Maybe I am naive...

BUT I think one person can make a difference.

I Stand Corrected

After reading The Continuum Concept, I had always thought we need to present danger to children for them to understand what it is, and for them to make use of their inherited knowledge that there is danger and how to respond to it.

With Ever- not so much.

He loves nothing more then barreling down the steep tobogganing hill, playing with knives is a good thing to him. We often catch him in the dark basement getting in to who knows what, and that boy will move a chair so he can climb up almost anything.

Indignation

Ever was bothering Maya while she was playing with her new mr. potatohead stuff

"Daaaaaddddyyyy, Ever is orchestrating my play!!!"

I think she got that from Montessori or something..

Dentist

On Friday night a filling fell out. It was some what important I get it filled yes- Emergency visit fee worth an extra $40- nope. Oh well, if you are spending $160 for 20minutes work whats a little extra bit.

AND I even forgoed freezing in the hopes it would be slightly cheaper. Actually I just wanted to see if I could handle the pain- simple- no problem.

Random Thought

Today while reminding Maya to be good or else Santa only bring her a lump of coal, I thought that if I was cold, and had means in which to burn a lump of coal, I would be quite happy to receive a lump of coal- thus it would not be a punishment.

Oh and Maya knows Santa dose not exist- but due to peer pressure she wants to believe there is a Santa.

Incidents: this evening with Ever

1) grabs knife out of the dishwasher while my back is turned and runs at Maya with it and stabs her the side of the head. Not really but he did nick her neck. That could have been a LOT worse.
2) runs over the the toilet, opens lid, sticks a toothbrush in, and then sucks on it.
3) pushes potty to the (empty)bathtub see he can see it better where I am cleaning a dirty diaper. I turn my back and he falls in head first.

And this is just since I got home, this goes on all day for whoever is home.

Stay tuned as the story continues.

Christmas Tree Hunting

I think we need more Mointers...

Suckage on a Grand Scale

So this is our front storm door. Or should I say was.

Yep. So you know how there was that bad wind the other day and the power was out. While I went for a walk while the power was out the front door caught a breeze and smashed against the brick porch wall seen here and basically now shattered glass is all over. This summer we will have to wear sandals on the side lawn and I will have to dig out the glass from the flower bed.

Birthday Dress

This is the dress i made for Maya's Birthday. Didn't turn out as I had planned as to some unplanned alterations. Maya is rather broad in the shoulders which kinda changed the general shape of the dress. Maya does not care, she isn't picky. Dress + Pink = wonderfulness.
Burda pattern- Mental note- Fit narrow.

Egg Nog Jog

Surprisingly I had a pretty good day. It was one of those races where it didn't matter how I placed, the only competition was myself and I defined my own success.
The reason why I chose this race was because it was in December- i like to race at least once a month, and around two hours drive. The 10.8km Egg Nog jog follows a country block, staged at Terra Cotta conservation area. It is a hilly course- although not as hilly as I was expecting. It was mostly gravel hard packed with slushy snow and a few kilometres of wet pavement.
I felt my race went well. Of course I over dressed- i would have been comfortable in what I was wearing had it been a training run but not a race. I wore my saconey jacket, asics long sleeve, saconey tights, running room hat, smart wool socks, and saconey mitts. I should have worn Capri and long sleeve with dollar store mitts, perhaps a wind vest if I had one. Thus I was hot.
I ended up running with a gentleman with bright jacket and a Asian woman with shapely calves. At the finish line we all thanked each other for pushing each other hard. Other then being hot my shoelaces were driving me nuts. I had to stop TWICE to re tie- tuck into my shoes. Come to think of it I ran the last 5km of Niagrea with untied shoes because I didn't want to stop. Hmmm I think I need to think about new shoelaces... or new shoes :) Great food post- soup, yogurt, ripe bananas, CAKE, Tim Horton's coffee, egg nog and chocolate milk. Saw Westgrey Runner. Chatted it up with another woman who ran who also had two kids. A little unhappiness with a runner from wiarton who thinks I'm rotten, but hopefully that will work itself out in the future. BY the numbers...
Goal time- 55min( I really haven't been training)
Actual time 50:43
Overall 86/520
Female 13/242
Age-30-39- 5/67

AND there was activities for the kids in a heated building.
AND the handout was not a stupid cotton tee- shirt but a stainless steel bottle. I would definitely do this race again.


AND on the way home we stopped at winners and I bought myself TWO SWEATERS. NEW!!!!!!

Longing

Very occasionally I see a small babe and just want to snuggle it in my arms and nurse quietly with the dear soul, and I'm sad cause I know that is going to happen ever again, and I'm filled with regret. Then I remember...

Ever, and the mess he makes just being. The destruction that comes with every movement. I see Maya sitting patiently waiting for me to come, and I never come cause I am too busy dealing with him. I never have time to play cause I'm stuck dealing with 10 minutes ago all day.

This is the hardest time.

Cute Sells

This year I did two shifts manning the salvation army kettles at the local walmart. One shift was with just me smiling, ringing some jingle bells, and saying the occasional hi. The other was with me doing all of the above AND Maya jumping around yelling Merry Christmas, ringing a cow bell, singing songs and generally not to be ignored.
The end result... at least 75% more money was given with the little girl present. Seriously people were practically throwing money at her.

Odd

While reading I often come across a word I am unfamiliar with, or just a general piece of knowledge I would like to know more about.
While reading on the computer it is simple -cut/ paste/ google. While reading print material I find myself reaching for my mouse to do the exact same..... some might say I am alittle too plugged in.

New ISP

New E-mail addresses:
Please BE AWARE luke.bellamy@sympatico.ca with NOT be in service in about 30 days.
Please use
lbellamy@gmail.com or
annelizabeth@gmail.com

So we are switching internet providers. This week there was a promotion for a cable/internet bundle deal. 15Mbs(!!!) internet and digital cable for 55$. No contract. Unlimited downloads. Thats not to shabby. And when they start offering phone service later in the spring we should save a fair bit on that as well.
So I signed up. We are not going to hook up the TV part though. We seem to have so little time as it is.
The main thing I am interested in though is the 1Mbs upload speed. I plan on using that to run some stuff from home. That will be cool.

Me and my Boy.

Fell Asleep reading after a birthday.

Ice Cream Cone Cake made with beets.

Present Time

Birthday Junk Food Cereal... and Mayas strapy PJ top that she loooovvvveeessss

Can you guess why Maya is sooooo Happy??

Wintercross 5km

I set a goal and I didn't make it. First of the year.
MY goal for this cross country race in the snow was 22min. I did it around 23:47. Goes to show you get out what you put in.

So this race was a community event run on the same course as the masters/Juniors/ Seniors national championship. I thought about masters cross country but because I do not belong to a track team I really didn't think I could enter the races...actually I'm still not sure on that point. In any event I actually didn't have any time this fall to run the Ontario series so at very least I thought it would be fun to run one cross country race.

Now what I am learning about cross country is it leisure trail NOT hiking trail. Sure there are hills but there are no branches to whip your face, no roots covered by leaves to trip you, but there can be mud which is fun. In yesterdays case there was snow- hard packed and slushy snow. Spikes would have helped. Of course anything would have helped. I felt slow, fatigued and sluggish. Just didn't have kick in me. True I was hot- had over dressed and had nobody at the start line to hand my gear off to, but there was just no excuse for my time. I know I haven't been doing enough focused workouts, and have kinda lazy about 'getting work done' , which is why I am interested in having a coach. Somebody who can direct my workouts and allow me to make the most out of my time.

On a positive note I have shaved seven seconds off my 50metre swim time.. and can actually swim 100 metres before passing out from excursion. Seriously I stop and cry to catch my breath for a few minutes. Although the iron man who is helping me I think cringes every time he sees me in the water. Don't worry I always swim in the lane closest to the lifeguards.

It's that time of year...

That I beg and plead you to send me Christmas cards.

Yes I am that shallow...Cards =love.

Bed

Luke has went away for a couple of night. To prepare he made the beds before he left.
My question is who is going to make the beds tonight??

It takes a 4 year old..

For YEARS I have intended to fill a shoebox for operation Christmas child, however it just never happened. Who knows how many empty shoe boxes went to waste due to my laziness.

Of course Maya comes home from AWANA last week with box to fill, and today WE ACTUALLY FILLED it. Nothing amazing- pencil crayons, sharpener, pencil case, scissors, soap, pink washcloth, toothbrush, hard candy, hair elastics, and a yo-yo. I told Maya what the suggested items were and she made the choices with only a bit of assistance. We prayed over the box and all we have to do it get it to the church. Lord help us.

High Heels

Shoes found in my stock pile of clothing for future use. Much adored, put on as soon as she woke up one morning. Looking good with her jammies.

I'm a dirty dirty Boy

Threesome

Shhhh she has head lice...

Shhhh it's Maya. It seems that due to Maya's thick head of hair and her inherited ability to allow bugs to take up residence in her hair she has head lice..... again. Thanks sister of Luke's which shall remain unnamed.

The summer camp where she went with Stephanie this summer had an outbreak while she was there so....she came home with it. This time another little girl in her class had it and Maya sat within five feet of her so.........another round of the chemicals, tree oil shampoo every night, many loads of laundry, tears, videos, and combing sessions.

I sleep with her and have yet to get it. This is way I think some people just are susceptible.

Whats Up with......

.....a home having two Christmas trees? And while I'm at it. Whats up with a home having both of those trees up already???

LOL

Hilarious stuff like this is why the internet is awesome.

Also this is the best opical illusion ever. Squares A and B are the same shade of gray. No seriously, they are.

Ode to Toast

One of the things I never understood about Luke was why he liked toast. He would happily eat endless meals of toast and tea if I wasn't around to feed him.
Perhaps I thought it was gross cause growing up i'm sure my mother purchased the cheapest whitest bread around which i'm sure tasted gross. Perhaps it is beacuse it seems boring. Or perhaps it is because there is no sugar involved that cause me to turn my nose up at toast.

However now I see the light.
I do not how this liking of toast with a smig of butter came to be. Perhaps curiously finally got me, or perhaps laziness did, or perhaps it is truly amazing bread that isn't 99cents loaf.

In any case I now see myself as a statistic in the form of how many pounds of butter I eat a year.

Just Saying...

...babies would be so much funner to have around if they didn't cry.

Look how many teeth I have now!!

Costumes and Candy

Here is Mayas princess dress that i crafted from my own design and sewing machine. No plan and no pattern makes for some potty words.

Ever is a sock monster, the monster that steals socks and leaves you with singles. A product of my OWN imagination.

The candy haul. We placed no limits on eating it this weekend but she had to share. There is no candy left and we all have Halloween hangovers.

I'm a priare princess. The hat was from Mayas baby costume a few years ago and I made the pinafore in ten minites. Luke was the cat in the hat but was grumpy and washed off his makeup before I got to take a picture.

Pumpkins

Mayas creation. She drew and I cut.

Lukes Zombie pumpkin.

EVERybody loves Halloween.

Annes masterpiece.

Busy

Ever has learned to drag the step up to the counter and climb up to find whatever he can reach.

We have learned to not leave large butchering knives where he can grasp them and bang them against the counter, the cat, or himself.

Re- Fashioned

I wore this dress as a little girl and for some reason my mother kept it, and for some reason i spent time adding trim, frills and blows to make it just much more girly.
In comparison, I wore this when I was age sevenish and I was always a string bean, however Maya is four and there isn't alot of room in the shoulders.

It's desided

There should be a ban on the skinny skater jeans. While we are at it, especially with skater shoes. Even more especially on girls of the non Skater type.

We demand a return of baggy underwear showing Skater fashion.

Sorry Kyle.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATHIE

HAppy five years older then me day!!!

Can we both drink out of the toiliet??

Niagara Falls Half Marathon

In the short:

Goals- Under 1:45, Top 10 age category.

Achieved- Chip time- 1:39:57, 6/132 Females 30-35. 19/851 Females overall. 136/1457 Overall Male and female.


In the long: Mostly just written for my own memories.

I actually really wanted this race to be a marathon- but between an injury and the stress of going back to work, I just wasn't able to get enough long runs in sooo a half. I had felt that the 21km distance was a tad jinxed as two previous attempts had been aborted. Once related to injury and another due to the growing fetus of Ever.
We went down to Niagara falls on Saturday and spent the night in a hotel and praise be to God I was able to get a ride to the start with another Saugeen Tri member. Ever was awake q 2hours just wanting to nurse and fussing. He fell asleep late and woke early so basically I don't really know why I even went to bed. Coffee was a good thing. I bought my morning porage and the hotel heated it up for me.
The biggest concern was what to wear in relation to the weather. The wind can be nasty along the river and it threatened rain but in the end I decided upon long sleeve tech shirt and carpi's. I wore a long sleeve cotton that was for the salvation army until the first aid station then just left it. At times I wished I was in shorts but overall felt good- and cute.
Started out with the 1:45 pace bunny but really didn't want to limit myself to that time so set out to go as fast as I could for as long as I could and basically that lasted for seven miles. I then did three at a more relaxed pace. Then I felt bad and really wanted to make it in under 1:40 soo I did my best to pick it up. It hurt- alot. I spent alot of the race running with a man from Trois Rivere Quebec who spoke broken English, and men. I didn't see a single female from about Mile four until the end..and those were already finished. Although there was a woman who finished less then a minute before me.
I found the course pretty, but slightly boring. The aid stations were staffed by very enthusiastic high school kids so there was alot of energy when you passed through them. The course is harder to access so there wasn't alot of spectators. As it is a very flat course there wasn't any hill challenges either soo I can't say that I am desperate to do it again.
Used Honey stingers chews for energy- just didn't give me the kick like GU's do. Lesson learned. As well they are bulky to carry. Took in a mouthful of water at about half of the aid stations.
Finnish line was COLD and windy....and Luke negated to bring me clothes to the finish so we left quickly. Food was crap. EXCEPT for chocolate milk. They even gave Maya and Luke a carton and a micro fibre towel. Probably cause I was sooo excited to see milk and verbally shared that with the hand out girl.

Question

After trying on clothes at a retail establishment do you hang them up or do just hand them in a lump to the employees? I want answers as to the excepted cultural practice.

And while we are at it would somebody just tell me what to wear? Seriously I cleaned out my closet, no more regularly visiting 1996 via what I am wearing. Thus it is getting a bit drafty what with me being naked and all on account of the no clothes to wear.

Quote

OBSESSED is just a word the LAZY use to describe the DEDICATED

Poster Child

My kid is famous.

Wanted: Olympic Wrestler

Olympic Quality wrestler is needed for diapering and clothing duties of one (1) 12-month old child. Those with having medals and/or talents in one-armed submissions (the other will be used to diaper or cloth the child) will be considered first.
The child is extremely talented in twisting and squirmed out of most holds and positions. Extreme care must be taken in avoiding bruising, suffocation and broken limbs. Only those considered for interviews will be contacted, thank you for you time.
The following is a picture of the child in an aggressive stance.

Hi Ho Hi Ho, off to work she goes.

Its amazing how easy it is to forget these things when Anne isn't working.
Its Thanksgiving and she is working 12hr days Saturday, Sunday and Monday. This is what happens pretty much every major holiday, or every second one anyway.
The funny thing is that I am totally fine with it, I grew up with my parents doing the same thing. Ever is getting more fun to play with and Maya is getting better at helping and entertaining herself which makes the whole weekend enjoyable. Much more than when Anne does nights anyway.
This morning I took the kids to meet with some friends (other "medical widows") at a conservation area and we hung out and let the kids play and had a great time. Tomorrow we are going to my aunts to have thanksgiving with the family that IS still around and I am sure I will enjoy myself thoroughly.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

WHAT SHE THINKS.....
So working indoors on a absolutely fabulous weekend when I just happen to want to get some long runs in, and have some family time that involves hiking to an epic vista...just sucks.
It would have not minded, just accepted I was was needed...but iiiiiitttttttt wwwwaasss sooooo sllloowwww. Am wanting some direction in my work..is this were I am really to be??

When I am old and my bones rattle, and I can hardly move, and I have to pee every hour....PLEASE for everybody's sake just put a catheter in.

As spoken by the nurse who just might go insane if she hears a white haired woman croak the words 'I have to pee' one more time.

Ever Man

Ever seems to have the music in him, and thus he just can't stop moving to the beat. I actually think he has rhythm. And on another note, I fear Maya will be asked to leave her tap dance lessons due to her lack of rhythm and utter absence of co-ordination.

Addicted

I can't stop thinking about nor eating Reese Peanut Butter Bites. As a treat for working nights these past two nights I bought a 240ml package for each night and ate them both. Gluttonous

On the plus side it is cheaper then smoking, although I'm not sure which is worst for your health.

Gross... no really, it is

So this morning Ever has his usual poop while we were getting breakfast ready. Or so we thought.
So he's crawling around and Mayas saying "Ever you're REALLY stinky!" I look at him and you get tell he is really poopy. Then I step in some cat barf, only its not cat barf but diarrhea leaking out of Ever's diaper.
Then we couldn't find wipes. Oh such a wonderful start to a day.

Race Tee- Shirts

In case anybody is intrested .. he is a photo of all the race shirts I got this year... and I didn't even get shirts from all the races I was in..either they were not offered or I just didn't want it.
FYI- If you are a race director. I DO NOT WANT anymore, unless it is techincal.