Our weekends have been very relaxing lately.
This weekend on Friday night, after dinner, we had ourselves a little euchre tournament. I have to admit I really enjoy playing cards and did quite a lot of it in high school and through university. It’s funny for me to see the two of them knocking on the table and throwing their cards down. I really get a charge out of it.
We’ve got skiing lessons for the girls on Saturday mornings. Our original plan was to ski as a family after their lesson, but after careful consideration, Dave and I decided that might not be a great idea. He and I are not the most patient people, especially when we’re trying to teach our children how to do something, so we figured it would be best to let the instructors do the instructing.
I think it was a very wise decision on our part.
The girls are really enjoying their lessons and don’t feel any pressure to advance any faster than they are comfortable. This week, Isobel was on the ‘big hill’. She was worried about it when she went to bed Friday night but faced her fears head on. She came down the hill that first time with a HUGE smile on her face. It’s so great to see them enjoying something I enjoy so much. I’m optimistic that sometime within the next month we’ll get to have that Saturday afternoon of family skiing that I’m so looking forward to.
It has been quite cold hanging out around the bottom of the hill while the girls have their lessons. The wind really whips through Glen Eden but unfortunately we’ve found the chalet is too crowded to find seats to wait inside. This week I found these things in the mud room closet when I cleaned it out. I have no idea how long they’ve been in there but, boy, do I love them. I put one in each of my boots and my tootsies were toasty warm. Nothing says ‘I’m happy’ quite like warm feet.
This weekend after skiing Isobel had a birthday party so Dave and I got to hang out with Meredith. We had a lovely lunch with her. She had a science test to study for so while she did that, he and I donated the two desks in the basement and put an old tin topped table in their place. It’s looking a little less crowded down there. A little.
Sunday, Dave plays squash in the mornings while I do some chores around the house. This time it was Meredith’s turn to be out (at a friends house) after lunch so Dave and I got to hang out with Isobel. We took her downtown for a hot chocolate. When we got home, it was time to Wii. Man, I love that thing. Are adults allowed to admit that? It’s a lot of fun. I even enjoy watching the girls while they play.
It was a great weekend. And while I feel like I was totally able to relax, I feel like I was productive and got stuff done too. Plus it was a bonus to have some time alone with each of the girls.
On the funnier side of things, Meredith is studying the solar system in science right now and has been studying this weekend for a test on Monday. She’s quite fascinated by the planet Uranus and can’t help but giggle every time she reads about it. She wants to know who would give a planet such a name. You can only imagine what other conversations we have had about the word ‘Uranus’ and its connotations.
Yet another sign, my girl is getting older.
Well, I guess I’m back to my long posts. Sleep well, my reader, and have yourself a great day.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Things Are Changing
I’m noticing my blog posts seem to be a little lengthy.
Today will be different.
There’s nothing wrong. I’ve had a good week. I’ve managed to get stuff done, workout and stay sane. I just don’t have much to say. (Surprise! Surprise!)
I had Meredith home from school yesterday. Not terribly sick, just a little sniffly but I’m finding she’s getting quite hormonal of late and I felt she needed the day to just regroup and get herself together.
It worked.
Today, she was a different kid. Very happy, very together and only a little sniffly.
But while she was home, I found myself floundering around, unsure of my role and what I needed to do. It used to be, when Meredith was home sick, I had to cancel all my plans for that day and spend the day watching TV with her, doing crafts with her and reading to her. I hovered around, but she really didn’t need me. She watched a movie by herself, had some computer time, and did a bit of homework while I went out and did the groceries and when I got back, she helped me put them away. After we had some lunch together she crawled into bed to read her book. When she was up in her bed, I worried that I was neglecting her. I went up to ask if she needed anything or wanted to do anything and she told me she was exactly where she wanted to be. She’s getting older and more independent and I’m going to have to adjust and get used to it.
I think we’re heading in a new direction.
I hope I’m up for the challenge.
Today will be different.
There’s nothing wrong. I’ve had a good week. I’ve managed to get stuff done, workout and stay sane. I just don’t have much to say. (Surprise! Surprise!)
I had Meredith home from school yesterday. Not terribly sick, just a little sniffly but I’m finding she’s getting quite hormonal of late and I felt she needed the day to just regroup and get herself together.
It worked.
Today, she was a different kid. Very happy, very together and only a little sniffly.
But while she was home, I found myself floundering around, unsure of my role and what I needed to do. It used to be, when Meredith was home sick, I had to cancel all my plans for that day and spend the day watching TV with her, doing crafts with her and reading to her. I hovered around, but she really didn’t need me. She watched a movie by herself, had some computer time, and did a bit of homework while I went out and did the groceries and when I got back, she helped me put them away. After we had some lunch together she crawled into bed to read her book. When she was up in her bed, I worried that I was neglecting her. I went up to ask if she needed anything or wanted to do anything and she told me she was exactly where she wanted to be. She’s getting older and more independent and I’m going to have to adjust and get used to it.
I think we’re heading in a new direction.
I hope I’m up for the challenge.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Scrapbooking Projects.
I am certainly in a scrapbooking frame of mind these days.
I’m embarking on a year long challenge called Project 365. I wasn’t going to do it, but when I thought about it and saw my friend Barb’s first page, I decided to join her on this journey.
The idea is to take a photo a day and then scrapbook it. The photo can be anything. It can be related to your day or not. It can be a person, a place or a thing. It can be whatever you want it to be. The theory is that by taking a photo a day, it will improve your photography skills and get you into the habit of taking photos on a regular basis. I think also, when the album is done, it will give the reader a glimpse into what your life was like at that point in time. The scrapbook pages are to be simple. I’ve created a couple of digital templates that I will use for each and every page. The key here is to keep it simple.
Here’s the cover page for my album:
And here’s my first page:
It's actually the third page for the album as I am two weeks behind, but it is the first page I've completed. Hopefully by next week, I’ll be able to put the other 2 together.
I’ve mentioned before that I’m working on pages from 2004. Here’s another one of those:
The goal for me with these pages is to use the paper and supplies that I planned for the photos almost 4 years ago. That’s a tough one for me, but so far, so good. The paper and stickers on this page were bought for me by my good friend Nicola many years ago. Thanks Nic!!
Wish me luck!
I’m embarking on a year long challenge called Project 365. I wasn’t going to do it, but when I thought about it and saw my friend Barb’s first page, I decided to join her on this journey.
The idea is to take a photo a day and then scrapbook it. The photo can be anything. It can be related to your day or not. It can be a person, a place or a thing. It can be whatever you want it to be. The theory is that by taking a photo a day, it will improve your photography skills and get you into the habit of taking photos on a regular basis. I think also, when the album is done, it will give the reader a glimpse into what your life was like at that point in time. The scrapbook pages are to be simple. I’ve created a couple of digital templates that I will use for each and every page. The key here is to keep it simple.
Here’s the cover page for my album:
And here’s my first page:
It's actually the third page for the album as I am two weeks behind, but it is the first page I've completed. Hopefully by next week, I’ll be able to put the other 2 together.
I’ve mentioned before that I’m working on pages from 2004. Here’s another one of those:
The goal for me with these pages is to use the paper and supplies that I planned for the photos almost 4 years ago. That’s a tough one for me, but so far, so good. The paper and stickers on this page were bought for me by my good friend Nicola many years ago. Thanks Nic!!
Wish me luck!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
My List
I have so much rolling around in my head right now. This is the list of projects I am working on or wanting to work on:
Project 365 – You take photo a day for each day of the year, then scrapbook a page per week using only a single photo per day. This sounds like a really cool idea but I am worried about the time it will take.
This blog – I’d love to spend more time on it and make it a little better.
My volunteer duties for the schools.
I’m trying to get to the gym as many days as possible.
I purchased a self paced online course in the fall for a program called ACDsee that I use to store my digital scrapbooking supplies. I have yet to actually do the course and my digi supplies are all over the place – very stressful for me.
Keeping in touch with friends and family.
All my unfinished paper scrapbook pages. I’ve got 8 sitting on my desk right now.
Scrapbook pages for November/December 2008. There are 8 of those on my desk too.
Eating healthy – not going so well so far.
My iPod Nano is full and I really need to organize my music so I’ve got what I really want on the Nano.
Books – those vampire novels are killin’ me (no pun intended!) right now. Plus, there are just so many good books out there I want to read.
I’ve also got a stack of magazines next to my chair that I’d like to read.
I made myself a scarf in the fall and would like to finish the hat and mitts to go along with it.
Keeping the house clean and my family fed.
Spending time with my family and really and truly enjoying them.
You will notice that 90% of this list is comprised of things I want to do and not things I really need to do. I am very much a project oriented person. I need to have things on the go or I’m bored and unhappy, but really? I think the list is a little long. And I’m quite confident I’ve missed out on a couple of things. I think my word for 2009 should be RELAX or even PRIORITZE. I am so grateful that my lifestyle allows me to have so many things I want to do on my list as opposed to things I must do.
I’ll keep you posted and let you know how many of these things I actually do. I can feel myself getting all worked up even as I write this. I really need to relax and chill out and decide what’s most important here.
For today, I’m going to tidy up the house, go to the gym, hit the LCBO for some Bailey’s and some wine (perhaps that will help me relax?) and work on those unfinished scrapbook pages. And think more about my Project 365 photos. I think that’s good for today, don’t you? Oh, and I will feed my family too!!
Monday, January 12, 2009
I Vant to Suck Your Blood!!!
I’m starting to think I might be a little twisted. Well, actually I’ve known for some time that I’m twisted but I’ve managed to hide it from all but my closest and dearest friends. I think it’s time to come out and let the world know that, yes indeed, I am a twisted individual.
What has sparked this, you ask? Well, it’s my obsession with vampires.
It started, I realized, back in my early twenties with the Anne Rice Interview With A Vampire series of books. I loved those books back then and read them all. Many years passed and my vampire obsession receded until last year with the Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight trilogy. Wow. Those are some good books. I was a little embarrassed to be reading them because they are technically ‘teen fiction’ but read them I did. Each one in under a week, I might add. I was sad when they ended, but then one day I was surfing this blog and read a post about the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris that the blogger was reading.
More vampire books? Really? How exciting for me.
Not only did I find out about the novels, I also found out there is an HBO series called True Blood that is based on them. Score for me!!
I’ve managed to watch the first season of True Blood. Poor Dave. He is one of the few who knows exactly how twisted I am but I don’t think he was counting on being sucked into the vampire madness.
Anyway, now I’m devouring those novels. This one:
is my current obsession. I’ve had it 3 days and it’s almost finished. I must go finish it now!!
What has sparked this, you ask? Well, it’s my obsession with vampires.
It started, I realized, back in my early twenties with the Anne Rice Interview With A Vampire series of books. I loved those books back then and read them all. Many years passed and my vampire obsession receded until last year with the Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight trilogy. Wow. Those are some good books. I was a little embarrassed to be reading them because they are technically ‘teen fiction’ but read them I did. Each one in under a week, I might add. I was sad when they ended, but then one day I was surfing this blog and read a post about the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris that the blogger was reading.
More vampire books? Really? How exciting for me.
Not only did I find out about the novels, I also found out there is an HBO series called True Blood that is based on them. Score for me!!
I’ve managed to watch the first season of True Blood. Poor Dave. He is one of the few who knows exactly how twisted I am but I don’t think he was counting on being sucked into the vampire madness.
Anyway, now I’m devouring those novels. This one:
is my current obsession. I’ve had it 3 days and it’s almost finished. I must go finish it now!!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Time to Catch Up
It’s been a long time since I posted. I always look forward to the day when the girls go back to school but what I don’t realize is that I’m looking forward to it because I’ve always got so much to do. Errands to run, that I didn’t want to subject them to, people to see that I’ve neglected and of course working out to catch up on which is always the first thing to go when they’re home. This week was a blur of household chores, errands, coffee and breakfast dates and a snow day. Plus Meredith’s birthday party was on Friday.
It was a great party. She invited her friends to participate in a cooking class at our local Great Canadian Superstore. The kids did everything from making the food to tidying up and of course, eating what they had made. Meredith was so happy. This year, for the second year, she asked her friends for donations to the Oakville Humane Society instead of gifts for herself. I am very proud of her for making that decision and I hope she does it again.
Saturday, the girls had their first skiing lesson at Glen Eden. Originally, Dave and I were planning on skiing during the lesson and skiing as a family after, but we decided it might be better to let their instructors teach them to ski, and once they have graduated from the learning hill to the big hill, we’ll ski with them. We didn’t want to push them too hard. They both came off the hill with huge smiles on their faces so I think we made the right decision.
Today, we focused on the house. I attempted to clean it (hard to do with 2 children at home!) but we also rearranged the furniture in the basement to accommodate the Wii. The Wii is a huge hit. Dave and I even hang out down there skiing, bowling and ski jumping after the girls go to bed. If you’re considering one, go for it. It’s the best thing for the entire family!!
Another thing I did today was get rid of candy. Holy cow, I can’t believe how much candy we had in this house. I went through the cupboards and dumped it all on the kitchen table. The top was almost entirely covered. We had Halloween candy, Christmas candy, loot bag candy and miscellaneous candy that we collected somewhere along the way. My kids love to get candy. When we’re out they often ask for it. I’m not above bribery; I usually buy it for them because I know they won’t actually eat it. When we get home, sometimes they have a little, put it away and forget about it and sometimes they just put it away! We have a cookie jar in the cupboard and they only kept what would fit in the jar. The rest we are sending to the office with Dave.
I’m still enjoying my Tuesday scrapping days immensely. I’m up to date for 2008 (just waiting to develop those Christmas photos) and have started going back to 2004 and working on those photos. In 2004, I didn’t manage to scrap much but I did plan pages for all the photos I took. I have promised myself that even though the supplies in my page kits are sometimes a little outdated, I’m going to use what I’ve put away. It’s amazing what you can do if you add just a little newer product to the old or apply a new technique. I love looking back on those photos and remembering the girls when they were little. As always, I don’t manage to complete entire pages. This week I got one page completely done and three are just waiting for things to finish them off. Here’s the one I got done:
Note to self: I really need to learn how to post images of my paper pages. I don't have a scanner. I'll do better next time, I promise!
That’s it for me. I’m still trying to figure out my word for 2009 – Balance? Achieve? Create? I don’t know. Perhaps it should be Decide.
Good luck to you in 2009.
It was a great party. She invited her friends to participate in a cooking class at our local Great Canadian Superstore. The kids did everything from making the food to tidying up and of course, eating what they had made. Meredith was so happy. This year, for the second year, she asked her friends for donations to the Oakville Humane Society instead of gifts for herself. I am very proud of her for making that decision and I hope she does it again.
Saturday, the girls had their first skiing lesson at Glen Eden. Originally, Dave and I were planning on skiing during the lesson and skiing as a family after, but we decided it might be better to let their instructors teach them to ski, and once they have graduated from the learning hill to the big hill, we’ll ski with them. We didn’t want to push them too hard. They both came off the hill with huge smiles on their faces so I think we made the right decision.
Today, we focused on the house. I attempted to clean it (hard to do with 2 children at home!) but we also rearranged the furniture in the basement to accommodate the Wii. The Wii is a huge hit. Dave and I even hang out down there skiing, bowling and ski jumping after the girls go to bed. If you’re considering one, go for it. It’s the best thing for the entire family!!
Another thing I did today was get rid of candy. Holy cow, I can’t believe how much candy we had in this house. I went through the cupboards and dumped it all on the kitchen table. The top was almost entirely covered. We had Halloween candy, Christmas candy, loot bag candy and miscellaneous candy that we collected somewhere along the way. My kids love to get candy. When we’re out they often ask for it. I’m not above bribery; I usually buy it for them because I know they won’t actually eat it. When we get home, sometimes they have a little, put it away and forget about it and sometimes they just put it away! We have a cookie jar in the cupboard and they only kept what would fit in the jar. The rest we are sending to the office with Dave.
I’m still enjoying my Tuesday scrapping days immensely. I’m up to date for 2008 (just waiting to develop those Christmas photos) and have started going back to 2004 and working on those photos. In 2004, I didn’t manage to scrap much but I did plan pages for all the photos I took. I have promised myself that even though the supplies in my page kits are sometimes a little outdated, I’m going to use what I’ve put away. It’s amazing what you can do if you add just a little newer product to the old or apply a new technique. I love looking back on those photos and remembering the girls when they were little. As always, I don’t manage to complete entire pages. This week I got one page completely done and three are just waiting for things to finish them off. Here’s the one I got done:
Note to self: I really need to learn how to post images of my paper pages. I don't have a scanner. I'll do better next time, I promise!
That’s it for me. I’m still trying to figure out my word for 2009 – Balance? Achieve? Create? I don’t know. Perhaps it should be Decide.
Good luck to you in 2009.
Monday, January 5, 2009
WHEW!
I’m back.
The toys are put away, the tree is down, the house is clean, my husband is back at work and my children are back to school. What a whirlwind Christmas holiday we had.
Not much happened the week before Christmas and I think that somehow spurred us to make plans for the second week. And make plans we did.
Christmas Day was a blur of eating and gift opening. Dave and I got the girls a Wii for Christmas so the latter part of the day was spent boxing and playing tennis and even bowling. It really is great fun. What I particularly like about it is that although it is a video game, you are up and moving about instead of parking your butt on the couch. Dave and I boxed (he won!!) and the next day my arms and shoulders were all sore. I’m looking forward to getting Wii Fit in the future and doing some yoga in the privacy of my own home.
I don’t know what we did over the next few days but I know there was some shopping in there, some entertaining, a movie and of course, we got all those pesky decorations down and put away.
I went to Buffalo for 2 days on a wee shopping trip with my scrapbooking friends. There were definitely bargains to be had down there. I returned home tired and happy.
For New Years Eve, we enjoyed some glow in the dark bowling (HAPPY NEW YEAR, by the way!) then went to a neighbour’s house for some drinks. The girls were emphatic that they wanted to stay up until midnight. Dave and I were both tired but we did manage to see the New Year in. What I thought was funny was that as soon as we all toasted the new year, our girls immediately went and got their coats etc. on. They had done what they came to do and they were ready to go to bed. Both slept until 10 the next morning.
We went tubing at Chicopee and skiing in Beaver Valley and before we knew it, it was time to get everyone back to school and back to work and back to our regularly scheduled life. I love the holiday season and all it brings with it but I am happy to be back to our regular routine.
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about 2009 and what my goals are. I’m not one to make New Year’s resolutions but I do like to have goals for the year. I don’t ever write them down and have forgotten what my goals were for 2008. Handy, huh? I think my goals for the year are to be less scattered and more organized, to take care of myself by eating healthier and moving my body on a daily basis. I need to be better about giving my children my full attention when they need it but taking time to myself when life allows. I need to scrapbook more. It truly is a need and not a want. When I record our life’s stories in my scrapbooks and put it down on paper, it does more for me than fill my time. Creating is important and being creative is too. Scrapbooking always puts me in a good mood and as I move upward and onward in age, I need things that make me happy.
I’ve also been trying to come up with a word for 2009 as outlined on Ali’s blog. I have yet to come up with one but I am toying with a few. If I manage to nail it down I will share it here.
Anyway, enough pontificating for now. I need to go get ready for my day at the scrapbook store tomorrow. And I’m going to hit the gym on my way home.
The toys are put away, the tree is down, the house is clean, my husband is back at work and my children are back to school. What a whirlwind Christmas holiday we had.
Not much happened the week before Christmas and I think that somehow spurred us to make plans for the second week. And make plans we did.
Christmas Day was a blur of eating and gift opening. Dave and I got the girls a Wii for Christmas so the latter part of the day was spent boxing and playing tennis and even bowling. It really is great fun. What I particularly like about it is that although it is a video game, you are up and moving about instead of parking your butt on the couch. Dave and I boxed (he won!!) and the next day my arms and shoulders were all sore. I’m looking forward to getting Wii Fit in the future and doing some yoga in the privacy of my own home.
I don’t know what we did over the next few days but I know there was some shopping in there, some entertaining, a movie and of course, we got all those pesky decorations down and put away.
I went to Buffalo for 2 days on a wee shopping trip with my scrapbooking friends. There were definitely bargains to be had down there. I returned home tired and happy.
For New Years Eve, we enjoyed some glow in the dark bowling (HAPPY NEW YEAR, by the way!) then went to a neighbour’s house for some drinks. The girls were emphatic that they wanted to stay up until midnight. Dave and I were both tired but we did manage to see the New Year in. What I thought was funny was that as soon as we all toasted the new year, our girls immediately went and got their coats etc. on. They had done what they came to do and they were ready to go to bed. Both slept until 10 the next morning.
We went tubing at Chicopee and skiing in Beaver Valley and before we knew it, it was time to get everyone back to school and back to work and back to our regularly scheduled life. I love the holiday season and all it brings with it but I am happy to be back to our regular routine.
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about 2009 and what my goals are. I’m not one to make New Year’s resolutions but I do like to have goals for the year. I don’t ever write them down and have forgotten what my goals were for 2008. Handy, huh? I think my goals for the year are to be less scattered and more organized, to take care of myself by eating healthier and moving my body on a daily basis. I need to be better about giving my children my full attention when they need it but taking time to myself when life allows. I need to scrapbook more. It truly is a need and not a want. When I record our life’s stories in my scrapbooks and put it down on paper, it does more for me than fill my time. Creating is important and being creative is too. Scrapbooking always puts me in a good mood and as I move upward and onward in age, I need things that make me happy.
I’ve also been trying to come up with a word for 2009 as outlined on Ali’s blog. I have yet to come up with one but I am toying with a few. If I manage to nail it down I will share it here.
Anyway, enough pontificating for now. I need to go get ready for my day at the scrapbook store tomorrow. And I’m going to hit the gym on my way home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
