Christmas Eve Eve

Tonight is the eve of christmas eve. We have a sick dad. He was the last in line to get the stomach flu this week. The rest of the family has already had it. The bright side is that we will all be over and done with it by christmas day. But hey what is the Christmas season with out a little sickness thrown in for good measure!

The One

I have been looking at digital cameras. I wont be able to buy one for a few months but I wanted to know what I wanted when I could get one. I think I have found it. the Cannon Power Shot A610. It will be a little while before I am able to get my new camera but at the moment this is the one I want.

Fart and go seek

We went to a white elephant gift exchange on saturday night and we ended up with a little device called "Sir Farts A Lot" It is a little unit with a remote control. You place the main unit somewhere for example under a couch cushion. The remote control causes it to set off a number of umm interesting noises, Im sure you get the picture. Well Breanna has learned a new game. One person takes the main unit and hides it. The other person uses the remote control to produce sound while trying to find the source. Hence Fart and go Seek. I dont know where she would have gotten the idea for this because sure was not from me. Really I would not encourage such behavior. Honest.

Thoughts on being a cashier, life and other things.

• If you come through my till it does not matter how many times you sigh it will not make things go any faster. If you want through quicker dont buy so much freakin stuff!
• It is funny how a guy you dont know calling you sweety can either totaly creep you out or it can make your day when you dont expect it.
• How can one person be so grumpy when the person beside them can be so cheerful.
• Rolo ice cream is good, but very rich. I can eat a big bowl of vanilla ice cream and strawberries but I can hardly polish off a 2 small scoops of rolo
• Im thankful for brothers who help me out when I need it or suprise me with ice cream and movie tickets because Im having a bad day.
• I can wear a santa hat at work all day but somehow when I say merry christmas it doesnt sound quite right yet. I just think I am in denial about how fast this year has gone.
• As 2005 comes to an end I am interested to see what 2006 brings for us. We dont know yet what will be happening as far as education and stuff past the end of this school year. As tough as it can be having Jon as a full time student it is exciting that there is lots of options in front of us. There is so much to look forward to. I will miss this time in our lives when it is past.
• I love my life, I love my family, I love my friends. I have so much to be grateful for.

Snippets of November 2005

• I got a part time job so latley I have been feeling pretty busy. I only work in the evenings or a daytime jon has off from school. It is fun though and very different to be working again.
• Jon nearing the end of the sememster at school he will be done on december 12th and is really looking forward to the break before he starts his work term next semester.
• There is still no offical employer for the coop job starting in january but there is still lots of time and we are not worried.
  
• The kids are pretty much the same as always. They keep us on our toes. Breanna loves puzzles these days and is becoming very good at them. She can do a 25 piece puzzle with out any help.
  
• Christmas is around the corner and I cant believe how the time has flown by.we will be spending Christmas here at home ths year and will be having my family over for dinner. Im looking forward to it. It will be really nice to have the kids wake up on christmas morning in their own house.
  

New Species

There has been a new species of animal spotted in edmonton this week. The Snow Frog. It is about three feet tall has light brown hair and eylashes to die for. It hopps around snowy parking lots making fresh foot prints saying "ribbit ribbit" They feed on choclate milk and pickles and are completley harmless.

Loving: Tim Hortons hot smoothies haslenut flavour
Hating: Silly tv shows that make me bawl in fron of my husband
Wanting: Scrapbooking stuff. Circle punches, flower puch. New camera.
Reading: Book of Mormon. Just finished K-PAX

Heathers Kitchen Pointers # 5

When you have pork chops defrosting for dinner in the microwave and you decide to have something else instead. Make sure you remember to take the pork chops out of the microwave and put them in the fridge because if you dont when you open the microwave 24 hours later it will smell REALLY REALLY bad.

Heathers kitchen pointers #4

Dishsoap is much more effective when washing dishes then Hersheys Choclate Syrup.

miracle child

At institute classes we were talking about Samuel the lamanite and his prophesying (spelling) about the birth of Jesus and the signs that were to be for the people of the amarican continent. Breanna happily played with the trains and puzzles from the nursery toys.

After we went to safeway and this was our conversation as we went in.

Breanna: Me going to be a procfet

Me: What?

Breanna: Me going to be a Procfet!

Me: Oh your going to be a Prophet, uh ok?!

Breanna: And me going to be born.

Me: youve already been born.

Breanna Me going to be born 4 times.

Me: ?

I guess she was listening to the lesson a little more then I thought. I dont think she quite got it though

IM FREE

I dont want to alarm anyone but I have some news. IM FREE. For the first time in almost 4 years I am neither nursing or pregnant!!!!! I want to go and take cold medicine just because I can and not feel guilty. Not that I have been sick or anything It is jut the first time in four years that i can and not worry about how it will affect my kid.

Gotta love the free life.

Thanksgiving Weekend

We spent our thanksgiving in Weyburn Sasketchewan this year. At the home of Jon's sister and her husband. Auntie Jen and Goofy Bryan (as Breanna calls them) It was a wonderful weekend and the kids enjoyed every minute of it. Breanna made instant friends with the dogs Pax and Annie especially pax. Within a short time of arriving she was running up the stairs to the room she was staying and calling " come on Pax" yeah she loved the dogs and they were very patient with the kids.

We also got to take Breanna to two different farms. She chased chickens and turkeys. She got to pet goats and horses and also got to se pigs and roosters. And on monday she got to pick fresh farm eggs still warm from being layed. It feels kind of weird picking up an egg and feeling warmth. The last two mornings we have had breakfast prepared from the eggs breanna picked. It makes me wish that we knew someone close by with a farm we could take the kids to.

All and all it was a great weekend with lots of fun and lots of good food. Especially the Carmel pecan tarts those were complete heaven.

Funniest thing I saw today

An 18 month old trying to drop kick a ball. He would pick it up and hold out his leg. Then he would try to kick the ball as he dropped it. So cute and funny.

Ikea and potty training

You all know Ikea. It is designed so that on your journey through you get to walk through every section and be tempted to spend money at every turn. We all know it works. You go to look at storage bins and end up buying crayon containers and a wooden top to a metal drawer set you bought last year. But no storage bins.

They do have a few shortcuts but we all know should a fire alarm go off there would be mass chaos. Especially on a saturday afternoon.

Anyway we are in the storage section and Breanna (who never tells us she has to go potty) tells dad she has to go. So of course mom grabs her hand and and we start to run. At this point there are no shortcuts to where we want to go and we are on the other side of the store. So we run through the art and the plants and the section at the end with all the boxed items. And we make it to the bathroom. First stall we try the last person did not flush, gross. Next stall: wet seat. Next one is taken. Finaly we are in the stall and she was only a tiny bit wet. (I would have had a hard time holding if it were me).

So she is on the potty and darn those automatic toilets, it goes off when she is halfway through. Of course it scares her and I have a 3 year old coming at me mid potty. How fun is that. Well mess gets cleaned up (which was not to bad considering) And I am ready for a nap.

Oh and somehow on our long trek back to where we left Dad and Ryan, we miss them coming to get us.

Thanxs Ikea, Thanxs a lot.

Im lying on the couch my eyes are closing. I am in that state where you are neither awake or asleep and you "think" you know what is going on. The kids are playing right beside me. I feel arms and legs crawling on top of me. And a voice wafts through to my hazy brain.

"hold still Ryan"

I open my eyes and for a moment it seems I am in an art gallery looking at abstract paintings. Then I realize that no. I am in my living room on my couch. That is not a white canvas, it is Ryan's bare torso, there is no paint. Just black mascara.

I guess Breanna's art project decided he had enough.

Oh and by the way, dont keep makeup in the diaper bag. It is just asking for disaster

First weekend of fall

• Breanna is 3. No longer a toddler and entering the realms of offical kidhood she got a library card. I decided to make Wednesday our offical library day. After reading these books about a million times so far I think I am going to have to go sooner.
• Id like to thank Robert Munsch for writing the book "I'll Love You Forever" It makes me cry EVERY SINGLE TIME! Darn him.
• I am feeling very lucky to have the friends I have. They are so great and giving and wonderful. And they make me laugh.
• Relief Society broadcast tonight. Im totally excited to go.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BREANNA

Happy 3rd Birthday Bug!!!

A little lesson?

Breanna came up to me pretending to hold two small things in her hand

"I got a little monkey and a little Jesus"

considering we were about to start family home evening I am sure I could have used th opourtunity to make some spiritual point out of it but all I could do was laugh and wonder where on earth she gets things sometimes.

Names

Mom: Wat is your wolf's name?
Breanna: Gordon
Mom: What is your monkey's name?
Breanna: Gunny.
Mom: What is your name?
Breanna: Banna,
Mom: do you know what my name is?
Breanna: What?
Mom: Heather
Breanna: Oh Heather:
Mom: Yes but you call me Mommy
Breanna: no your Heather
Mom: Yes but you call me mommy:
Breanna: No! your Heather!
Mom: But YOU call me mommy!
Breanna: No! Your HEATHER MOMMY!
Mom: Yup thats it.

(I love winning even when they dont know they just lost)

Beauty and the Beast

Shortly after the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast came out I purchased the collectors set. Complete with book and video about the making, a lithograph and the video itself. The video I kept unopend for sometime (you know it might be worth something and it was kind of sentimental) After a while the cellophane came off the plastic case was a little crunched in a place or two but the tab over the opening remained intact.

Jon has tried to convince me to use that video for the entirety of our marriage. You know the celophane is gone and it is dented so it would not be worth anything anymore. I just couldnt do it. It was personal and sentimental. Today as we were putting some movies away Breanna started to tear the tab. At first I pressed it back. Then I did something I did not realize I was ready to do. I gave her the movie and told her to rip off the tab.

Tomorow morning my little girl and I will watch Beauty and the Beast together for her first time. Mom of course will sing along while she laughs and enjoys every moment of it. All this time it was not being saved to be a collectors item it was saved just for this, for me and my little girl. So she can love that movie just as much as I did. And still do.

Update on last night

Well when I left this blog last night It was 3:48 and I was going back to bed. Well it did not go quite as I had planned. I tried to put him in his bed and he woke up. We ended up falling asleep together on the couch watching "Martin Yan's Chinatown" and going to bed at 4:30

3:48 am

Yay he is sleeping im going back to bed

Loving: My mischevous kids I have a feeling that these two will have many adventures together

Reading: High Druid of Shannara

Craving: A Shirley Temple and peach cobbler

Hating: that the weather did not allow us to go camping this weekend

Waiting for: The next season of Lost

3:30 am

Im up because I cant really sleep. It is a bad combo when both you and the squirmy 18 month old in bed with you cant quite get into that deep sleep. So here I am at an hour in the morning that really should not even exist. I have taken some ventolin to loosen my tight chest (my 1st major obstacle to getting a deep sleep) and am sitting at this computer waiting for the said squirmy 18 month old to fall asleep (second major obstacle0. With out having to nurse him. Which dosent mean I have not already nursed him tonight because hello so far his will and my desire for sleep have been stronger then my resolve to wean him for the last couple of days.

If anyone out there in blogging land wonder how the will of an 18 month old boy can be stronger then the will of a 27 year old woman boy, do I have stories to tell.

oh eyes closing.... uh nevermind. Hmm what else to do at 3:30

September Update

• Jon got a new bike yay! He got it to use for riding to school, not for crazy mountain biking, of course not. (he took it out to try it out the other day and came home coverd in mud)
• After two weeks of many temper tantrums Ryan has been weaned to one feeding at night. I know I gave people permission to bug me if I wasint done by september 4 but this nightime thing has proven much harder then I thought.
• Ryan is now eating better then Breanna does, I never thought I would see that happen.
• Jon's short vacation is over and it is back to classes this week. This semester his program moved from the downtoun campus to the millwoods one so that will make it nicer for him as he is much closer to home

Actual conversation in Lethbridge mall

Jons Father: Your Robin Williams!

Robin Williams: Yes I am!

and they both go on their way

That was it. He was the area a while ago filming a movie.

Mystery Solved

Ok so I know what happend to all the miserable rainy weather we got in Edmonton last week. It is here in lethbridge. It is raining and cold and miserable. I miss the sun. Hopefully the weather gets better before we leave the south here and we can enjoy some fun in the sun.

One of those weekends

Have you ever had one of those weekends that you were really looking forward to? The weather is supposed to be nice for the first time in over a week. Your husband is having his dragon boat finals and you and the kids are going to watch. Well you go out in the morning and the weather is not quite what you hoped for and one of the kids starts to feel sick. So you go home, hopefully she feels better tomorow so you can go to church and then go see the last of your husbands races.

HA

Well you go to your car (which was parallel parked) and find out that you have a foot and a half of space at either end of the car whith which to negotiate your minivan out of its parking space and mentaly thank those very nice people for boxing you in. Well you manage to get your vehicle out pick up some wendys for the kids and get home, your daughter gets sicker and the weather clears up now that you are inside. Fun. So you tell the other nursery leaders you wont make it in the morning as nobody wants your daughter spewing her virus infected germs on the nursery toys while also giving up all hopes of seeing any of the races the next day.And enjoy your evening with a kid that coughs constantly (even worse after the cold syrup) and cant get to sleep. Eventually she gets to sleep.

Well you stay home with the kids and discover that sunday is a hard day to be locked up on your own. Thankfully sick kid while still sick is feeling much better (you of course were quite worried for a while) better enough to, you know, be her usual self. So you play with the kids, clean up after them about ten bazillion times. And wait anxiously for your husband to call you after every race and hear how he is doing.

The weather is great and they win all their races that day. Well he calls and tells you that he won their last race of the weekend. YAY, you are really happy for them and you REALLY REALLY REALLY. Wish you could have been there. After you get off the phone you try to control your self pity. Then you walk into the bedroom where the kids have been playing quietly and discover two things. Your son's diaper is leaking up the back and......... they have dumped a bottle of syrup on the carpet and are now playing in it.

Time for a cry and a bath and an online venting, because who can you call on a sunday afternoon.

Two things:
1.QUIET IS BAD
2.you need a steam cleaner to get all that syrup out of the carpet because no amout of blotting, and rubbing and scrubbing is going to get all of that sticky joy out, you need some suction.

Paddles Away

Tonight Jon has the first of about 6 or 7 Dragon Boat races. The Grant Macewan team is competing in the novice class and aiming for gold. The races can be viewed at Louise McKinney Park which is right beside the Shaw Conference Center.

Tonights race is at 7:45. Tomorow is 9:00, 11:00 and 5:00. Sundays races depend on how well they do on friday and saturday.

Good luck Grant Macewan!!!!

Heather's Kitchen Pointers #3

When making bread in a bread machine remember to put the paddles in BEFORE you put in the ingredients and press the start button.

Heather's Kitchen Pointers #2

Ice Cream is better kept in the freezer then the fridge.

TANIS HAD HER BABY!!!!

YAY YIPPEE WAHOOO

Well my upstiairs friend and neighbour (and Breanna's best friends mom) has had her baby. Yay. He was born just before six oclock this evening and weighs 7'12 I cant wait to see him. Now I get to enjoy having a brand new baby close by for 2 weeks before they move to Calgary.

Today

Loving: my tuna sandwich with lettuice and tomatoes. sometmes the mundane tastes the best

Wanting: A new name for my blog (suggestions?)

Wating for: Tanis to have her baby, I am channeling all my baby fever through her and want some resoultion already!!!

Next Project: Scrapbooking Some family outing pics (im really going to do it)

Craving: My Dads potato salad

Playing: Eye spy with Breanna

New Look

Got at new look for now. I am not sure if I am going to keep it or not.

TECHNICAL DIFICULTIES

We are currently expirencing technical difficulties. My blog does not seem to be displaying properly, on my browsers at least, so I will be trying to fix this. My last attempt resulted in deleting my lates post so hopefully I will be able to have a blog left when I get it figured out.

Is it showing up properly on your computers?

Yesterday at the park Breanna got some sand in her eye, and not just a a littile sand she got a lot. I am not sure how it got there, if it was thrown or if she just fell face first. We saw her rubbing her eye and crying and figured she got sand in it.

So I went and picked her up and sat her on my lap and looked in her eye. there was lots of it in her eyelashes and in her eyelids. I felt so bad for my little girl. Anyway we laid her down on my lap on her side and poured water over it until we had washed all the sand away and it took a couple of attempts. Through this Breanna cried some and she was not particulary cooperative but she was not totaly resisting either. I think she knew we needed to get it out.

I was so proud of my kid. After we got all the sand out of her eye she went right back to playing, no downtime whatsoever. I am always In awe of how resiliant and fearless that child is. Her eye is completly fine now, no redness or puffyness or anything.

A caricature of Breanna and Ryan bet you cant guess who is who

Ive got rythm, Ive got music.....

My parents old Yamaha Electone C-605 which is now mine. Yay!!!

Vocabulary lesson

Teaching Breanna to say I or Im or I am intstead of Ma or me

Say I
I

Say am
ma

Say Im Breanna
maa Banna

no say IM Breanna
ma mommy

Say I AM Breanna
NO! ME da banna

(laughing) No YOU say I am Breanna
NO ME DA BANNA!!!

Later on with with dad

Say I
I

Say am
am

Now what is your name
Me Banna

Joy

• my children racing back and forth down the hall
• my husband coming home safe in the evening
• truth in my life and an eternal goal to work for
• my son with a mouthful of food
• my daughter wrapping her arms around me "ma love you mommy"
• good friends
• a houseful of little toys, shoes and clothes
• playing hide and seek with daddy and the kids
• that I only burned my dinner and not my house making this list

Apple Crisp

I was talking to someone a while ago and they told me that they thought of apple crisp as a fall cool weather kind of dessert. I for the record would like to dissagree. It is also a "we bought a bag of apples and the kids took a bite out of every one" kind of a dessert and besides you eat it with ice cream. And in the summer you cant go wrong if you serve something with ice cream!!

In the Bathroom stall on sunday

Breanna: go potty mom!

Breanna: Do it!

Breanna: You did it YAY!!


And yes there were other people in the bathroom at that time to hear.

Proud of her Father

Breanna had kicked a ball down the hall and was running after it. Jon was standing at the end of the hall and when the ball reached him he kicked it back at her. It hit her in the legs and she fell to the ground on to her belly. What did she say to her dad as she looked up at him?

GREAT KICK DAD!!!!

Such admiration and pride in her voice.

I got run over by a train today

Or at least I felt like I did. I started to feel a little nauseous this morning and it got progresivly worse. I got a fever, had the chills and felt like I was going to pass out whenever I tried to walk anywhere. Tanis was my hero today and kept Breanna till jon got home from work. I dont know what I would have done without her. Whatever hit me this morning seems to have pretty much passed leaving just a general tired feeling behind. Thank heavens. It seems to have left as suddenly as it came on. It really knocked me for a loop. I am gratefull for good friends and a good husband who really helped out today.

Confessions of a Phone Abuser

Some of you have heard that I have a problem with abusing Phones. I have killed two phones ,in my defence both times it was after VERY trying phone calls. The first time It was just before I quit my job and the second time was when I had to deal with some very infuriating people trying to get some money back after a very long time. Anyway there should be no excuse for phone abuse/

Since then I have strugled to be kind to my phones and treat them with the respect they deserve. Besides lets face it you all know I would be lost without my phone. But today I struck again, well it wasint really abuse, it was more neglect. I melted my phone, well not melted. I kind of warped it. I left it on the oven while I cooked a pizza.And I didnt remember to turn the oven off as soon as I was finished. So the battery cover on the handset is a little flattend and no longer comes off anymore. At first the screen of the phone was pitch black but it recoverd. There appears to be no functionality lost. Thank heavens. I only hope my phone forgives me. I am trying to be better, honest.

I Heather pledge to treat my phones with utmost respect from now on.

Good Bye To A Family Friend

207894
Originally uploaded by bubblelady26.

We Recieved this notice from Jon's Parents this weekend

It is with a great deal of sadness, oftimes mingled with bouts of riotious
laughter that I annouce the passing of Mr. BIG MOUTH. MR. BIG MOUTH served
the Hill family and the grandchildren for nigh onto a year before we started
to notice his failing health. He didn't quite seem so perky and his mouth
became oh so droppy, as of late. We felt it best to put him out of his
misery and let him go quickly... and quickly he did, with all of his air
seeming to burst out of his failing big mouth. His friends the balls remain
in seclusion seeing to want to remain quietly in a box, while they mourn the
passing of their friend. We decided that his teeth being extracted should
be buried with Mr. Big Mouth along with the pliers that helped him with his
teeth.
Mr. Big Mouth is available for viewing underneath the deck should anyone
want to pay last respects. Cause of death remains under investigation.

Blog block

I seem to have been expierencing blog block. I have not been able to think of anything interesting to write in my blog. Please be paitent of this temporary situation as I hope to resume being interesting soon. (unless of course I was never interesting in which case I will try to pretend again)

Ryans words

Bye bye, Peekaboo, Ball, Uh Oh.

I did it!!!

I did it... I did it... I did it... HORRAY (Imagine Dora music here)

I added links to my sidebar and I didnt mess up my whole blog. YAY

McDonalds

I met KL (Kari-Lynn) at McD's today. We let our children play in the play area. I did not bring socks for her ( a rule for such play areas). I was faced with a dilema. Which is worse letting her play in her sandals or barefoot. Both making me a negligent parent. After hearing her clomp around in her sandals I just let her go barefoot. I thought I would pretend to be ignorant of any rule. (this is the jist of the conversation not exactly word for word.)

There was a lady behind us who was talking to her daughter loud enough for us all to hear.

Lady: "You need your socks on before you go in there you are not allowed in without socks."

Hmm can I still pretend to be ignorant when I could obviously hear that. Then Aubryn (KL's daughter) pipes in with her authoritative (and probably audible to the lady at the next table who probably noticed my childs sockless state) voice.

Aubryn: Breanna doesnt have socks on she need socks to go in there!
Me: Shh its ok. (yes I shhd her I was trying to pretend to be ignorant, sorry Aubryn)
Aubryn: But she dosent have socks on!
Me: Yeah I know I forgot them.

When I went in I thought that the socks you buy were 2 bucks to buy and we were going out to McD's on the change dish and I did not want to waste two bucks. Turns out they were only 99 cents. Guess I am just cheap. Thanx Aubryn for helping me be honest and doing the right thing. Next time I WILL bring socks.

Ryan

I love this picture of Ryan It shows how he can go from crying to happy in just a moment. He is always such a happy content kid. But he does have a flair for melodrama in him. He does not like it when people walk out the door. This morning he watched out the window as the negibour drove away. He cried.

Thinking Ahead

Do you ever find yourself planning ahead in your mind what your are about to do? Some times your realize that you are doing something sooner then you intended.

I was guilty of this today as I found myself pouring a jug of lemonade down the sink while I reached for a glass.

I remember when I was a kid whenever they talked about journal keeping I felt guilty. I have never been a good journal keeper. I remember feeling guilty when I went to bed because I had not read my scriptures and wrote in my journal. I was a faithful journal keeper for maybe weeks at a time but never for long.

Last year my friend Nikki introuduced me to blogging. It is like an online journal that I actually enjoy doing (although not often enough according to some) Well the other day I mentioned to my husband that I wanted to print all my posts and keep them for posteritys sake. He ENCOURAGED me to blog more often. he was indifferent to my blog addiction before and now he encourages it. Well there goes all my chances for rehabilitation.

Elder Hill

I found this and just had to blog it. This is a recod of every area Jon served on his mission. Wow how more mature and different he looks now

The Evoulition Of a Date

We were going to go to starwars last night. (Jon has seen it and I havent and was pretty excited). We decided to go get a bite to eat first. We then went to the movie theater. The show that started right away was sold out and the one in a half hour was limited seating (I didnt want to be squished up in the front row for starwars). The next one was in an hour and a half and was too late for the babysitter. We decided to to go to Madagascar and low and behold It was limited seating too. We decided to forget the movie for the night.

But you cant waste a babysitter right? (I think that is a rule of the universe)

We went to a driving range to hit a bucket of balls. I learned that hitting a golf ball is not as easy as it looks. Jon said I should golf with him more often because he was doing really well. I also learned that I am NO WHERE NEAR ready to play a whole game of golf yet. We would be stuck on the course for days.

We then went to play an hour of pool at gateway. Someone beat their husband all but once but I cant say who.

I have to admit that I am glad that the movie was sold out.

Things I learned last night.

1. when your friend asks to draw on your forehead you should make sure that it is not a permanent marker before you say yes.

2. If it is a permanent marker you may still be lucky if you wash the ink off within the first 2 minutes of application. (i dont know if it works with all colors of permanent marker but it worked with green sharpie)

3. one should not be allowed near glass beads and permanent markers when one is giddy from inhaling too much oven cleaner.

http://bezsays.blogspot.com/2005/05/what-we-do-when-were-not-drunk.html

btw: yes all the marker came off.

And were back

We are back from lethbridge. The kids enjoyed seeing the grandparets and the grandparents enjoyed seeing the kids. We all had a good time.

The kids favourite game of the weekend:

Throwing the balls out of the ball pit faster then mom can clean them up.

Moms least favourite game of the weekend:

Picking up the balls from the ball pit that were being thrown faster then they could be cleaned up.

we only stayed at grandmas and grandpas house for the last night so this game was only played about four times.

Jon's parents have this inflatable ball pit that looks like a wide open mouth. It has inflatable teeth in the gums that come out and an inflatable set of pliers that you can pull the teeth out with. One of mine, Jons and Grandmas least favourite games from a previous visit was cleaning half an ice cream bucket of bird seed out of the ball pit and all the tooth holes. Fun

And the puppy?

We informed Breanna yesterday that she was going to be going to go to grandmas in lethbridge. We were talking about all the people she would get to see. It went somthing like this.

Us: We will see Grandma, and Grandpa

Breanna: and the puppy?

Us: Yes and auntie Joc and auntie Jada,

Breanna: and the puppy?

Us: Yeah and uncle Justin.

Breanna: And Maki? (the puppy)

Yes breanna we will get to see the puppy

Cool email

Goth this in an email. Believe it or not you can actually read it.


I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg. Thephaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, theolny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit aporbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter byistlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? Yaeh, and I awlyas thuohg tspleling was ipmorantt!

One track mind

On the way home after picking up dad and running some errands last night I was saying out loud the names of buisness we were passing and Breanna was repeating after me. It became obvious that breanna was hungry.

Mom: Esso!
Breanna: Esso!

Mom: Speedy!
Breanna: Spagetti!

Mom: Denny's!
Breanna: Dinner!

Ok kid we get the point, we will feed you.

Public bathroom

You know when you have had to go to the bathroom for a while you kind of lose your mind. Well today I had to go for a while. I went down the hall in tokyo express and turned into the bathroom. As I walked In I noticed that there was only one stall and some empty space beside it. I wonderd as I began to open the door to the stall why they would not just add a second toilet and stall.

Then I saw it.... the reason why there was no stall there was because there was a URINAL!!!!! "OH MY GOSH" (I said this aloud) I turned on my heel and walked out glancing up long enough to confirm there was indeed a male figure indicating that it was a male bathroom. I turned sharply to go to the girls bathroom and walked straight into a door... Thud. Yeah Im on a roll. I then reoriented my self and went into the girls rest room. Thankfully no one was there to witness this embarassing spectacle.

At least no one needs to know how dumb I am but me. And of course anyone else who reads my blog.

5:00 am

I was up at about five. (although I kept trying to sleep until 5:30) You may be wondering why someone who has no need to be up yet gets up that early, well i will tell you...... Because... It is virtually impossible to sleep next to 20 pounds of squirming, poking, patting, "la la la", "da da da", happy awakness. Thanx Ryan.

Things I learned today

Jon Really does not like corn rellish

Sand in a poopy diaper is REALLY gross and requires more then just semi moist baby wipes and more space then inside the sliding door of a mini van to clean.

Kids Pictures

Ok I thought it was time to post some kids pics, there are a few so keep scrolling

Lets go fly a kite..... 

Parachuting practice. Nice arch Breanna! 

LIttle kicker 

Just some outdoor pics of my adorable kids 

Got Milk? 

Mothers Day

Mothers Day has come and gone (well almost) I went to church this morning by myself (Jon stayed home with the kids because B is sick). When I went to sacrament I found I didnt know what to do with myself or where to sit without my Husband and kids. I eventually found someone to sit with and enjoyed sacrament. I came home to two kids sleeping. Breanna must really be feeling under the weather to have fallen asleep before 12. We had a wonderful mothers day dinner (thanx mostly to Jon) with my family over.

I am so gratefull to my family and my mom and all that they have done for me.

Signs you are addicted to blogging

• You call a friend you havent talked to in forever just to ask them why they havent blogged yet.

• Your child does something cute and you spend the whole day planning how you are going to blog it.

• You base your self worth on how many comments you get on your blog.

• You are on the phone with your friend and your realize that neither of you have said anything for 5 minutes because you are reading blogs.

• Someone asks why they havent heard that you are Moving, Pregnant, Got a new job or some other big news. and your first response is "havent you read my blog?"

• Your children have a bath in the juice jug on the living room floor and you dont realize it because you are blogging.

Fridge latch

Caution: This product is only a deterrent. It is not a substitute for proper adult supervision. Discontinue use when child becomes old enough to defeat it. Toxic and dangerous substances, as well as sharp-edged or pointed objects should always be placed totally inaccessible to children.

Considering Breanna defeated it by ripping it off the fridge I would consider its use effectivley discontinued.

Fashion show

Most nights Breanna goes to bed really welll. Some nights, not so much. Lst night we had put her to bed and we knew she was playing. A few minutes later she came running out. "Good morning Mom and Dad" Wearing entirely different clothes then the ones we put her to bed in. She was wearing a backwards sweater and a skort with both legs in one hole. We put her back to bed again and she repeated the process 3 more times and each time wearing something different. We did our best to keep a straight face each time we put her down and eventualy the fashion show ended and she went to sleep.

Its a bouncing baby.....Hoover!

If you take bowl of spagetti, cut it into little pieces and place it in front of Ryan a magical thing happens. He begins to shovel it into his face. The kid loves spagetti. Who knew! The difference between him and a Hoover is that only a portion of what he shovels gets into him. (I hope a real vacuum cleaner would slightly more efficent.) I gave him a bowl a little while and judging by what is still in his bowl and how much is on his person He did eat quite a significant portion. Ok now that I know he will eat something I wonder if there is any condition that could result from a diet consisting of mostly spagetti. I asked Kari-Lynn this question and her awnser was "Yes, weight gain!"
Bring on the Spagetti we will have this kid chubbed up in no time!

My state of mind

Feeling: Grumpy
Loving: The smell of balsamic vinegar, and fresh pineapple
Wanting: A babysitter for tonight
Hating: My lack of capability in feeding my kid

The Skinny Kid Chronicles

I took my skinny little boy to the doctors office today. The little guy has not really gained any significant weight in the last two months (he had been sick this last month so it did not surprise me) anyway the doctor we see is a family physician. He believes that Ryan should see a pediatrician. He has orderd a couple of tests including something called a sweat chloride test ( I think and get some blood work. I have to take him tomorow to the lab and have blood taken to test his thyroid and make sure that is working properly. I am not looking forward to it.

As for the tests I am not worried as I think his lack of weight is due to his stubborness in eating. When we got his immunizations the nurse referd him to an occupational therapist who can help with getting him to eat better. He has made progress and hopefully with some new ideas and perseverance we can get this kid to chub up.

Terrible two

Im sitting in front of the computer doin my own thing. I hear Breanna walk from the kitchen to the living room and think nothing of it. Moments later I hear the sound of lips smacking. I look over to see Breanna and Ryan dipping their hands into the juice jug and sucking the juice off their fingers.

I have a funny feeling these two will get in much mischef together.

Drumheller

We took the kids today to Drumheller and the Tyrell museum (disoor nooseum as breanna calls it). It was a day very well spent. Breanna LOVED IT. She of course has been talking about it since we told her it was happening. This morning after I finished braiding Breannas hair I told her she was beautiful and that dinosaurs liked to eat beautiful girls. I then realised that this may not a be a good idea and told her that dinosaurs wont eat her then she ran around telling us over and over again. "Dinosars dont eat me!" She then got the idea the her milk was in danger and began telling us "Dinosaurs going to take my milk away!" We assured her that would not happen either. We needent have worried that she would be afraid.

As soon as she saw the first dinosaur skeletons on display it was "Look at this dad look at this!" She took dad around and showed him everything. I usualy enjoy reading the information that they have about the animals and the times they lived in but with a two year old it is hard. You do have an oppourtunity to look at the experience in a different light. She sees everything wich such wonder. There was one skeleton she saw and said that the dinosaur was scary we told her that if a dinosaur scared her to just roar at it. She did and that was it for the scary dinosaur.

Ryan is still young to realise that what was going on so he was just carried around and ran around playing (with his pants falling off his skinny hips the whole time of course.) Both kids were not to fond of being wheeled around so there were empty strollers with us where ever we went. I had my brother and sister with us though so there were always ample people to watch kids and strollers.

We also went to see the Hoo Doos which Jon says are pathetic compared to the ones in By Duchess which is in southern Alberta.

All in all it was a great day and everyone had fun. I love taking the kids new places to see new things. I cant wait till Ryan too is old enough to take it in with the same wonder Breanna does. So we did the zoo and the dinosaur museum, where to go next I wonder.

Dont look now Ryan but I think there is something behind you! 

One exhibit at the tyrell Museum has a glass floor that Breanna found very unnerving. This picture is of her dad guiding her acroos it. She would take small nervous steps until she got to one of the supports and she would take a big step to what she would consider saftey and then we would have to encourage againto cross the next section. 

A stern talking to

This morning I am on the laptop doing my check of the blogs, Breanna runs up to me tosses her cup on the table so it skims the keyboard says more milk and runs back to the couch. The laptop is not a cheap piece of equipment and I decide she needs a talking to. (by the way Jon if you are reading this dont worry it was one of the light disposable cups and no damage was done to the computer)

The talk went something like this:

Mom: Breanna! If you want milk you bring the cup to me and ask nicley. You dont throw the cup at the computer do you understand!

Breanna: no

Well now that we have that cleared up I will get your milk.

My Minivan

I have a new van. I have a new van. I have a new van.

It is gorgeous. I love it. I cant wait to drive around in it. The back side windows open with the touch of a button at the front. There are cup holders (our last car only had little things in the door only big enough for a can) The cigarette lighter works. (which makes it so we can hook up our laptop to play movies on long trips our other car we had to rig up to work.) The benches fold down are removable and the back one slides back and forth. There is a nifty little storage drawer for cds and stuff under the passanger side bucket seat. There is a winshield wiper on the back window. The car looks like it has been well maintained with stickers from regular oil changes and transmission flush. It looks nice inside and out. It was not cleaned before we had it but all it needs is a wipe down in a few places and a vacuuming. It came with a headless toy, a dirty baby bottle and an ashtray full of nickles dimes and quarters.

The extra room is going to be nice, especialy on long trips when we wont have to strap our double stroller to the roof so we have enough room for it and our luggage. Anyway I think I have talked about it enough for tonight.

(sigh I think I need to look out the window again)

BBQ

We have a new (to us) barbeque. We have moved up from the table top barbeque. Jon is buisily preparing potato packets to cook on the barbeque. With wich we are going to have barbequed drumsticks. I love how having a barbeque gives my husband a sudden desire to cook. Mmm how long till dinner?

Tara

I just talked to my friend Tara, we were pretty inseperable when I was in the singles wards. It brought back some memories.

Here are some of my favourite Tara memories

1. Staying up all night and working all the next day making hersheys hug and kiss costumes for a dance we only made it for the last 15 min for

2. Sining the song "Femininity" acapella for a ysa music night

3. Watching many Val Kilmer movies

4. Toilet papering her brother and his wifes house and then getting sepperated after we made a get away

5. Fender Bender on a temple trip in Tara's little Lada (i believe it was a russian made car) I know not a pleasant thing at the time but gave the trip flavour. And stuffing newspapers in the cracks of the car door to try and deaden the noise.

6. Her flying out to Edmonton on the spot the weekend after my son was born because she couldnt wait to see him.

I miss Tara. I know you always make new friends but there are some that you can not see for yers and still laugh and talk when you see them as if it had only been a couple of days. Those were good times

Self Image

Breanna has been listening to Jon and I talk about our desire to lose some weight and get into better shape. And our displeasure with the way our bodies are now. This was our conversation as I was getting her ready for bed

note, ma is the way Breanna refers to her self and says I

Breanna: Ma fat

Me: What?

Breanna: Ma fat

Mom: Youre not fat, your beautiful

Breanna: Ma bootiful (spreads her arms wide) Ma Super Banna!!!

Me: Yes you are Super Breanna

Living with a two year old is sometimes like living with a tape recorder on play back

Back to nursery.

I guess at church they figure I am a little immature. I have been sent back to nursery. Just Kidding. Today I was released as a member of the enrichment committe and called to be a worker in the nursery. I will miss the enrichment committe as I had more fun in that calling then anyone should have in any calling. But things change and the time comes to move on. Nursery should be a fun calling because it is geard toward people with attention spans just as short as mine. It will be interesting to see how Breanna reacts to having her mom in nursery with her. I am excited.

Barganing with Breanna

Mom had decided not to go get a haircut yesterday, car was acting a little funny. Breanna was dissappointed

Mom: Want to go to the park?

Breanna: Get Hair cut!

Mom: We can get a treat after the park

Breanna: Treat after the haircut!

She won, we got haircuts, went to the park and got a treat.

Confessions of a Phoneaholic

Hi, my name is Heather, I have been using (the phone) for most of my life. I have been off it for about umm, never mind I am on the phone right now. I want to cut down I really do. I talk when I am alone, I talk in the morning. I talk when I feel sad. I talk when I am happy. Reality hit me when I found my daughter on the phone (photo in previous post) Ok, tommorow, Thursday April 7 2005 I will only use the phone when I have to. No calling just to chat. I can do this right?

Ok if I was a stronger person I would go cold turkey but lets be realistic here. (and besides, once and a while cant hurt, right?)

Breannas Mommy impression? 

Paris Hilton at the zoo

Ok we saw Paris Hilton at the zoo. Or at least her look alike, or well somone who likes to dress like her. She had long blond hair in two braids. She was wearing this jacket that was bright pink. The back and sleves was a knit. The shoulders were coverd with a pink suede and around the neck and down the front was pink fur. She was wearing a short denim skirt and black high heeled suede boots that reached almost up to her knees. The whole look really reminded me of Paris and the first time I saw her I had to do a double take because for a milisecond I thought I really had seen her. I wonder if the resemblence was intentional.

Breanna in the dress that Grandma Hill made for easter. So pretty 

Just another pic of the dress grandma made I couldnt figure out how to post both in one post.  

A Day At The Zoo

Yesterday was our trip to the zoo. As far as a day trip to calgary can go with two toddlers I would give it a 10. Breanna LOVED it. Every second of it (except for maybe a few on the train because she did not get to sit in the blue car) She loved the elephants, the bear, the monkeys, the hippos, the giraffe. She would run where she wanted to and command us to follow.

Ryan was his typical happy self throughout the entire thing, laughing and giggling whenever aunties and grandparents played with him.

Dad loved the Jaguars, normaly his favorite part is the tigers but I think this time the Jaguars (who are only there for a short period I think) took the cake for him. Those cats look so powerful. It would be interesting to see animals like that in their own habitat and to see what speed and power they are capable. There was a black one and a spotted one. I did not see too much as there were a lot of people croweded around and I did not want to push through.

As for mom I liked it all but I think that mostly I loved that the kids were well behaved. What a difference that makes. It is always interesting to see the array of different animals in the world. I did have the rare oppourtunity of seeing an elephant go to the bathroom. Apparently they dont care how many people are watching. Lets just say you dont want to be too close to an elephant at that time.

We went to Japanese village for dinner afterward for Jocelyns birthday. It was yummy as usual but they were busy that night and so the food all came REALLY fast. Usually you have some time between courses but not last night. They looked pretty busy and I think they were trying to get people in and out so could keep things moving.

The drive home was good, Ryan slept the whole way only waking up to fuss when Breanna made too much noise. Breanna did get a little grumpy for the last 45 min but it was not too bad. After we got home Breanna went right to bed and Ryan stayed up till midnight (mom tried to stay up to but ended up going to bed at 10:30, Thanks to dad for putting him to bed.

A good day was had by all, and we still would want to do it again.

here it is

I am sorry I have not been blogging enough. Easter weekend, sick kids and a sick mom have kept me from feeling motivated enough to blog.

So here is a blog inspired by the blogs of two friends I have just read.

If I could be anywhere it would be reclining in a lawn chair on a nice warm day (not hot)watching the kids play in a fully enclosed yard.

I am looking forward to hanging out with some friends tomorow night, going to the temple on friday and going to the calgary zoo on saturday. I think I am looking forward to friday night the most. We are so blessed to have a temple in the city.

I want a chicken salad croissant.

A Trip To The Doctors

Ok I called Health link today and because Ryans Fever had been carrying on for 3 or 4 days she said I should take him in to get looked at. We went to the medi clinic on 51st and calgary trail. I am always a little nervous going to mediclinics because you never know what doctor you are going to get.

The waiting room was in dire need of vacuuming, maybe it is just because of the construction going on next door but there was dirt chunkies and it just seemed dirtier then a doctors office should be. It is hard when you have a kid who wants to run around and play.

Well after not too horrible of a wait we get in and the nurse says Dr. Smith will be in soon. Dr. Smith walks in with his head kind of down the way doctors always seem to do when they walk in a room. First impression, by the way he carries himself he looks like he knows what he is doing. Then he looks up. I know him. Worst of all I know him from the singles ward. I didnt know him well but I knew who he was. He cant be more then a few years older then me. Maybe as much as ten but I doubt it. What the heck is someone I knew in the singles ward doing as a doctor. All I can think is "I am so glad I am not here for me". What do you say to someone you know "Hey how are you doing? How are the kids? And by the way I have this itch". I think I would have to ask for someone else.

Anyway he looks at my warm little boy tells me to give him tylenol, make sure he is getting liquids and tells me it is just a virus thing. He says the vomiting is because kids that age have trouble with mucus.

As I leave I cant help but wonder if I should ask for someone older.

I guess I am 27 and someone who was older in the singles ward could very well be a doctor by now, very plausible but sometimes I forget that we all grow up.

Easter Sunday

Ugh I just posted about my Easter Sunday but something happend and I lost it all. It will be redone later. How annoying

Comitted

Ok Jon and I have been Safeway shoppers for most of our married life. I like safeway the look of it. Their sales which may save me money overall or may not, or most likely just get me to buy things I would not have otherwise just because they are on sale. Anyway for the sake of saving money we have started going to Superstore. For a long time I didnt really like Superstore because it was too yellow. I Know that is a silly reason to not shop somewhere.

Today we bought bins. You know the purple ones that say Bin Shopping, what a clever play on words. Now we can go shopping like those other cool shoppers that tote bins around so they dont have to buy bags and add to land fills. I guess we are now committed lest those purple bins end up sitting unused in the closet.

I guess we all have to grow up sometime.

4:30 am

1. The most interesting thing on at 4:30 is Ripleys Believe It Or Not.

2. No matter how many times you scroll through the listings they dont change

3. 4:30 Is not play time!

Working out again

I worked out again today, I put the kids into baby sitting and that went pretty well. When I went to pick Breanna up she was looking out the window with a sad look on her face. She was very happy to see me. I guess she was only sad for about the last five minutes. It made me feel good to be missed. Breanna usually has no problem going into nursery or anything so it was a little different for this to upset her at all. We walked out the door and I had to run back and get her coat and she started to cry. Ryan started to walk down the hall while I was getting her coat and boots on and she got a little worried and exclaimed. My brother my brother! I love it when she is protective of him. Then she joined him in running down the hall and I bragged her with buying a rice krispie square to get her to cooperate in getting back into the car.

Ryan however was as happy as anything and even took a few moments to notice me and clue in that I was there to pick him up. He is the happiest kid I think I have ever seen.

Well 2 workouts down and so far I have not noticed anyone looking at me funny. Nor has anyone told me I have no place In a workout centre. I expect I will feel anxious going until I get used to it but I think I will get over it.

Working out

Ok so today I worked out. I had made an appointment at the Y to try their fitstart program, basicaly they ask what your goals are and help you start a work out program. So we talk for a bit and then he takes me over to the bikes. We set the timer for 2 0 min. Ok 20 min of biking I can handle this. And it is not so bad. I dont feel like dying and no one is looking at me and I dont look like a big wimp by falling off the bike in complete exaustion. Then he shows me the eliptical. 25 min. Well I just did 20 on the bike this is only 5 min longer. I managed that well enough. Again no falling off in complete exaustion. So I do this for a week and then I go back on monday and we add some new things.

I guess I was always worried that everyone else there would be fit as a fiddle and i would look clumsy and out of place. But no there are people there of all shapes and sises. I saw a man who was obviously in the later years of his life. He walked quite slow and kind of crouched down like my grandmother used to do. He was working on out what looked like some sort of rowing machine. I really admired the dedication it would take to go and work out when you are older and your body isint quite what it used to.

Anyway I left the ymca today with a little more confidence and motivation then I went in with.

My Beef With Little Bear

Ok Breanna is watching little bear. It kind of annoys me in a couple of ways. When you humanize animals in a tv program how do you pick which ones are intelegent and which ones are. There are the bears and his friends Duck and Hen etc. But they eat fish. And the clothing bugs me. Mother and Father wear clothes, but Little Bear does not. I realize I let my kids run around in diapers often but Little Bear is obviously at the age where he needs to be clothed. Finaly the thing that bugs me the most is Father Bear, he is always wearing a 3 piece suit. Who goes hiking and fishing in a 3 piece suit. Really!

Things I learned Yesterday

1. 1 six serving package of choclate pudding will nicely fill 24 tart shells

2. 2 chickens will make enough chicken salad for enrichment

3. baby food is good for more then just feeding to babies

4. Ryan likes cream of wheat (every new food he eats is an acomplishment)

5. you can use choclate in fruit salad

6. trail mix tastes good in coleslaw

Two year prayers rivisited

So Breanna changed her prayer routine today instead she no longer sighs between lines she blows raspberrys

Dad: thank you for this day

Breanna: thank you for this day ttthhhbbbttt

Mom: (quiet chuckle)

Dad: thank you for mom and dad

Breanna: mom and dad ttthhhbbtt

Mom: (trying harder to not laugh)

Dad: please bless we'll have a good sleep

Breanna: good sleep ttttttthhhhhhbbbbbtttt

Mom (shoulders shaking, audible laugh)


Were she gets it from I dont know

Two year old prayers

Breanna has begun to learn to pray. She basicaly we pray and she repeats. it is very sweet. We try to keep scentences really short because she only repeats a couple words at a time. Tonight she decided to mix it up a little. Everytime she repeated what you said she added a sigh to it.


Mom: bless Ryan

Breanna: bless Ryan ahhhhhh

Mom: bless we'll have a good sleep

Breanna: good sleep ahhhhh

I am not quite sure where she gets these things sometimes but it always makes me laugh a little

Heather's Kitchen Pointers #1

When putting a roast in the crock pot before you leave for church make sure you plug it in

Huffing and puffing

Jon and I got a membership to the YMCA this week and have made it a goal to get ourselves back into shape. Jon has gone to work out a couple of times and loves it. Jon would come home tired sore and loving it. I never understood it. But I guess that is why Jon played basketball, foot ball and did cross country running in high school and enjoys hiking golf and pretty much any other physical activity he can get his hands on although his knees latley have been limiting him somewhat. Me, in high school I stuck to band and now the extent of my physical activity has been walking the kids to the park

Anyway today I went and did a deep water exersising class. I have to admit it actually felt good. I plan on starting some sort of exersise program and perhaps one day I may be able to run more then half a block at once (yeah I really am in bad shape) anyway perhaps in a month or two I will post what has become of my good intentions.

Conversation with a two year old

Breanna: (right in my face) I want chip! I want chip! I want chip!

Me: I love you Breanna

Breanna: I want chip!!

Come on Heather wat do you expect from a two year old who wants a chip

to all readers

Chances are people who read this blog know me and therefore know about me, but in case you do not here is the basics. I am a stay at home mom and I have two kids, Ryan who just turned one and Breanna who is two and a half. My husband Jon and I have been married for 4 years.
Anyway I have never been much of a journal keeper so this is my attempt to keep a little bit of a record of my life. Hope you enjoy.

Its about time

Well I have finaly decided to do a blog of my very own, So here It is, I hope I can keep it interesting.