Archive for January, 2009

Unpacking.

January 26, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized

I had commented on my Facebook and Twitter about how I couldn’t wait for my status to change from “packing” to “unpacking”. And while I’m super duper thankful to be unpacking, it’s a drag! There’s so much to do, to even feel at home. I’m already loving pretty much everything about this house, except for my master bedroom shower. It’s sooooo tiny, and I’m used to having a whole tub to move around in! I’m sure I’ll get used to it in time. Either that or I’ll just stop showering. Meh. On that topic, I am going to need to find wherever my razor is packed soon, or I’m going to be able to braid my underarm hairs soon. Yeah, hot, I know. I’m so schmexy. 

I spent the whole day today at the old house cleaning up. My lovely Mama gave me a housewarming gift of a clean from a maid service! It was so great to have them come and do some of the stuff that I really didn’t want to do: the bathrooms and the kitchen. They got clean all three bathrooms and half the kitchen. A little concerning though, that one girl got through 2.5 bathrooms in the same time the other girl got through half the kitchen. Not sure what that’s all about. Anyways, I vacuumed the whole house, got half way done the painting I need to do, finished the kitchen and completely finished the dining room (floors, wall, windows, baseboards, etc etc etc!!) It feels good to have accomplished something, but there’s still sooooooo much to do, and considering I was there from 9am until 4pm, and that’s all I did, plus I had help…. well… I have a feeling I’ll be spending even more time there over the next few days. Thankfully we have until Saturday until we need to return the keys. 

Back here at home *sigh* … I love to call this place home… I’ve been working on organizing my pantry. Anyone have any tricks? I think I’m going to go out and buy some containers for things… everything just feels so out and random. I would like to be more organized, then it’s easier to keep cleaner. I bought an issue of Better Homes and Gardens today that has “45 ways to be organized and beat clutter” or something like that. Hopefully I’ll get some good tips! This house is smaller than our last, so organization is one of my top priorities. Also, we have hardwood floor and I just can’t decide what method of cleaning I want to use. I was thinking about getting the Norwex mop system (microfiber, no cleaners needed just water) or some sort of fancy special hardwood cleaner. I’ve heard the latter leaves streaks, so I’m leery. But I’m also not sure if I want to spend 80 some odd dollars on a mop system either. I suppose I will just have dirty floors until I decide. Anyone else out there have hardwood? What do you use? 

The other day I heard a song on the radio by a sweet young Alberta girl who is only 15 years old. She wrote and recorded this song when she was only 14 years old, only having learned how to play the guitar and write a year prior to that. She’s got such a great natural voice, and I can’t wait to hear more from her. Check out her song here. It’s just a very basic recording, just her and her guitar, but it’s so great!! Listen to the song “home now”. It’s only a clip, but doooooood. 

Anyways, I should get back to the unpacking. Or something.

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The Menace

January 16, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized

I’m seriously considering changing Lil’ Miss’s screen name to “The Menace”. We have always called her that, as she’s is just way way more of a handful than her big brother is or ever was. But lately, it’s at an all time high! She is constantly into everything, touching things that aren’t toys and messing with stuff just in general. It makes me QUITE crazy. 

Now that I’m trying to pack, it seems like I can’t even leave her for 2 minutes by herself. I have to get her to follow me wherever I go, because everything is out and in boxes everywhere, so there’s lots of stuff for her to get into. You’d think at 3 years old she’d be beyond the curiosity of getting into stuff that’s not hers, but she SO isn’t. I wanted to pack organized, and basically leave most of the boxes that I’ve packed open so that if I found something elsewhere in the house that belonged with stuff already in a packed box, that I could just slip it in there, and not have to put it in another box randomly because I’d already taped it. Well, I forgot about The Menace. I’ve packed all of the DVD’s about 3 times. I’ve also organized the toys in the basement into boxes at least twice, and put The Baby’s toys in a rubbermaid container well, constantly, every day I’m picking up more of them and putting them back in the box. I’m feeling a little bad for her, as she’s had about 5 or 6 time outs everyday for the past few days, just with her getting into stuff. I’m just so close to pulling all my hair out and shipping her off to a grandparents house for a few weeks!! 

I went to the bathroom after lunch the other day, and I came back only moments later to find THIS:

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They were EVERYWHERE! Of course, The Baby was just shoveling them in as fast as he could. It was a little comical, but terribly frustrating at the same time! Just another example of why I even have to take her to the bathroom with me!! Ugh!

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SOLD!!!

January 8, 2009 · Filed under Homemaking, Life in General

We bought our first home during the holidays, in case you didn’t notice by all the talk about it in my meme! I’m so super excited!! The Boy is at school today, and the 2 little ones are at my step-mom’s today so I can do some power packing. I’m just creating a playlist for my iPod and waiting for it to finish syncing (it’s taking FOREVER) so I thought I’d post some pictures while I wait!

We get the keys 2 weeks from yesterday, we’re moving that weekend. It’s all happening so fast, I’m starting to feel a little anxious about everything being packed and organized the way I want in time for the move. Geeeee!!!

It’s a brand new house, never lived in. It has an abnormally large backyard for new developments around here, and it’s on a corner, so there’s plenty of space to run around! The Boy’s bus will stop only 1 block away so that’s not so bad. It’s a bi-level, and the basement is half finished, with a nice family room with a gas fireplace, and space to build another bathroom and 2 more bedrooms. It comes with all the appliances, and window coverings which is really a nice bonus on a new house, usually you don’t get that. There are 2 bedrooms on the main floor and then the master suite is above the garage, about 3 steps up from the kitchen. Sorry about the last picture, I wanted to show you my tub but I don’t like to post pictures of my kids! :)

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2008 Meme

January 2, 2009 · Filed under Surveys

I took this from my sister.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? 

Bought a house! YAAAY!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 

I don’t think I really made any last year, as I never really keep them. This year I just wrote down some thoughts and goals of stuff I want to do or do better. So, we’ll see.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? 

My friend Brenda… I actually can’t remember anyone else right now!! I know a few people who did but no one really “close” to me. I know lots of people close to me who got pregnant this year! I guess I did! If that counts! 

4.  Did anyone close to you die?

MyKidsDad’s grandma died. She wasn’t close to me in the “close” sense though. A family friend died who was in his 50’s. He also wasn’t close, but it was terribly tragic. Another death that really affected me was someone I don’t even personally know, but know through people. They were driving through the mountains and the wife was driving and the husband took off his seatbelt for a moment to grab something from the backseat when something happened (don’t really know what) but they crashed and he went through the windshield and died. The reason it really affected me was because they have kids the same ages as me, and she was still pregnant with her 3rd. It still makes me a bit weepy to think about it.  

5.  What countries did you visit?

Just stayed home in Canada.  

6.  What do you want from 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

Keep a cleaner house, travel to the USA, all the things I mentioned in the previous post.

7.  What dates from 2008 will remain etched in your memory?

Feb. 1st (The Baby’s birth day), June something-or-other when I threw MyKidsDad the most amazing 30th surprise birthday party, uhmmm can’t really think of much else.

8.  What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Buying a house! Not that it was really MY achievement, but regardless! It’s huge!

9.  What was your biggest failure?

The state of my messy messy house. It’s been awful these last few months. 

10.  Did you suffer illness or injury?

I had the odd flu bug and colds and sinus issues. I finally told my doctor about my carpel tunnel in my right wrist, but that’s been around for a while.

11.  What was the best thing you bought? 

A HOUSE!!!

12.  Whose behaviour merited celebration?

Wow, that’s a hard one. I can’t really think of anything that comes to mind of anyone who did anything exceptional. 

13.  Who’s bahaviour made you appalled and depressed?

Honestly? The Boy has been having a bit of trouble with authority and getting along with his classmates at school. I wouldn’t say quite appalled and depressed, but definitely concerning and disappointing.

14.  Where did most of your money go?

Rent (ugh), food, vehicles….

15.  What did you get really, really, really excited about?

BUYING A HOUSE!!!!!!!!!! And crafting and being an entrepeneur. (I don’t know how to spell that)

16.  What song will always remind you of 2008?

Anything on the new Taylor Swift album, More than a Memory by Garth Brooks, Viva la Vida by ColdPlay, Jesus by Kirk Franklin….there’s so many!

17.  Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) Happier or Sadder: Happier

b) thinner or fatter: Thinner

c) richer or poorer:  always richer, regardless of finances! 

18.  What do you wish you’d done more of?

Staying organized and on top of household stuff, spending more family time just doing stuff together.

19.  What do you wish you’d done less of?

Creeping around on Facebook. Such a time waster!! 

20.  How did you spend Christmas?

Christmas Eve is always spent with MyKidsDad’s family, Christmas day was with my dad and step mom and their 2 kids and one of my brothers. Then boxing day is Lil’ Miss’s birthday, and the next day was celebrations with my mom and step dad and siblings, and it goes on and on and on and on!!! I’m exhausted! 

21.  Did you fall in love in 2008?

Yes! The Baby was born!

22.  What was your favorite TV program?

Eli Stone, The Office, Gossip Girl, 90210 (shame shame, I know)… 

23.  Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No, I don’t generally hate anyone. 

24.  What was the best book you read? 

Mmmm The Restorer by Sharon Hinck. (Thanks Kait) I still need to get the rest of the books. I forgot to ask for them for Christmas. :(

25.  What was your greatest musical discovery?

I got a bunch of awesome music from the UK when our friend Dave from Scotland came to visit in November. 

26.  What did you want and get?

A HOUSE!!! 

27.  What did you want and not get?

I entered a charity home lottery and didn’t win. That 2.5 million was what I really wanted. :D

28.  What was your favorite film of this year?

The Dark Knight, Wall.E 

29.  What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Uhmmm is it bad if I can’t even remember? I turned 25. On the weekend after I got to go on a shopping trip and spend a night at a hotel by myself which was divine!! And when I came home all my friends and family were here to surprise me and celebrate!

30.  What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

I can’t think of anything. My year was more than one could ask for.

31.  How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Try to fit into clothes properly. Haha…. I tried to buy stuff that fit me, more than stuff that was trendy. 

32.  What kept you sane?

Coca-Cola. 

33.  Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? 

Hmmm, no one really. I’m not much of a celebrity lover.

34.  What political issue stirred you the most? 

The Canadian gov’t and their inability to work together. I can’t stand that we have to have elections every 5 minutes because no one is mature enough to accept the citizen’s votes and just deal and try to make things happen.  

35.  Who did you miss?

Hm. That’s a hard one. Maybe my sister and brother in law and nephew in Alaska. We didn’t get to see them this year.

36.  Who was the best new person you met?

The Baby!

37.  Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

Patience will get you what you want in time… it just takes getting there.

38.  Quote a Song Lyric that sums up your year.

“Is it fair to say I was lured away by endless distraction, lowlier attractions than You? Fairer still, my own free will is the better one to blame for this familiar mess I’ve made again. So I would understand if You were out of patience, I would understand if I was out of chances…But Your mercies are new every morning, so let me wake with the dawn. When the music is through or so it seems to be, let me sing a new song, old things gone. Everyday it’s true You make all Your mercies new.”

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