today. I remember the day so clearly, even though it didn't effect(affect??) me personally. Jenna was 3 months old. I held her all day long. I was glued to the TV. I prayed like never before. I still think of that day often. I still pray for them all.

ETA!!! Al walked through the door at 2:49!!! TWO! FORTY-NINE!!!! WOO! This RAWKS!

~Lisa~

Wow. What a change a day can make. We are so very blessed, lucky, have horseshoes up our asses, whatever.

Wednesday night Frith called to offer a job to Al. They are LOCAL!! The pay isn't great to start. But, we'll be saving about $300 a month in gas, so hopefully it will even out in the end. He's going to take it!!! I am SO happy. Gonna be strange to tell people that my husband is a garbage man, but whatever. I'm so past that now. He's employed. That's all I care right now. Well, and that he's LOCAL!! I mean seriously, he could walk to the new job faster than it's taking him to drive to the towing place!! And the hours are steady!! He can call at 5 to tell me he's coming home, and then walk in the door 10 minutes later!! This is going to be sooo good for the kids!!! They love him so very much. You wouldn't believe the behaviours i get when they haven't seen him in awhile. Awful.. And then they turn into angels as soon as he walks in the door.

Yesterday when I was at work, Jenny asked me how everything was going. I was honest and said lousy. :) And then went on to explain that it looked like I would be needing to call the bank to beg their forgiveness on out loan payment this month. Which I was dreading. Jenny said she was sure they wouldn't mind, and that she had done it before, and then asked how much the loan payment was, so I told her(actually, I rounded down lol). And that was all that was said.

When I got home, I checked my email, and there, at the top off my unread messages, was an email money transfer from Jenny. For the entire amount of money I told her our payment was. With a note attached saying not to pay them back! I'm not talking a few dollars here. I am in soooo much shock. My pride told me don't accept it. But my bank account said different. I fully intend on paying her back. But I have a feeling she may not take it.

So, that's where we are now. Still broke, but happier all around. And so very blessed.

~Lisa~

She's a Senior Now!!

Senior Kindergarten that is :)

I can't believe we're back to school already. I was LOVING the summer. So bummed that it's over :(

Anyway, here's my senior :)


~Lisa~

COOL!! (Or should I say Kool?)

I Just a few minutes ago emailed a request to a local radio station(107.5 Kool Fm), AND THEY PLAYED IT!! I requested "Wake Me Up When September Ends", by Green Day. My kids LOVE Green Day, geniuses that they are. Every time this particular song comes on the radio Jenna and Aidan both sing along :)

So I sent it out to them, and they got to hear their names on the radio, and their favourite song :) I don't think *they* really understood what was going on, but I was pretty excited :)

YAY...lol...small things right?

~Lisa~

(Good) News

Al finally got a new job yesterday. He starts today. He's back doing heavy equipment towing. I'm not thrilled, as he is also back in the city, working for commission, and his hours are never going to be the same day to day. I was SO hoping for him to get a job close to home, with good pay and normal hours. I guess that was too much to ask for. I guess now I just have to hope that he doesn't give up on looking for something different.

The good news though, is that he's working for a MUCH better company. Supplied uniforms and hats. He has a phone, and all the papaerwork he needs. And there's benefits after 3 months WOOHOO! So, already this place is Way more organized than the idiots he worked for last time. I just wish it was closer.

It was SO nice having him home for these two weeks though. The kids were happy, the house was immaculate! and I loved walking through the door every afternoon seeing all of their smiling faces. And I know he loved it too. He would make such an awesome stay-at-home Dad. I honestly don't personally know many men that can handle it.

So, that's the update. Sorry it took so long. Been kinda in a blogging funk. But I'm back. With pictures of Jenna's first day of school yesterday. But those will have to come later, there's dishes to be done, and laundry to fold.

Gotta keep up with Al :)

~Lisa~