Where have I BEEN!?

No where really...just busy.

We had a pretty good weekend. low key. Al had an ear infection, and Mason had a cold, so unfortunately, the camping trip we had planned was canceled. Hopefully we'll be able to go later in the summer :(

We Tried to do the Canada Day fireworks downtown...but about 2 minutes into the shower it started to rain a bit. Then about 4 minutes into the show it started to POUR! So, not much of a show was seen. But, the kids had a great time with their sparklers and light-up fans in the hour Before the show :)

We took the kids to the sprinklers/water park on Monday. I walked Mason over, to see what he would do. I swear, I have never heard him laugh so much in all his 10 months!! He walked right in to one of the fountains!!! Stuck his whole face in! And came out laughing and sputtering :) I love my water-baby boys :) Jenna's doing sooo much better too! Looks like she overcame her fear of water this summer :) Thank goodness!

I made the kids' day today. Took them to the library for the first time since Before Aidan was born!! Infact, the nicest lady ever to work at a library showed me the list of the over-due fines for Jenna's card(which we have since lost)...it came to $82.00!!! I swear, I had no idea. She canceled every single charge!!!! I was looking at the list...a bunch of the books were about babies....so I know that they were borrowed before Aidan :) It was so nice to go back!! The kids LOVED it, and I am sooo looking forward to new books to read. Next time I may even attempt to convince them to let Me look for a book or two :) It was so silly to stop going...and I don't even remember why we stopped!!

Looking forward to tomorrow. We're getting a grocery delivery. Hopefully we have room for everything!! There's so much food coming! LOL! I'm pretty sure they're saving us money though, which is awesome. We usually spend around $120/week on groceries(Which is mostly made up of no name/store brand items). With this company we'll be spending $82!! And it's all name brand stuff!! I'm really excited about the Heinz Ketchup and French's mustard! LOL! And the MEAT!! A freezer full of select grade, cut how WE wanted, packaged to avoid freezer burn, MEAT!! Yay!!

Mason is a cruising fool now!! Looks like he may walk before 1, just like his sister and brother! Hard to believe that 2 months ago he was a lump on a log:) LOL

Well, I think that was all..hmm.... OH!!!

Al bought me a present! For no reason other than to show me that he appreciates me!! A Tinkerbell Necklace!! YAY!! I LOVE IT!!! Hmm...Blogger isn't posting the picture...but trust me, it's COOL. Here's a link :) http://www.jewelryswan.com/green-fairy-necklace.html Jenna was so in love with mine, that I ordered her this one http://www.jewelryswan.com/small-rainbow-fairy.html as a passing gift. She's going to be so excited :)

Hugs to all!!!

~Lisa~

1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 (EDITED TO ADD 3!!!)

Jenna at age 1!
Jenna at Age 2!
Jenna at age 3! (Thank You SOOO much Julie!!!)Jenna at Age 4!
Jenna at age 5!


~Lisa~

Party Pictures!!!

Here they are!! Party pics!!! We had SOOO much fun!! I missed a couple pictures, I'm hoping that my Mom has some :( Oh well...there's lots here :)

The girls started out with musical chairs, then they practiced their posture by balancing a book on their heads. After that they painted wooden jewlery boxes...

After that it was lunch. My Mom and Grandma taught the girls the "Proper" way to set a table for tea. LOL... Mmm...Lunch!! I made cucumber/cream cheese, PB&J, Ham& Cheese, Bologna, and Jam/cream cheese sandwiches!! SOOO Yummy :) And my Mom made a really great fruit tray.
And Now, my FAVOURITE part...the cakes :) I have one left over to take a better picture of, it'll come later. :) If you look at the teacup cake at the back/right, you can see the handle, I made them using melted white chocolate and a #5 shaped cookie cutter. :) A true labour of love. Of course, then I ran out of white chocolate and had to use pink...and LOST the cookie cutter! UGH!! I just freehanded teacup handles. I made the 'saucers' out of sugar cookies :)
Jenna with her 'best friend' (du'jour) Peyton.
My Birthday girl :)
After lunch and cake the girls played 'Pin the Spout on the Teapot'. It was SOOO Much fun :)
Jenna got a Skip-it!! And soooo many other presents. Man...good gift givers around these parts! lol
After some Simon Says, Freeze dancing and running around like hooligans...the party was over. And a huge success. Jenna and I were Both exhausted after the party :) About 7 seconds after I snapped this picture I was curled up in a very similar manner :)

Thanks for looking!!!

~Lisa~

Things to do while on hold with Bell Expressvu

1. Clean grubby hand prints off of giant windows.

2. Rescue baby from imminent strangulation by digital camera cable.

3. Get HUNG UP ON! BASTARDS!!!

4. Call back.

5. Tell "Emily" to bite me.

6. Eat an entire row of chewy chips ahoy cookies. BAD BAD BAD!!!

7. Blog.

8. Clean grubby hand prints off of TV.

9. Make a chocolate #5.

10. Drink a bottle of lemon water.

11. Check BZ.

12. Have the TV scare the CRAP out of you when it starts working again all on it's own.

13. Hang up.

~Lisa~

Counting down the days!!

First of all, this is a record setting SECOND post in One Day! WOOT! So, please read my earlier entry too...it's a Great one!!

So, on to This post!

Only 6 days until my little girl turns 5! Wow. I don't really know how this happened!! She's Very excited!

I'm really excited about her party this year. The invitations were a HIT! :) One of the mom's mentions them everytime I see her :) YAY ME!! Here's a picture...

Pretty cool eh :) That's right...hand drawn. Oh yes. Shameless bragging abounds today!

I got the custard cups I needed to make the tea cup cakes today. I realized late last night, OMG, I still didn't have them!! There's still lots to do, but it's coming together. I still need to decide if I am going to use chocolate icing for the "tea" on the the cupcakes, or if the brown gel will be more authentic...looking at it from a 5 year old perspective, I'm guessing the icing will be preferred. this is my inspiration:

The 'saucer' is a cookie :) Neat eh?

I'm still not sure about games. I'll maybe google victorian party games. Or I may stick to traditional games like musical chairs...pin the spout on the teapot...I probably need more though...

I think I'll get some small wooden boxes for the girls to paint. I'll probably set that up for when the arrive, then they have time to dry...hopefully :)

Jenna wants cut out sandwiches. Shaped like butterflies and hearts and flowers. I'm not sold on that yet :) I was just going to do finger sandwiches. Cut into small rectangles. I'll probably be the loser on this battle!! Maybe I can convince Al to do that part HAHA.

Anyway, best get some housework done. Too much party planning makes me sleepy :)

~Lisa~

YAHOO!!!!!!!

Oh Heavens. What a little sleep will do for everyone!!

Mason had mostly bottles all weekend. And was thrilled with it. Last night he was in bed by about 8:30 and not a peep was heard from him until 4:20! When he adamantly refused the breast, but gobbled up a bottle (Making me think I did the right thing weaning him). And! HE WENT BACK TO SLEEP!!!!!! Oh yes. sleep, glorious sleep!! Mind you, Jenna woke me up at 6:00AM. But still! YAY! Progress!!

Onto other even Bigger news!!

MASON CRAWLED TODAY!!! On Hands and Knees!!! He's been trying real hard lately, but finally mastered it today!

He's also sitting himslef up ALL THE TIME, climbing the stairs, and pulling himself to standing on Everything!! I hate this age as much as I love it! LOL!

Now I can't Wait to go for Mason's follow-up assessment to brag and gloat about all of Mason's new accomplishments :)

Thanks to everyone who offered support. I appreciated every word.

~Lisa~

The End. Almost.

I've decided to wean Mason. I think. Mostly.

We were doing pretty good. But then her got 4 gigantic teeth within 2 weeks. And he became a biter. Then he decided to be the boss of Me (as IF!), and went on a 36 hour nursing strike. Every since then it hasn't been the same for us. He's been disinterested. Not that I ever really shared the same nursing bond with Mason as I had with Aidan though. We were great in the beginning, but it's never been real 'special'.

I'm hoping, rather selfishly - go ahead, blast and berate, I can take it - that more formula during the day will help him make it through the night easier. I'm tired. I'm yelling too much. I'm fuzzy in my head. I'm done. I told my 9 1/2 month old to F-off this morning. Through tears so thick I could barely see him. This is NOT the kind of mommy my baby needs. The only excuse I had was that I was tired. Sounds pretty lame doesn't it.

So, on to a new era. Not a long one though. Mason will be 10 months old next Friday (Wait? WHAT??). So only a couple months of formula and then it's on to milk in a sippy for him :)

I'll probably still nurse him in the night(Who likes making bottles at 3AM anyway?) and I will probably keep his first morning nursing session too. But other than that, My boobies will be my own again.

I guess the up side to all this is new bras for me. woo...hoo **said with very little enthusiasm** I know I have shrunk. Which is totally unfair. But, whatever, I'll have an easier time finding my new size I'm sure...whatever that may be.

I am saddened by this decision. I mean...never again will I hold a newborn to my breast and pray so Hard for him to drink baby, drink. Never again will I have the satisfaction of knowing that my baby got to be so big, and so healthy because I nourished him with my own body. Mason is our last. My Baby forever. It's weird.

I dont know if I'm weepy tonight because I am sad to be moving on, or because I'm so sleepy. :)

~Lisa~

I don't get it. I don't know what I am doing wrong. For a week now Mason has been back to his old 'get-up-at-the-effing-crack-of-dawn' tricks. I feel like my head is going to explode. Today he's been awake since 4:40. I tried everything to get him to go back to sleep. Including bringing him to bed with me, which I know is his favourite place to sleep. but no. He didn't want to sleep. He wanted to kick and jab and pinch and be a general PITA!

Al's no help. Whenever Mason gets near him in bed he gets all pissy and moves over. Granted, he is a heavy sleeper, but still. Wake the hell up and give ME a friggin break would ya!

I did get to go back to bed once this past week. for an extra hour. until Al woke me up to ask where the effing Wipes were. OMG.

See?!? I am totally losing my mind.

Lisa

Is the Devil wearing a snowsuit!?

Because seriously!!

Yesterday, Mason did all of the following...

1. Pulled himself to standing using Jenna's dollhouse. Not real sturdy standing, but he was up on his feet!!

2. Climbed the stairs. Only up two, but I am quite sure that if we had let him, he would have tackled the entire flight!

3. Sat himself up. Or down perhaps...he gets himself onto his knees, and then can sit from that position.

4. Not yesterday, but he is getting really good at getting himself back onto his belly from a sitting position.

YAY!! What a monkey. I knew, as soon as I said anything about him being delayed, he'd advance leaps and bounds. Now he's really giving us a run for our money!

AND!!

Jenna and Aidan had popcorn for a snack yesterday. They made a mess on the floor (as usual). BUT!! Jenna came into the kitchen while I as doing dishes, and said to me:

"Mom, I was wondering if I could ask you a favour?"
"Can you show me how to work the vacuum? I need to clean up the popcorn mess."

Oh yes. She did. I know. I had to pick up my jaw from the floor too!!

Things are looking up around here :)

~Lisa~

It's ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!

Or, more correctly I'm Alive! I just never seem to get a chance to Blog during the week. I kept thinking, "I should blog about this" and now that I have a few minutes, I can't think of a single thing!!

We went garage saleing with my mom and george last Saturday. It started out just fine. BUt then we went to cookstown, and down came the rain. By the lakeful it seemed. The kids didn't seem to care. Just splashed through every puddle they could fine, and carried on! My mom figures she's created seasoned garage salers at the tender ages of 4 and 2 :)

Jenna earned herself a new bike! It's pretty. Purple and Silver. She rode it once and declared that it was time to take off the training wheels LOL!

Henry has been having a good couple of weeks. Scores are up, behaviours are down :) It's been lovely.

Mason has started trying to pull himself up to his knees on everything. Me, the cupboard shelves, the bathtub. He's been told to stop numerous times, but insists on growing up. Silly baby.

Aidan is still doing AWESOME on the toilet!! I can't believe how easy it was to train him :D

Jenna is almost finished school for the year. She's going to be so upset when it's over. Every day she asks me when she's going back :) Which is great, but will be so hard on her in the summer. Hopefully I can make it fun enough that she'll get over it quick enough.

Her birthday is on the 25th. I can't believe my little girl is going to be FIVE!! I've got her tea party mostly planned. I figured out the invitations finally. I LOVE them!! I drew a teapot, cut out 2 of them, and glued them together, leaving the top open. The I cut a paper in the shape of a tea bag and wrote on it, "My day would be much brighter, and I'd be happier too, if I could turn 5 years old, sipping tea with you. So Dress up in your finery and come enjoy a cup with me!" That's on one side, on the other is the party date etc. Then I stapled some string to the 'tea bag' and then stapled a little square on the other end, and wrote the girls' names on that :) Then the 'tea bag' slides into the tea pot!!! I am so stinkin' proud of these!!! I hope the party holds up to the invitations! LOL

I went crazy in the kitchen yesterday!! Moved the microwave (twice) pulled out the fridge and cleaned behind it. EWWW!!! Gagnasty!! I sorted and tossed and wiped and washed. It looks sooo much better. Jenny offered us a tall white corner cupboard for the kitchen, so I am hoping it's going to fit!! It means losing a couple feet of counter space, but the organization/storage factor alone makes up for it!! I'm very excited.

I can't think of anything else. Hope all is well with you!!

~Lisa~

Milestones!!

Mason is such a monkey :)

Yesterday, I gave him a banana flavoured Arrowroot cookie for the first time. He LOVED it!! I went to wipe off the goo when he was finished, and he looked at me, and SHOOK HIS HEAD NO!!! YAY!!

Same this morning when I was giving him his breakfast. He was nearing the end of the bowl, and again, shook his head No to tell me he didn't want any more!!

This morning he was in bed with me, climbing all over me, and he ALMOST got himself into a sitting position. Soooooo close :)

It's a lovely relief.

~Lisa~

The Little People Farm that SHOULDN'T!

Okay. So, I haven't exactly been eating very well lately. So poorly infact that I have gained Back 4 pounds in 2 weeks. Bah.

Aidan has a Little People Farm. For those that don't know, it make sounds. Sheep, horses, chickens.

And Cows.

Everytime I've walked past it today, it has Moo'd at me. that's right. Moo'd.

I was sitting on the couch feeling sorry for myself because Al is working late yet again. Eating Chocolate ice cream straight out of the container. About 15 feet from the barn.

And it moo'd.

I gave it the finger.

And scraped the container clean.

Take THAT Fisher Price!

~Lisa~

Mason's Optional 9 Month check-up.

Didn't go as smoothly as every mother hopes. Well, he's very healthy, and a hefty 23.6lbs! The size of a 12 month old for goodness sakes! Yikes.

However, I voiced some concerns. And they were heard.

Mason doesn't crawl yet. Not in the traditional way on hands and knees anyway.

Mason doesn't get himself into a sitting position. He can sit when sat though.

Mason doesn't pull himself up on furniture yet. He can stand with support and bear all his weight.

Mason's eye contact is limited.

Mason doesn't laugh very often.

Mason has a very unexpressive face.

All these things add up I guess. It looks and sounds awful in a list.

Our doctor spent quite a lot of time with him today. For a doctor's standards anyway.

The good news is:

He rolls from side to side.

He does play shy.

He sometimes enjoys playing peek-a-boo.

He babbles very well, and I am pretty sure he can say the word Bubble!!

and It's very obvious that he loves his Mama.(And Daddy of course...actually, I think he likes Daddy Better :))

So, other than wondering if he has poor muscle tone for his size(He's quite the chubs!) I didn't get many answers today.

I think he is fine. But I can't help but replay the moment when I was about 8 months pregnant, when Al wondered aloud to me if I was meant to work with ASD children, because God was trying to prepare me for our future.

So scary.

I have to take him back in 2 months for a follow-up assessment.

Hopefully by then I'll be able to laugh at my concerns.

~Lisa~

And a good time will be had by all...we hope.

WAHHH!!! My boys (Well, 2 of the 3) just left for their first annual boys only camping weekend. Al and Aidan are meeting up with my George and my brother Brian for a couple days. I'm sure they will all have a really great time. I sure am going to miss my little boy though!

He's so excited to go. I woke him up at 5:30 this morning and he nearly leaped out of bed he was so excited.

I'm sure I totally over packed for them :) I tend to do that. Better safe than sorry seems to be my motto :)

Jenna, Mason and I are meeting up with my Mom and SIL Philicia to do some Garage sale-ing. Then we may go round to my grandma's and then my uncle's. Should be an interesting day. Then we get to go have a sleep-over at my Mom's. Pray for me. My mom and I are Great friends. But she annoys that crap out of me when we're together too long :) I think she forgets that even though my brother and SIL let her mother their baby, I am the mother to my kids. She's the Grandma, intended for spoiling. :) I swear she forgets what it was like to have little kids.

Mason is refusing to nurse from my left breast. It's breaking my heart, because it's probably all my fault :( He bit me yesterday morning. I said, rather sternly, OUCH!...Just like all the books say to do. STUPID BOOKS!! I AM NEVER READING ANOTHER BOOK AS LONG AS I LIVE!! Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration. But seriously. I am going to EXPLODE!! My pump isn't working right, and won't pump me :( I look like a freak, one loose and saggy mom of 3 boob, and the other firm and rather 21-ish.

Well, I think that's about all that's going on around here. Aidan is doing AWESOME with toilet training. Should be interesting to see how he comes back from camping...but I'm trying not to worry about that :)

Have a great weekend all!!

~Lisa~

Product Review!!

After reading about Julie (www.jaabee.blogspot.com) getting the recommendation for firming lotion, I thought to myself "OF COURSE!!!" After three babies, and three c-sections, and 33 pounds lost...I need HELP! in the tummy regions.

We went to Wal-Mart on Sunday, and at the last minute I remembered that I wanted to look for some firming lotion. Well, there weren't many to choose from. But there was Dove. I am a Huge fan of Dove products (Highly recommend their shampoo and conditioners!! Better than Pantene!! Really!) so I figured that's the one I would try. I think it cost $6.97 for 200mL. It's called Dove Intensive Firming Lotion. It looks like this...

I've used it once a day since Sunday night. Already I can see a difference!! Al said he could see a change too! Yay!! the back of the bottle says "Testing proves: After 1 week, skin appears significantly smoother and more youthful. After 2 weeks, skin appears noticeably firmer." I can't wait to see my tummy after 2 weeks of this :)

I highly recommend this product!!! 5+ Stars!!!

~Lisa~

Success!!

You may remember me writing awhile ago about beginning to toilet train Aidan. Yeah. that lasted one day. The next day was a total disaster.

Fast forward to Friday. I decided it was time to give it another go. Long weekend was here, Al would be home to back me up...perfect.

Apparently, I was RIGHT!!

Aidan is doing Incredible!!! Has told me twice now that he wants to pee on the toilet(We skipped the potty, I figured, why bother?) and hasn't peed in his underwear since early friday morning!!! We have had a poop accident, but that's to be expected.

I even managed a Wal-Mart trip this morning!! I did have him ry to go while we were there, but the person in the stall next to up flushed, and scared him. So that was a no go...but he stayed dry!!!

He went at the babysitter's too!!! This was an issue last time too. He wouldn't pee on anyone's toilet but ours LOL. But, with the bag of Smarties strategically placed directly in front of him, he went for me, and then went for Laura after I left too!! YEAH!!

I think there may be a light at the end of this tunnel :)

Oh and even better? When I was at Wal-Mart? I only bought ONE package of Diapers :) In Size 4, for the BABY!!! WOOHOO!!

It's so cute seeing my boy's bum in his little Spider-Man underwear :)

~Lisa~

I don't think he likes it!!

Mason has been very resistant to eating any food with texture or lumps in it. I got him the Heinz Mixed Vegetables for 8+ months. It has chunks of potato in it. Oh how he hates it!!! Today I was trying again. He kept closing his eyes tight, and clamping his lips together. It almost looked like he was trying to pretend to sleep in an effort to avoid the vile substance I kept shoving in his mouth :) poor Mason.

Hey cool! In the first picture you can see a drop off food falling after he pushed the spoon away! there's a showdow of it on his bib. lol...small things...

~Lisa~

Toofies!!!

And then!!

Ugh. Henry, unlike many autistic children does not like numbers/counting/etc. He has a program where he is given a number card and has to then match it to a corresponding pile of the same number of blocks. He's made it to 6. And he hates it. And I dread it. But, we;ve made it to 6 right, so that's great progress. HA.

I set up the program today, and the first thing he does, naturally, is throws the card onto the closest pile. He knows it's wrong. And I know he can do this. So we try again. And it escalates. I remove him from the table when I see he's about to sweep everything off of it. And then the struggle to keep him on the couch escalated to him biting my sweater. I KNOW that it should NOT ever come to this, but he's so damn quick, and I'm so damn tired :( no excuse for me.

So I pull my arm back, and notice blood! Good lord, I nearly passed out, I have NO idea how it happened, but Henry's Tooth was imbedded in my sleeve!!! ACK!!! And OMG, the blood. It's been 20 years since I lost the tooth Henry lost today, but I don't remember the tooth being so freakin Long!! Or there being that much Blood!! He was SOOOO freaked out. I was almost crying right along with him.

You should have seen me...in hindsight I am sure it was hilarious to watch me...rushing him to the bathroom, scooping cold water into his resistant mouth, looking around frantically for a damn cloth, or cup or someone to take over while I collapsed :) I finally kicked into gear and got his shirt off(he can't tolerate wearing wet clothes) and a shirt of Aidan's on him. Then realized that the best thing would be some cold wet paper towel on the gap. the bleeding slowed down pretty quickly after that...thankfully.

I called Jenny right away, and did everything I could to calm to poor kid, who had NO idea that teeth fall out! he is almost 6, so the timing is right...but still, I wish it hadn't happened on my watch.

Jenny was so sad that she missed him losing his first tooth :) I gave her our extra tooth fairy box, and loaned her Jenna's tooth fairy book.

I tell you, these past two days have been more stressful than...well, something really stressful :)

~Lisa~

Mama said there'd be days like this.

Days when you wake up in the morning and everything goes fairly well, considering you have 3 kids, who all decided that 5AM was the time to start getting up for the day.

Days where you are pleased that the drop off at daycare went smoothly, gas was under $1.00/litre, and you got the copies made you need for work. AND made it to work on time, despite the 2 kilometres of construction on the ONE road into the town you work in.

Days where work went fairly smoothly, with only one, 3 minute tussle with your charge.

And then...

Days where your boss has concerns about your consulting therapist. Concerns that you share. Concerns that are very valid.

Days where you decide to mention a couple of these concerns to said consulting therapist in the nicest way possible, only to have those concerns thrown back in your face, and turned around on your boss whom you have come to love like a sister...really.

Days where you realize how damn naive you are, and that there are A LOT of people out there that are just 'in it' for the money.

Days where you see the ugly green power trip monster, who cannot explain him/herself.

Days where your damn period is back with a vengence and you just want to bite the greedy, petty, freakin' HEAD off of said consulting therapist.

Days where you can't even see straight for confusion over what is being said.

Days when stupid consulting therapist cancels a consultation meeting FOR TOMORROW! When said therapist KNOWS that I have questions for her.

Days when stupid consultion therapist is Supposed to be a close friend, but probably just uses you to shit on, and you take it because you are LOUSY at making new friends.

Ugh.

And then your faith in people is restored when said 'love her like a sister' boss sends the most beautifully written email to stupid consulting therapist with this included:
"He(nry)'s a little boy who's got lots of struggles and a long road ahead and some days are just putting in the day to get us through. At this point, other than family, no one has a better grasp of that than Lisa. She is a compassionate therapist who is genuinely committed to helping him. She always speaks highly of you and your work and seems refreshed after your consults"

Days where you want to cry with relief to know that someone out there realizes that the place between the rock and the hard place is full of Anger, Confusion, and PMS. And knows the words to say to smooth the wrinkles, and calm the fears.

I hate being a grown-up.

I hate days like this.

~Lisa~

See? She has manners!!

I made Shake and bake chicken, noodles and carrots for dinner tonight. 3 of the kids favourites. Or so I thought.

Partway through dinner Jenna turns to me and potlitely says...

"I know you worked hard to make this dinner for us Mom...but I don't like it."

LMAO!!!

I politely replied back to her...

"I'm sure you worked hard to tell me that so politely, but you're going to eat it anyway."

And she did. Everything but three pieces of Chicken :)

~Lisa~

A week's worth!!

Man! I have such a hard time getting back here to post lately! And there's so much I would have liked to have gotten recorded. Oh well, hopefully I can remember what last week held :)

If I had blogged last Wednesday...
I would have written about our trip to the park. Karen invited us to a park we'd never been to before. It was really nice. There was this HUGE Spider that nearly ruined it for me, but we moved :) Karen also invited another Mom that I have met a couple times at playgroup with Henry. She's nice enough...a little strange, but her kids are freakin' adorable :) It was a fun day.

If I had blogged on Thursday...
I would have written about how I had a great day with Henry. He was really on his game and scores were pretty good. I had a rough day with Jenna though. She lied to be about something on Wednesday, so her punishment was not getting to play with any friends after school. Oh my. You would have thought I had told her that I was moving and not taking her with me!! She screamed and cried and screamed some more all the way home. I tell ya, she is going to be the death of me.

If I had blogged on Friday...
It would have mostly been about laundry :) Also my Mom came over. Jenna's school had a grandparent's Tea and Tour. It was nice. I was also reminded why my Mom gets on my nerves LOL. She seems to expect so much more from my kids than she did from my brother and I...either that or my kids really are little unpolite devils. Ugh.

I also would have wished my Dad a Very Happy Birthday :)

If I had blogged on Saturday...
I would have written about an incredible Model Train Show. I tell ya, model trains aren't usually my thing, but this was Cool!! There was a steel shed all set up. They even dimmed the lights down in the room and turned on the 'town' lights and train lights. So neat. So, if you're ever in Aberfoyle...there's an awesome train show there a couple times a year :) There was a couple funny things...first, at the 'beach', if you look back in the trees, there's an srtist painting a nude model :) And right at the beginning there's a guy standing down below, looking up at some cliffs with binoculars. I said to my Mom(Oh yes, the torture continued) that I wonder what he's looking at....so we followed his line of sight...and saw that he's peeping at 2 naked girls sunbathing! LMAO!!! But really, other than those two things...it's totally kid friendly :) I have pictures, just have to download the camera :)

If I had blogged on Sunday...
I could have written about checking out a new grocery store here in town. Called Food Basics. Great prices there!! Pretty comparable to No Frills...they're owned by A&P. Pretty boring other than that. I like boring sometimes.

So, there you are. All caught up to date. Except that every one of those nights Mason was up with a fever :( I'm guessing more teeth are coming in already...poor monkey. He seems to be feeling better...knock on wood.

~Lisa~

They like me, they Really Like Me!!!

I got a raise!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!! At a time so perfect I nearly wept with joy and relief when Jenny said the new number.

I knew it was coming. Another family contacted me awhile ago to see if I was available to do therapy for their Daughter. I haven't made my decision on that yet (It means missing SO much of Mason's (and Aidan's and Jenna's of course, but they're older...okay, shutting up now) life...I'm not quite prepared to do that. So, I guess when I told Jenny about the other family, she got scared that they were trying to steal me away from them :) never gonna happen, I love Henry WAY more than is professional really :) I swear, he's like my 4th child. But, it worked out well, because Jenny made sure I was well aware that they would fight for me!

Anyway, Jenny went on and on about how thrilled they are with the changes in Henry's life in the past year. How they like that I am a mother, that I know how far I can push Henry, and when to pull back, but that I also know that he Needs those pushes to advance :) There was so much more, but I have a hard time bragging, and receiving praise, so I am stopping now :)

Bad news (in a way) is that they are NOT happy with Karen, and have asked another consultant to come in at the end of the month to interview to replace her. I can't say I am surprised. There are sooo many reasons why Karen should be replaced. But, I am very scared that it's going to make it hard for me. I rely on Karen's input a lot. She's been at this for almost 6 years, and really does know what she's doing. I have a feeling she'll cut me off from any and all information just to spite them. Man, that really worries me. But, like Jenny suggested, it really does give her quite the power trip. I'm not sure why, but Jenny also said she doesn't like the way Karen speaks to me...I wonder if it's because Karen tends to interrupt me, and talk over me...but then, I have that problem with a lot of people. :) Anyway, this is not about her.

So, I am set for another year with Henry. Whom I love and adore. I am also Definitely going to be able to afford to take courses with The Geneva Centre for Autism. I can't WAIT!!! WOOHOO!!

~Lisa~

Slow down, you move too fast. Gotta make the moment last...

Oh man. It's happening. My baby is (*GASP*) growing up. His two bottom teeth are finally cutting through. Onto the adorable toothy smiles :)

And!! my totally genius son waves now!! Like really waving, not just flopping his arm around. It's freakin' CUTE I tell ya!!

He's still just doing an army man crawl thing, but he's FAST!

Still not up to eating anything with any consistency to it other than mush, but I'm not pushing him :)

He's still loving the boob. I'm not pushing that away either. Despite being tired of the night feedings, and the pressure from others saying he doesn't need it anymore. I quite honestly don't care if he doesn't need breastmilk at night. I want him to know that I'm there for him, and will offer him comfort when he needs it. If that comfort comes in the shape of a boob...so be it.

Our baby sitter has a walker (Gasp! shock! horror!) Mason LOVES it she says. He cruises all around in it, forward, backward, gets himself unstuck, he's amazing :)

He's also still VERY cuddly :) I definitely love that about him.

I think he's going to be like my brother when it comes to water...part fish. He LOVES bath time, and crawls all over the place in the tub :) I can't wait to take him to the beach this summer :)

Mason's already 8 months old!! Which means if he's like Aidan, he'll be walking by next month! I doubt it though, Aidan was a much stronger baby than Mason is. I don't mind. Aidan grew up too fast when he started walking so early.

I'm grateful we had another.

~Lisa~

Wow.

I hate to be biased....but seriously, this is one beautiful girl :)


~Lisa~

Smart people.

Mason is smart. We ordered Pizza for dinner...yes I know I will regret it. Not I do not care at the moment. Anyway!! Mason started freaking out in his exersaucer, so i picked him up, sat him on my lap and pretended to NOT be eating that tempting looking meal on the plate just out of baby's reach. He caught me once, and got a couple fingers full of sauce. After that it was ON!! I turned him around (Facing me) and held the pizza behind his back. When he would turn to look at the other kids, I would take a bite. It was working. But then I think he caught on. He grabbed onto my lips with one hand and then whipped around trying to get my slice with his other hand. LOL He's totally not ready for pizza, I gave him a couple kernels of rice (Is rice a kernel???) bits?? hmm...anyway, gave him a wee bit of rice and he promptly gagged and vomited. Yeah, we're sticking with mush for now :)

Julie is smart. She posted her 10 minutes routine on her blog.(http://jaabeemom.blogspot.com/) 10 minutes is a long time ya know! I got 3 'sessions' in before dinner arrived, and what a huge difference it made! In my 1st 10 I got the sink full of dishes put away, and the kitchen a little tidier, put down the play pen and put away the toys that were in it. In the 2nd 10 I got the toy area picked up, and looking a whole lot neater. In the 3rd 10 I got the front hall, bathroom and kitchen swept, as well as tended to the kids a bit. I feel so much better, and I've only done 30 minutes of work. Man, when Al reads this, he's got to be expecting a lot more from me around here LOL!! He'll be all..."Do you know how many 30 minutes there are in a day?" And I am going to be all "Do you remember the last time we had sex....good thing. HMPH!" LMAO!!!

Jenna is smart...she's already started asking to go to her friends' houses tomorrow....she'll ask until I am completely and utterly exhausted by telling her I will think about it! LOL

Al is smart. Just as I am starting to yet again feel like a single parent, he calls to say he's on his way home :)

Aidan is smart. He knows about 90% of his letter sounds, and the best way to get a snack :)

~Lisa~

Fun :)

Jenna is becomming quite the social butterfly :) Every day after school there either tears or cheers from my girl :) Depending on how I respond to the instant pleas to play at Leah's or Peyton's or Kattie's houses :)

I like Peyton a lot. She's a junior like Jenna (For my american readers, we have Junior and then Senior Kindergarten, and then grade one. Yes, Grade One, not First Grade :)) Jenna and Peyton play SO well together. Leah bugs me quite honestly, and I can always tell the days when Jenna and Leah have played together a lot. Leah's whiney, and bossy, and makes secret clubs that always leaves someone out. I am Sure that she has some kind of social delays, which makes it hard for me to dislike her too much, but holy whiney-pants batman!!! She's a senior, so hopefully next year will change.

Peyton is here playing today. It's so amazing to watch Jenna play. Aside from her bossiness and unwillingness to let her brother join in the fun, she's doing great :) Her and Peyton are great together. I hope that if we let them play together often, that they become good friends.

It's fun to watch my little girl grow up :)

~Lisa~

Nice try son.

Aidan has been resisting bedtime lately. Tonight was no different, despite threats of calling the Easter Bunny and telling him not to bring chocolate to this bad little boy.

This is how the conversation went...

A(Screaming): MOMMY MOMMY MOMMMMMMYYYYYYY!!!

Me: What Aidan?

A: I not sleepy yet.

Me: Fine, look at your book for a few minutes then lay down and GO TO SLEEP!

A: What's this kinda book?

Me: Magic School bus, go to sleep.

A: What kinda Magic school bus book?

Me: I don't know, GO TO SLEEP Aidan!!

A: I'n not wanna go to Sleep ANY MORE!!

Me: Too bad buddy, it's bed time, and the Easter Bunny is NOT going to come until you are sleeping!

A: I wanna go to the CORNER!!

Me: (Desperately trying no to laugh) Nope, you need to lay down on your pillow and go to sleep.

A: But I'n not listening to you Mommy.

Oh man, I was rolling with laughter inside.

What kid sends themself to the corner!? Seriously!?

He slays me...all the time :)

And I lub him soo larry larry much :)

~Lisa~

The post with no name.

Henry had an Awesome day today!!! He scored 80% on both Eye Contact and Responds to Name!! He's never scored that high in the near year I have been working with him!! Jenny and I were talking about the change in him, and she mentioned that he is always a totally different boy in the summer. I'm going to look into it more. I mentioned a Vitamin D supplement, but he's already on one. So I'm not sure what else to suggest for the winter. Maybe one of those sun/light machine things...I can't think of the name of it.

I am sooo not ready for Easter. I was supposed to go out this afternoon to get everything, but I guess Karen forgot she was going to watch Aidan, and wasn't home when I got home this afternoon. I hate to be so disappointed by something so trivial, but I am constantly watching Logan for her...and am not getting much in return. I even had to take all three kids to the clinic the other day, because she had to cook dinner :( It's so hit and miss with her. Frustrating. She came over this afternoon, Mason was screaming because he was so tired, Jenna and Aidan were asking for Juice, it was a regular moment here really. Karen said I should go to bed as soon as the kids do tonight. When I said I couldn't since I want to go get the Easter stuff she said she should do the same tonight...but no offer to do it together or anything...and now she's already left. I hate that she's always trying to out do me. Gets annoying. Anyway, enough whining. She is a good friend most of the time...

I weighed in today. Blah. I was 148 last Thursday. Keep in mind though, that was after I was sick, and hadn't eaten anything but crackers for 2 days. I am back up to 150.5 today. It's so disheartening after how good I was all week. Whatever. I'll keep trying. I miss that good feeling of knowing my weight was down. And as an added incentive, if I can get below 147, I get a decresed rate on my life insurance :) Now if that isn't motivation...LOL Good news is though, Jenny was up .5, so that made me feel better :)

That cake is totally to blame. WOW!! Al said it was the best cake I have ever made. yay me!! And Yay JulieQ for the awesome idea.

Well, Aidan is asking me to do his Thomas puzzle....Duty Calls.

~Lisa~

Oh JulieQ!!

You had better be a happily married woman.

I made your chocolate cake today(we're finally all over the tummy bug).

Oh....My...GOODNESS!!!!! I just used a Betty Crocker cake mix (Chocolate Chocolate Chip) but that frosting!!!!! I haven't had a piece yet (waiting for Al to get home) but I did sample the icing a wee bit. WOW!!! It's Perfect!!!! And it made a great amount!! I hate getting icing in the container, there's NEVER enough in one, and too much in two!

I swear, if the cake is every bit as delicious as it looks and smells, Al may leave me for you!!

I'll let you know how it goes over!

~Lisa~

Rough few days...

Mason's been fighting a fever for a few days now. It's been low grade, so I figured that maybe it was from teething. But it's been over 48 hours now (off and on). I took him to the clinic yesterday afternoon(Fastest clinic visit EVER! In and out in under 40 minutes) He has a slight ear infection in his right ear. I'm so glad I took him in. Poor baby. I wonder if he'll be like Jenna; she Always got an ear infection when she was getting new teeth...and she always got two teeth at a time :) Expensive over-achiever!!

So, that's where I've been. Administering LOTS of cuddles.

~Lisa~

Our weekend. And other ramblings...

It's been a pretty good weekend here. We got the kids some Easter presents on Saturday, I am most excited about the Buzz Lightyear swimming trunks I found for Aidan!! He is NEVER going to take them off :) Still looking for some things for Jenna, but I'm sure a trip down the hair and nails aisles at Wal-mart will solve that :)

Driving home from getting some wicker paper plate holders from a freecycler we saw a fire beside a river. About 100 feet from a house. It wasn't big at all, but the flames were about 4-5 feet high. So we quickly turned the van around and Al called 911 from a gas station(the ONE time I didn't have my phone...figures). by the time we got back to it the flames weren't very high at all, but it was still spreading. We were the only people that called about it. I'm not sure if that surprises me or not. But i feel like a better person because of it, and I am SO glad the kids were with us to learn that kind of life lesson. That's important to me. Jenna was funny. She gets so concerned about things like that, and said to me "I don't want fire to burn down our whole village!!" LOL! Village! We live in the fastest growing city in Canada(as of a couple years ago anyway, it may have changed)! We're about 120,000 people now...and probably a lot more!

We just laid low today. Did some grocery shopping. Had a nap.

I've been trying really hard the past few days to watch what I eat, and my portions. It's actually not too hard yet. We got McDonalds for lunch yesterday, and I got the fajitas, and a side salad. I NEVER do that, trust me, I don't care what the findings on Supersize Me were, I could eat there ALL THE TIME :) And then, I was full enough after the fajitas, that I saved the salad for lunch today :) Yay me. After being sick last week, I weighed myself at Henrys(I don't have a scale) I weighed 148 lbs!! I was SOOOO Ecstatic to see a number under 150!! So I decided then and there that it's time to stop kidding myself that the weight is going to sneak off in the night sometime, and do something about it. I'm going to borrow Jenny's Pilates DVD too. Hopefully I don't give up on this. I've been trying to drink a lot of water when i find myself hungry at all, after I have eaten. i don't know if that's the best idea or not, but it seems to be working for now.

Bad news for me...my period came back. With explains the headaches and crabbiness lately I guess. I'm not complaining too loudly though. Mason is 7 1/2 months old...so I've gone 15 1/2 months without one :P I know, I am truly blessed by the breastfeeding gods :) Although, starting this new eating better thing, and having my period at the same time...NOT FUN!! All I want is copious amounts of chocolate. NOW. LOL

I think Mason's teeth are really bothering him :( He's been really cranky, and inconsolable all weekend :( Tempra is helping, but I wish those teeth would just poke through already!! Jenna and Aidan got their teeth earlier (4 and 5 months), and neither seemed to be too bothered by them :( This is new for me.

Better run, Al is almost done with the kids in the bath.

Happy Sunday!

~Lisa~

I'm such a dork.

I will never ever unintentionally cut off a trucker again EVER!! I was driving to work this morning, and was coming to a set of lights that have a second lane to the right, which merges after the lights(Does that make sense?? there's a lot of trucks in that area, so it makes it easier to get ahead of their slow asses...ahem...)

So,this morning, I pull into the second lane, behind another van, beside a truck(as in an 18 wheeler truck, no trailer). The van decides at the last second he's turning right into Bradford Greenhouses. UGH! So, naturally i have to totally boot it to get ahead of the truck and three other vehicles that are behind it, since no one ever lets me in. Yeah. That was the stupidest idea I had all day. I apparently was trying to outrace Mr. Not-letting-anyone-infront-of-me-EVER. The bugger would NOT let me in. So I run out of merging lane, and am on the shoulder trying to get in front of this guy. I know, it was dumb, I should have slowed down and waited my turn. I know.

But THEN! I get back infront of him and he's riding my ass the whole way to my turn off. AND THEN HE TURNED TOO!! ACK! I totally convinced myself that he was so pissed off at me that he was going to follow me all the way to Henry's and do mean things to me when I got there. I, like the chicken I am, turned down a different road and let him go on without me. Go ahead, laugh at me. I even said out loud, "I am totally turning this corner" LOL.

Luckily he went on his way, and didn't pull over to wait for me to get back onto my road so that he could follow me and do mean things to me.

What did I learn today boys and girls???

Always wait your turn.

~Lisa~

Take one down, pass it around...

we all have had the flu now, except Mason. Although, he isn't eating or sleeping well, so I'm guessing he's not feeling well now too.

Ugh. There is nothing worse than being the Mommy and being a very sick mommy :(

Al was AMAZING last night. He came home, did the dishes, folded laundry, and took care of me. Then in the night he gave Mason a bottle. When Mason woke up to play at 4:30, Al took care of him then too. Yeah, I think I'll keep him.

Well, on another note, it snowed all day yesterday, so we'll be having Julie's chocolate cake this weekend :) As long as the sickies are all gone.

Going to lay down.

~Lisa~

6 Quirks...

Thanks for tagging me Julie!!

1. I never pee with the light off. No matter what time of day it is.

2. I always have to put my glasses on when I get out of bed. Whether to pee, or feed the baby. I feel very vulnerable without them on. I'm afraid of getting Laser eye surgery because of it.

3. I can't pronounce Chiropracter properly. I pronounce it Choir-Practer. My grandma does too :)

4. I have a lot of trouble eating in front of other people. I'll turn down food even if I'm hungry, or I will hold my hand in front of my mouth. It's crazy, and I don't know why it bothers me so much but it does. I have to be Very comfortable with a person before I can eat normally with them.

5. I pick up accents and voice inflections very easily. Because of this I find that I also pick up on what people say, and adopt their way of speaking when I am with them. For example...my mother says "Oh Dear" A LOT...and when I speak with her, I do it too...drives me crazy. My friend Karen and I say Dude a lot...but I don't know if it was her or I that started it LOL. Al and I say Prawly for yes, and Yuh You for I love you. I blame the children for that :) When I'm in Timmins, I pick up on my FIL and BIL's Timmins French accent...see what I mean??

6. I very rarely stay in jammies or sweats all day. Even if I've done nothing but be a couch potato, I still feel better about it if I have been dressed while doing it.

I tag JulieQ and Jessica. And anyone else that is reading this and feels like it...you're tagged to! But be sure to tell me about it!! i like to know who's out there reading about us :)

~Lisa~

We had a much better night last night. Jenna woke me up once. I think it was probably just because she slept a lot in the day yesterday and really wasn't tired anymore. However, at 1 in the morning? I think not sweetheart.

She's only thrown up once today, but still isn't looking herself yet. Or acting much herself either. For example: She shared a blanket with Aidan...her idea. She asked me to get Aidan's paints for him when she was painting...no yelling at him first to leave her alone. She didn't get mad at me when I turned off the Princess movie(it was over) and put on The Letter Factory for Aidan(for the eleventy billionth time). Yeah, I like it when she's sick...there's no shame in that :)

I'm still really very sleepy, but getting there.

I also have a sore throat.

Am DOOMED.

~Lisa~

Ugh.

I've been awake since 3:30 this morning. Jenna came into my room retching. An hour later it was Aidan coughing, and nearly throwing up. Just as I was getting him settled, it was Jenna again. And then Mason woke me up at 5:15 in his very unpopular playtime routine. Al took him after I got him fed, but then Aidan woke me up with his coughing. I was rocking him to sleep again, and Jenna started throwing up downstairs AGAIN! (poor girl, everytime she threw up it seemed I was with Aidan or Mason. She said to "Why do you keep leaving me all alone?" WAH!!! I am only one Mommy!!!)

Aidan threw up after a couple bites of toast this morning, but has since been fine. Jenna hasn't stopped throwing up since 3:30 :(

Knock on wood, it seems to have avoided Mason, Al and I for now.

But I am so so tired now.

Updates to follow I'm sure :(

~Lisa~

Life is good...mostly.

Monday was a good day here. For the first time EVER Jenna and Aidan went to play in the back yard, without me!! Mind you, I had the window in the living room open, and they were calling me every 2 minutes, but besides that, it was great!! And they played so nicely with each other! I'm not used to that!

Tuesday was interesting. I took Henry to playgroup with me. He needs help with his social skills, and I figured that was the perfect place for it. He did pretty great!! Two meltdowns. One when he finished his snack, and wasn't allowed to play (None of the other kids were finished yet) and one when I made him sit for circle time, instead of crawling all around the kids over and over. But surprisingly, he did really well.

Jenna went to play at her friend Leah's today. And then a whole bunch of other kids came out to play. It was fun watching them :) And I got to talk to other mommy's, which is always nice :)

I'm a little worried about my friend Karen. She's been really down lately, and not getting very good sleep because of her baby Evan. She mentioned yesterday wanting to just walk away. Had it all planned out and everything. I called her Mom. I felt like I was being a total tattle tale. But, in the end I figured I would rather tattle now, than lose my best friend later.

Does anyone have any idea on how to get Mason to sleep at night!? I know he's a big boy, and my doctor assured me that it's probably because he's growing so fast, that he's making up for lost calories during that day...but seriously!! I am soooo sleepy. I really hate to complain about it. He's only 7 months old...but this has been going on for so long now. I look like the walking dead I'm sure :)

Mason had his check up on Monday. He's 20lbs 6.5 oz. Slowing WAY down now. only up 2oz since last month. He laughed through his needle. What a trooper. He's doing a modified army crawl :) I have a video...just need to attempt to post it again :)

Al bashed his toe on Monday. He says it's not broken, but it's realllllly purple, and giving him lots of aches and pains. he's such a man...won't get it checked. silly.

So, that's what's up with us.

Hope all is well with all of my friends.

~Lisa~

Just like the good old days.

Al and I went on a date last night! It was the first time we've been out together since before Mason was born!! And we didn't go to a movie!!

My mom gave us a 'gift certificate' for Christmas that covered babysitting and a night out. So I decided we'd use it for Al's birthday. I'm glad we saved it :)

First we went to a used CD store. Something we'd never do with the kids with us! LOL Surprisingly we didn't get anything, but it was still nice to browse quietly.

Then we went to Baskin Robbins for a cone!! LOL...yes, dessert first. Totally in love with their chocolate peanut butter!!! YUM!

We went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. Big step for me, I am so chicken when it comes to trying a new restaurant. But this place was SO good!!!! It's called Mexicalirosa's. We shared the Appetizer plate. Best quesadilla IN THE WORLD!!!

But besides the food, we got to talk. About things other than the hoolig...I mean..kids. We talked about religion, world events, and how if the girl at the table next to us(who had her boyfriend in the "Don't leave me" arm around the neck hold all damn night) gained another 5 pounds, he was totally going to leave her. LOL...oh yes, my husband and me, we are totally catty like that! LMAO

We laughed a lot, we talked too loud, we held hands across the table, and we reconnected.

It was the best night I have had in SO long.

And then we went to Wal-Mart and searched their TOY department for a damn robot for Aidan. Not a robot can be found. What toy department doesn't have robots?! ugh. I hate Wal-Mart as much as I love it sometimes. :)

So, that was my weekend :) A very good one.

~Lisa~

Big Week.

Well, life is slowly getting back on track. It's been a busy week. Jenna was Thrilled to get back to school after march break. But of course, with that came a very crabby, tired girl that none of us were particulairly crazy to be around :) She's getting better. Thankfully. Else I woulda had to sell her to the highest bidder.

I had a very big day on Wednesday. Jenny invited me to a meeting with Henry's school. There were many important people there. Henry's parents, The principal, Henry's teacher, a woman from the school board, Henry's resource teacher, and an advocate from a place that helps mediate meetings between families with children with special needs, and then little old me. SO Intimidating. I was doing fine taking it all in, but when it was my turn to speak, oh man, I turned about eleventy billion shades of red. At least I didn't say fart instead of part like I once did in a job interview :)

Henry's been increasingly aggressive at school, and we all got together to hash out ideas that would help his EA and the staff to deal with it. I think it went really well, but I also think that his teacher and RT really played everything down. Which is unfortunate. Oh well. I was really honoured to have been asked. His teacher even layed on the praise when he was telling everyone that Henry is well above his peers academically. Jenny has said it before, but to hear from his teacher, in front of so many officials...well...it was pretty nice :)

Yesterday was Al's birthday :) He's 29 now :) I think he had a lot of trouble with knowing he's only one year away from 30. Not sure why though. We just did a low key thing here. I made him a marble cake...YUM!! I have decided that I should NOT be left alone with cake. The willpower thing?? not so much. I felt SO bad last night. It was getting late, and the kids were wanting cake, but Al and I hadn't eaten dinner yet, Al said "Let's just go ahead with the cake, and we'll eat after" So, there I go, get a knife, 2 plates. 2 forks. And I slice right into the cake. Poor Al...he comes out and says to me "Do you think you could at least light one candle?" DUH!!! I felt so rotten. I make such a huge deal about the kids birthdays, and yet I didn't even think of a candle for my husband. I certainly hope his 30th is a better birthday than his 29th.

Gotta run. Babies need tending.

~Lisa~

My husband is so Handsome.

Mason messed up his schedule in a big way yesterday. He wanted to nap at 6pm. Okay, fine. Normally if he is sleepy that late in the day he only sleeps for 30 minutes and then wakes up for his dinner by 7. Not yesterday! Yesterday he slept through until 11:15!! I know. I was totally foolish for not waking him. I realize that now.

Anyway. Al gave him a bottle, but there was NO way that boy wanted to go back to sleep.

Watching them, my husband and my son...was the most beautiful sight. My husband seemed softer, and happier. And my son was thrilled with all the attention. There's a special bond between them. It melts my heart every time I see them together :)

We finally gave up on getting Mason to go to sleep and just brought him to bed with us.

There's nothing like a man cuddling his baby.

He's the most handsome then.

~Lisa~

He Sits!!

So, when we were at playgroup the other day, Mason's Girlfriend, Bronwyn, was there. (Bronwyn is Karen's niece, and OH SO CUTE!! She's 5 weeks older than Mason). Anyway, she was sitting up like a champ! I was amazed at her strength :) And admittedly jealous that Mason wasn't showing many signs of doing it yet :(

Then this morning I was chatting to my Mom and she asked if Mason was sitting on his own, because my nephew Damion (3 weeks younger than Mason) can sit between their feet for a few seconds at a time. I said "No, Mason can sit well if he's on my lap, but just topples over if I put him on the floor, or try to prop him on the couch or bed."

So then I got to thinking...I borrowed a toy from Karen just yesterday. You can use it two ways, 1, lay baby under it, and he kicks a thingy to activate the sounds and thingamajigs, or 2, push a couple buttons to lower the top thingy and baby can sit in front of all the bells and whistles to push them to make them go.

So, I convert the thing, and plunk Mason down in front of it. Lo and Behold, this is what he does!!!

I think there are probably laws against babies being this cute. but I won't tell if you won't :)

The little stinker can SIT!!! YAY!!! I am such a proud Mama today :)

~Lisa~

We're so boring.

Nothing much has been going on around here lately. Nothing bloggable anyway. Hmm...I wonder if bloggable is in the Dictionary?? hmm...

Anyway. It's March Break here. And Jenny cancelled me for the week so that they can go to one of the Carolina's (Not sure if it's north or south). Ugh. Either way, they're at the beach, and I am freezing my ASS off!! What happened to the +14C we had on Monday?? Today the wind is supposed to get up to 80Km/hr around here! And we're getting more snow :-@

I took the kids to a new playgroup yesterday. It was fun :) The playgroup(Ontario Early Years Centre) we usually go to is pretty big, with different rooms and lots of 'stations' for the kids to play at. Unfortunately, I am not brave enough to take all three kids there. There's just too much potential destruction...and I am only one mommy...three kids outnumber me...and I am weak. lol Anyway, I digress. So, Karen called me yesterday and asked if I wanted to take my kids to a different playgroup, run by the OEYC, but in a smaller building. "They'll be easier to watch" she said...I wasn't convinced. "They have snack time, and circle time" I liked that, but wasn't convinced. "They have coffee" I was SO there. LOL...and yet I didn't even have any while I was there :)

It was so great to get out of the house like that. I can't go shopping with all three right now. Mason outgrew his Handy Dandy infant car seat. But he still isn't sitting up on his own well enough (or at all really) to sit in the front of the cart. I could take him in the stroller, but, Aidan, being Aidan, and 2, and a boy, he doesn't walk with me well enough to be allowed free reign yet. It's made for some cabin fever around her I'm afraid. So the break in our day yesterday worked wonders for our morale around here :)

Mason is still not sleeping that great at night. He was up every 3 hours last night, and started the day at 5:30. I figure, since he's a big baby, and has grown so much, and so fast in his short 6 3/4 months, he probably does need the extra feedings he gets at night. Especially since he's decided not to nurse as well in the day time. :P He gets distracted by everything :) Especially his rather noisey older siblings. He's also started on Baby food. His favourites are Carrots and Squash. And so far, his least favourites are Pears and Peaches. :) His face scrunches up hilariously when he gets a taste of those :) He does like apples and bananas though, so hopefully he'll like other fruits too.

Jenna has had a HUGE improvement on her letter sounds!!!! We took Jes's suggestion and got the LeapPad Letter Factory video. BOTH Jenna and Aidan are mesmerized by it!! And even better, Aidan is picking up the letter sounds too!! yay!!

Aidan is my mischief maker. I caught him spreading margarine on the counter yesterday. He'll also take Jenna's beloved Blankie and hide it. He's famous for being heard saying "HA HA HA, they'll never find it NOW!!!" It's a good thing he's so stinkin' cute. We'd have to sell him on the black market otherwise.

Al is still loving his job. He even got handed over authority for the service department!!! YAY AL!! Although, it means that he's working just as long as he was when he was towing. Which is so frustrating or me :( I hate to be bothered by how much he works. But I do realize that he has to, and that it's not forever...well, I hope not anyway. We've been spoiled lately. Since he starts work at 10AM, he gets to be here until about 9AM!! I've even been able to go back to bed some mornings for an hour or so!! Lovely that :)

I have a sight words program, and a "How Are You" program to write for Henry. I really should get moving on those :) They're different than the other programs I have written before, but I'm looking forward to them. Henry is so funny sometimes(In hindsight of course :)) I was working with him on Saturday, and he was supposed to count to 4. Nearly everytime he screamed at me 1, 2, 3, VIOLET. I have NO idea where it was coming from, but he did it eventually.

Anyway, not much exciting around here. I've been thinking of Helen and her dad's passing a lot. I feel so terrible that there's nothing much that I can do for her :( I hope she knows how much she's loved and appreciated.

Hugs to all.

~Lisa~

Dear Mason,

Hi there Baby. We need to discuss something. Again. I know that I have spoken to you repeatedly about this matter. I have begged, even cried a wee bit that one time...but Mason, this needs to stop. We can not continue with this 5 in the morning play time.

Mommy is tired.

Mommy has an important job that requires her to THINK.

Mommy has 3 kids to care for.

Mommy cannot think straight lately. And my son, it's gone on plenty long enough!!

Here's the deal. I am FINE with you waking in the night. I will put you to bed at a reasonable hour, and I will feed you 4-5 hours later. And THEN...this is the tricky part my love...after that feeding...I will get up with you again 4-5 hours later...but you MUST be willing to go back to sleep again Mason James. You are a little BABY...you need more sleep!!!

So, to recap. 5 AM is NOT the time when Mommy would like to spend one on one with you. We get that in the afternoon...there's NO need for it before the sun rises okay?? I do love you, and I do love playing with you, seeing your delicious smiles and lovely laughs. But not, I repeat NOT at 5 am.

All Clear??

Good. I love you!!

Love Always,
Mommy

My new Mob-Boss name is "Sticky Eye".

Or

Flush eye with water for 15 minutes

Or

How to lose your husbands respect

Or

Okay, no more Or's...

I was trying to be super mom this morning. One of the kids Little People swings was mysteriously broken by gremlin's in the night(as I discovered upon asking all guilty looking parties "What Happened"). So, out comes the crazy glue. The first bottle I have ever been the proud owner of...In...my...LIFE! TRUE! But, there's a problem...the glue is stuck...hmm...get a pin. So, I poke and prod at it for a bit, and managed to squeeze out some gloopy not-sticky-enough crazy glue. That would not do. I only succeeded in partially glueing my finger to the toy...no idea how. Thus the reason for my lack of glue in previous years apparently. So, I poke and prod some more, getting out the gloopy glue in the hopes that the running good glue is hiding underneath.

I gave one good squeeze, and out came the rest of the gloopy(Lovin' that word today!!) glue, and out spurted the runnier glue. IN MY EYE!!! I stood for a fraction of a moment praying that I was wrong, that there was really nothing in my eye. And then it started to Burn!! I calmly said to Al, "What would I need to do if I got this glue in my eye? SERIOUSLY!" I thought he would think I was joking, and not help me! LOL While I stood there burning my eye out, and holding it open! LOL

So then I had to flush it out with water for 15 minutes!! Pain in the arse!! But, much better than walking around with my eye glued shut forever!!

And after all that, I got the toy fixed :)

Also, Big Happy Birthday to My George!!!!

~Lisa~

Jenna did very well!!

Her teeth looks great!! She was a little freaked out about falling asleep, but settled down after a minute. It was kinda hard to see her sleeping like that. Especially since she occasionally sleeps with her eyes partially open...and did this time as well. Creepy :)

They did 7 cavities and replaced the two temporary fillings they did in January.

It was scary(and funny) to see her wake up. Once she was fully awake, she wanted to leave...right NOW. We thought she'd been awake long enough, and let her get up. Unfortunately, she was still really unsteady on her feet. And fell into the hygenist on her left...and then fell into me on her right. And then she was really tipsy all the way out to the desk. The hygenist out there offered to let her sit in the waiting room for awhile, and even bought her some apple juice :) Unfortunately, the poor girl fell over into the arm of the couch in the waiting room while I attempted to dig in my purse for money for the juice. :( I felt so bad for her...but she didn't seem too bothered by it :) She looked like she'd had far too much wine at dinner :)

You should have seen her eat when we got home!! MAN! I realize that she hadn't eaten since 7am(so 10 hours before!!)...but wow, can that girl ever pack it in!! She had 2 full helpings of dinner(Ham, rice and carrots) an applesauce and milk, and then another snack before bed! And she's been eating non-stop all day today too! Good thing we don't have to do this very often! We'd have to get a loan from the bank, just to feed her! I'm terrified of the teenage years around here!

The dentist did a good job :) I would have liked the colour of her fillings to match her teeth a little better, but I also have no clue about this kind of thing, so don't know if that would be possible :) Dr.M did do a Fantastic job on her little teeth beside the from two. He filled them in and made them bigger...they look great :)

Anyway, I'll leave you with a before and after of my daughter's smile :)

~Lisa~

BEFORE

AFTER

Today's the day.

Jenna is getting her teeth fixed today. 2 hours from now actually. She just couldn't do it awake(Screaming, not sitting still etc...) so she'll be going under anesthesia. I am so scared for her, but also very relieved to be getting this over and done with. I know it will go fine, and she'll have a beautiful, pain-free smile at the end of it all, but still...if you read this...perhaps you could think good thoughts for Jenna today?

I'm so stressedright now. This appointment is costing us a lot of money. I mean, NOTHING complared to the whole amout(which is close to $4000), but enough so that I am freaking out. $400. We don't have it right now. When Al started with his new place, he lost a week in pay because of the way their pay system works. I don't really understand it. And I realllly dislike it. So, we've been struggling to get the bills paid and keep food on the table for a couple months now. And now this :(

Blah. I hate to be the grown-up sometimes. really really hate it.

~Lisa~

The nicest gifts.

Mason turned 6 months old yesterday. 6 MONTHS PEOPLE!! And he gave me the most beautiful gift. He said Mama. Jenna and Aidan both said Dada first...and Jenna called me Lisa before she called me Mama. So, this gift, from my last baby is so special to me :)

He's been making the MMMMMM sound for a couple days, but try as I might, he wouldn't repeat Mama. Last night I was upstairs getting the kids jammies, Mason was in his exersaucer and he started to fuss. Next thing I knew, he was saying MMMM MAMA! MMMM MAMA!! And he said it a few times. I called Karen and she heard it too! And then Al called to say he was on his way home, and he heard it too!!

And then, at 2:30 this morning, when Mason decided to fill his diaper, and half his jammies, when I was at my most sleepy and cranky...he said it again as soon as I fastened his clean diaper :)

I am loving this :)

Al gave me a few gifts this morning! First, he let me sleep in. He gave the kids thier breakfast, he tried his best to keep them quiet for me. And, he did the dishes from last night!! What a lovely sight this morning, to come down to nice shiney counters, and a sink filled with CLEAN dishes :) He said to me "Maybe this will help towards an easier day today." (Yesterday was rough, with much fighting amongst the hooligans, and a sore throat from hell) I love that man so very much.

Yesterday when I picked up Jenna from school, I was rewarded with a big smile and lots of praise from her teacher!! "Jenna is doing EXCELLENT with her letter sounds now" she said to me!! I had hoped to hear something like that. I saw a huge improvement over the weekend and through the week. I got out my flashcards for work, she thought they were fun!! Yay!! And she's sounding out everything now! "Telephone...Tuh...Tuh...Tuh...Telephone starts with T!!" I am so proud of my girl.

We've decided that Aidan is not quite ready for toilet training yet. He just doesn't get it. I'll try again next month. Although...Karen brought him a Buzz Lightyear Pull-up yesterday...he thought that was COOL! And was rather upset to realize that he had peed on Buzz. LOL...so maybe I'll try those. I've never been a pull-ups supporter before...but I've also never trained Aidan before :) Gotta use what works...that's the key :)

Just to add a little vent here...Why do other people assume THEY know when it's the best time to toilet train other people's kids?? My Mother AND step-mother have BOTH said within the past week "I think it's about time you get that boy trained." ugh. Shut up. he's mine. If I feel like changing diapers for the next 4 years, that's my concern. Sorry, that was really snarky. My mom has been pissing me off a lot lately, trying to teach me how to parent my children. She doesn't know. She never had three. She didn't work. My brother and I were FAR from perfect. I think it's just her approach. When I'm stressed out, I need support...not to be admonish for letting them get "out of control". Ugh. Blah.

Anyway, the good is totally outweighing the bad today :) we're having a jammie day. Which we never do...it seems weird to me to not get dressed...but why not right :)

~Lisa~

Remember back in July, when I was 8 months pregnant, suffering from low blood sugar, and a throat infection? And I got a speeding ticket? 70 in a 50, Community Safety Zone no less :( $198, and 3 points. OUCH!

I went to court for it yesterday. I got a thing in the mail a month ago offering an Early Resolution, and told me that if I wanted to take this option, to attend to Courtroom 1 on February 21st, at 2:15pm.

Yeah! I was totally all over that! So, I worked yesterday, then went and picked up Mason from daycare.(Jenn suggested taking him with me...thanks Jenn!!) ad off we went. To the courthouse.

Little did I know however, Barrie has TWO courthouses. A Criminal Court, and a Provincial Court. Which one did I choose to go to you ask?? Yep, the Criminal court. WHAT?! I didn't KNOW!! I waited outside Courtroom 1 for awhile. Since I was Super punctual, and got there at 2:00. I waited and waited. Someone unlocked the door...then a few people trickled in...but I was the only one in the hall waiting still. Finally at 2:20, I decided that maybe I was supposed to just go in. So, that's what I did. I wheeled Mason in, and took a seat, just as court was called to order. And thought to myself, "Phew! Glad I came in when I did, or I would have been late, and how embarrasing would THAT have been!!" HAHAHAHA!! I notice a woman look at me, then over at the police officer on duty, who shot her back a look that said "I don't know who the hell she is" And I got scared. The woman came over to me, and asked if she could help me. I handed her my blue paper that had the address on it, the date on it, Courtroom 1 on it, and the time on it. She smiled sweetly and said to me "Dear, you're in the wrong place." Dumb me said "But it says courtroom 1 right there" She replied "Yes, but this is 114 Mulcaster Street. And it says here on your paper that you need to be at 56 Mulcaster Street" OH...MY...GOODNESS!!! I about died right there in the middle of court. She took me out into the hallway then. She was SO super nice about it all, thank goodness, because visions of handcuffs and contempt of court charges were swimming in front of my eyes!! I couldn't stop appologizing!! But, she explained that it happens, and that she really didn't think I was a witness to a criminal trial!! ACK! No, I certainly was not. And then she wrote me an excuse note, and a map. That's right. 26 years old, mother of three, speed demon...and I needed an excuse note to get INTO court. Unbelievable.

So, I bundle Mason up Again, and take off(By this time I am pushing 2:30...for my 2:15 court time!) I race as fast as retarded 3 inch heeled pointy toed un-insulated boots will take me(read, not very fast, and not at all graceful). Away we went. Down the very steep driveway. Down the not quite as steep but very snow covered sidewalk, to the right courthouse.

I bet I looked totally HOT when I got in there! LOL

God must have really been watching over me(totally giggling and shaking His head...but watching none the less) as I wasn't late...well, I WAS, but the JP was still hearing people from the 1:00 slot! PHEW!!!!!!!!

So, I got to talk to the Lawyer, who didn't care what my excuse was. But she was lovely, and knocked my charge down to 65 in a 50, with ZERO points! Phew! I have to pay $90, plus a victim fine surcharge of $25. I'm very grateful for that.

And I have been much more aware of my speed since that day.

And I will double check the addresses of my destinations from now on :)

**ETA...I forgot to say, because I brought Mason, I got to go (and leave) first!! Woo!!

~Lisa~

Good Afternoon!

Mason had his 6 month check up this morning. He's 20lbs 0.5oz, and 28 inches long! He grew an Inch in a month!!! Weight is slowing down finally. Nothing much to report for him. other than the fact that he Smiled through his needle!! Silly boy.

Jenna had a follow-up to check her throat. Dr. said it still looks a touch red, and asked if she's coughing a lot still(which she is). If she's not better by next week I'm supposed to take her back in.

Dr. Wk pretty much ignored me when I said that I thought Aidan had had fifth disease(slapped cheek it's also called). I guess it's nothing much to worry about. He also pretty much ignored me when I told him that I have the flu. (Fever, body aches, headache)

And then, to top it all off, Aidan had the most embarrasing meltdown in the waiting room when I was trying to get him to put his coat on. Like, I had to drag him out, while he was screaming at the top of his lungs. Why do kids have to test you when you're down? I mean really. Had I been feeling any better at all I think it would have gone just fine. Unfortunately...it did not. I have never been so embarrased :(

So, that's the update here. Hope all is going well for you today.

~Lisa~

Small Success :)

We've decided that it's about time Aidan get started with toilet training. He wore underwear from the time he got up from his nap yesterday, until bedtime. AND STAYED DRY!!! AND! He had one success on the toilet! WOOHOO! He was so pissed off when I put his diaper on for bedtime. LOL

He's really resistant to sitting on the toilet though :( I think we need to get a different seat to go on the toilet for him. The one we have snaps onto a potty, and it's a tad small for his chubby legs :)

Jenna had a small success yesterday too! I got out my alphabet flash cards from work and quized her on what her letters and letter sounds are. I gave her one mini coloured marshmallow(the treat of choice around here :)) for every right answer. Nothing like finding the right reinforment :) She thought it was fun, and we were happy with the results :)

Mason's small success was his superb rolling skills. I put him in the middle of the living room, and about 3.2 seconds later, he's across the room. At the moment Al is giving him his cereal...is he spitting you ask?? No, no he is not. Little Bum!!

So, yesterday was a pretty good day all in all :)

~Lisa~

His spitting skillz...

They Are MAD!!

I thought you would be happy to know that Mason has MASTERED the art of blowing raspberries. The teacher?? His FATHER.

Al was blowing raspberries on Mason's neck/face last night, and the next thing we knew, Mason was blowing them back at Al!! And then of course, he decided that Breakfast time this morning would be the Perfect time to perfect this newfound skill of his.

I've attached photographic evidence...you'll be so proud :) I'd like to point out a few things.

1.) The spot of cereal on the top of his HEAD!! The boy's spitting skillz...they are mad.

2.) The mischievious gleam in his eye. I'm pretty sure that if we could read his mind, he'd be evil-laughing.

3.) The Bib Formerly Known As Clean.

4.) The mess on his chin? From ONE spoonful of Nestle Oat cereal.

Let the games begin.

~Lisa~

Got a call from the school today.

Just as I was leaving Henry's my cell phone rang. It was Jenna's school saying she was sick and wanted to go home. I was expecting it. When she woke up this morning she was sounding pretty rough, and still coughing. I tried to get her to stay home, but she realllllly wanted to go...so I figured I would let her try. So, I race to the school as fast as I dared. Get there, and the secretary says that she's gone back to class, and that the teacher would like to speak to me. Uh-oh. Hear that??? It's alarm bells. In my head.

I get to the classroom, and spy Jenna. Playing. Running. Obviously not half dead from fever and illness as I had convinced myslef while driveing far too fast to get her.

I walk over to the teacher, who says to me "Jenna has had a really rough morning. But I'll let you talk to her first" hmm...okay, Jenna says she has a tummy ache(Her answer for everything lately). I felt her head, she was a bit warm, but certainly did Not seem like she was too sick to be at school. I tur back to the teacher, who tells me that this HOOLIGAN of mine, has pushed a boy down, into a bench, for "being in her space". AND has buried the mitten of a schoolmate in the snow(I later learned from said schoolmate, that Jenna was Not the only culprit. That badass 5 year old Kattie played a part in it too. lol). Oh My GOODNESS!! Where did this demon child come from!?!? I told her in no uncertain terms that she was NOT too sick to come home, and that I was extrememely disappointed in her. And then she was made to appologize to the people she had wronged.

Her teacher was really nice about it. Understood that it was probably because she's not feeling well, and was up a couple times in the night, so was way over-tired. I should have kept her home. Hindsight.

I also had a chance to talk to her about the phonics. She's going to be sending home a flipbook of all the letters, and something or other. Which kinda makes me think that Jenna is probably not the only child struggling with this. I learn a new word by sight reading, rarely by sounding it out phonetically...I have a feeling Jenna is the same. She WANTS to read. She loves writing letters. She plays with our Leap Pad fridge phonics thing as much as Aidan. So, I think my initial concern was maybe a tad, little wee bit, over the top. She's just learning a different way. and that is fine.

Also, big news, I got the phone numbers for TWO friends today!! Yay us!! AND (only becase of peer pressure from the MOMS) Jenna spent an hour after school at a friends house this afternoon :) Go Jenna :)

~Lisa~

Blaaaaaahhhhhhhhh......

We're sick...still. Colds for the kids and I. And STILL with the pink eye!! I just can't beat it!! All the kids have it again. I think Jenna and I may have throat infections as well. I'm debating the pros and cons of going to the clinic with three kids in tow, against staying home and listening to the whining....tough one.

Mason had his first day at the babysitter's yesterday :( It went well enough. And by that, I really mean it went great. He was a model baby for Laura...except for the three poops which necessitated entire outfit changes. (Hehehe...that's my boy!!) Every time Jenny's phone rang I had a huge lump in my throat...thinking that for sure something horrendous had happened with the baby! But, no, it went fine. He wanted to nurse all freakin' afternoon though!! Which was fine really, I was pretty full up by the time 1:00 came around!

Jenny and I had a good meeting yesterday about Henry's progress. She asked me (ME!) to write some of the new programs we'd like to implement for him. I've already done Expressive Letter and Number Sequencing. Next is receptive. Also an opposites program, and some fine motor work :) I'm so excited that she asked me :) Usually my friend Karen does the program writing. But, when you compare $35/hour to my $15??? Yeah, I'd ask me to do the basic stuff too :) And she's totally going to pay me! I mean...I had hoped she would offer when I took the two programs that I wrote in to her for approval, but never would have asked, since they were my first :)

Charlie is doing well (well, better than he was anyway) He's home now. He sounds Really tired, but that could have been from the 18 hour trip home!! He had to take the bus, since he was well enough...but with the storms we've been getting, it took the driver a reallllly long time to get to Cochrane. He's supposed to go to Sudbury for an assessment at the end of this month, so I hope they have some answers for him. He's been put on Heart meds again. Which he says is a really good thing...so hopefully that means they are making him feel better.

Al is getting a new car!! WOOHOO!! But, that means he's trying to sell his old one :( Anyone interested in a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier in really good condition?? $3800 and she's yours!! It's dark purple, 4 doors....really pretty :)

***ETA - I braved the clinic. Jenna has tonsilitis!! Poor kid :( I just have a virus, not a throat infection as I thought. Oh well. Fine by me!

I haven't been doing a good enough job...

With my daughter.

I saw her teacher yesterday, and was compelled to ask her how Jenna has been doing. She made a face, like a scrunchy "I wish you hadn't asked me that because it is not good news" kinda face :(

She did some assessments on the kids yesterday. Apparently Jenna is not up to par on her letter sounds. Not how the teacher would like her to be. She asked me to work on it at home more.

We have been! Really!! Just not in the right way. I had been asking her things like "What Letter does Mom start with?" She'd reply "I don't know" and I would say "Sound it out..MMMMMooooommmm" And she would get it right away! I though she was doing pretty good.

Nope. Apparently not.

She's supposed to be able to look at a letter and know it's sound. And also be asked outright, What sound does M make.(Which she did better on than looking at the letter, whop-dee-do)

I know my daughter really well(I like to think anyway. HA!). And I bet she was faking it on half of the questions her teacher asked. She does it for attention. I know that. Her teacher tried to reassure me by saying that it could have just been the mood Jenna was in, or the time of day, or her little cold throwing her off.

But still. No good parent likes to hear the words "She's not doing so well." To me, it roughly translates into "You're failing her at home".

And it annoys me that I had to ASK the teacher about her progress. I see the woman every day. I'd like to know that she's going to tell me when my kid is falling behind her peers.

*sigh*

I need to figure out how to work this into our day. How to make NOT like work. How to get her to excell.

This is what I DO for a living. I teach. I explain. I re-teach. I mould. I reward.

I'm just afraid that if I bring out my flashcards, it's going to put her on the defense, and she won't do it for me.

Which is C~R~A~Z~Y. I am her MOTHER. I need to do this. And I need to do it Well.

Wish me luck.

~Lisa~

Thoughts and Prayers for Papa Charlie.

Al's Step father Charlie is in the Hospital. In Thunder Bay. Which is 9 hours from his home :(

He suffered a very severe Angina attack on Tuesday. He was driving his transport at the time, but managed to get pulled over and into a coffee shop where he collapsed and had to be resuscitated. They managed to get him to a hospital(An hour away) and from there air-lifted him to the hospital in Thunder Bay.

They are doing an Angiogram on his heart this morning, and some other tests. Once the results are back from those, and he's well enough, they'll be sending him by air ambulance back to the Timmins hospital.

He's had heart attacks before, and has already undergone bypass surgery. There's nothing else they can do for his heart.

It's all up to him now. He has to stop smoking, and improve his diet greatly. And no more long haul driving. They figure the attack was brought on by stress and exhaustion. He'd been on the road almost non-stop for 2 weeks when it happened. Do you know what the lady at his office told my MIL when she called to tell them what happened, and where he was? "Oh, that's no problem, we have another driver going through there in a day or so, he can bring Charlie back." Like the man is going to want to sit in a truck for another day!! Some people...dumb dumb dumb.

So, if you can spare a thought or Prayer for our Charlie, we'd all appreciate it. He's all alone in Thunder Bay, and gets Depressed pretty easily. Also, maybe a prayer/thought for my MIL, Dale? She's having a rough time being so far away from him.

Thanks Everyone.

~Lisa~

Share Video at DropShots.com

Mason is FINALLY...

ROLLING OVER!!! He did it awhile ago, but I guess it was a total fluke, because he hasn't done it since!

Until a couple days ago. I thought Jenna had rolled him onto his tummy, as she does every day when SHE decides it's tummy time. But she was pretty adamant that NO is was NOT her. And then he did it again, when she was at school, so there was no way she could have been the culprit :)

And now he won't stop doing it!! Put him on the floor and he's right over, and then 2 seconds later is screaming to be rolled back! While I am THRILLED he has reached this milestone...I am not so thrilled with having to roll him over eleventy zillion times a day.

I caught him on video yesterday. I love the look on his face at the end...like WHOA! Did you See what I just did?! LOL Hopefully it works :)


~Lisa~

***Okay, So I can't figure it out! but my beautiful friend Jes posted it above for me!! Love to her!!!