Birthday Creativness!!

The first born had a birthday, much celebration. Adult party with both sets of grandparents and adopted aunt Andrea done, Kid party to follow.

To mark the occasion I sewed Maya this little outfit, baked the 6 cake, made reusable fabric streamers, and celebrated somebodies Else's creativity by buying Maya footy Jammie's. She says they are too hot. The photo was from when she was talking to you Kathie.

Babysitting

Luke and I are extremely blessed to have family who want to spend time with our children. It gives them the opportunity to create relationships with family and it gives us a break. This break is used quite often for work, or sporting, or very occasionally quality time between Luke and I. So in that way I am blessed and in other ways I am not so lucky.

In the day time you know how you might need a hour or so to run to the dentist, chiro, hair, or meetings where children might not be welcome so you just need somebody to watch the kids for that hour. Well I just don't have somebody to trade that hour with. You can only take so many times before you realise that other people do not ask you for a hour. So I wonder why people don't ask me to look after their kids? Is it:

- They know I am not a big fan of little kids.
- They see how I do natural consciences with our kids and do not trust us.
- They know that we have many non christian influences in our house and do not want their kids exposed to the sin.
- Maybe people just do not like us... OR what? Cause I really want to know cause I could use a hour here and there.

He is going to be embrassed when he is 16....

"..... Ever stop colouring your Penis!!"

For Sale

All of my Maternity Clothes!!!

Since I have been pregnant with Ever my Maternity clothes have been through three different pregnancy's, and these clothes keep on coming back to me. Even when I just say to keep them. So I am selling them in large , medium and small lots. Why such a variety of sizes???
Well every time I give the clothes away they come back missing a few items, yet I also gain a few mostly ugly items.

One word Description

... she wrote it, not us.

She also named her boots, bossy boots.

Meet the newest member of our family.....

Treadmill!!!

Poor fellow, doesn't have a name yet. Figure we should name him as we will spending alot of time riding the poor fellow. Hope we don't wear him out too soon.

Notice the set up as well. Tv on a platform, also want a mointer mounter with a wireless mouse and keyboard connected to the network so I can access my shows I download. The key board is more for when I ride Chester the bike which sits beside Mr. Treadmill.

What Ever is doing....

Apparentlly Ever is practicing his mountainer skills via climbing the toy cupbourd, and when taking a break from that he nurses the Ken doll. Which is the only Barbie product in this house. Anybody know where it came from???

An Angel and a Monkey

Bath Time

Actual conversation at bath time...

" Umm Maya, so why is your Vagina green"

Mumbled response

"So it is really not cool to colour your vagina with markers, no matter how fun it seems"

Niagrea Falls HALF

After a series of unfortunate events, there was to be no fall Marathon- as hoped for Anne...the crowd should shed a single tear for this deviating news BECAUSE as there was no fall marathon there is no Boston qualifying and thus there is no Boston running and thus, the saddest news of all... There will be NO 2010 Boston Jacket for Anne.

To console myself I set my sights on setting a new personal best in the half Marathon on the very fast Niagara falls course. What was I thinking!! That was 1:37:36:9 of Pain- with a capital P. In the end I did beat my time by 2:20:9. I was kinda hoping for a four minute improvement but I guess it wasn't the day. My legs just didn't feel strong. I did come across the line as 18th female so top 25 ain't bad. Gotta take a victory somewhere.

Pictured is the reason why I did as well as I did. A stranger named Petro from Victoria BC started running with me cause he liked my pace, and for the next 18km we matched each other step for step. He was an amazing encouragement, kept the pace though the aid stations, and quite frankly was the nicest person I have ever met, I feel bad I dropped him with 500metres to go, but I had it in me to go slightly faster. I think I am going to web stock him and write him a thank you letter.

On another note.... how do I get faster? I need a coach, so listen up company executives. Give a age grouper, working mother a chance- sponsor me. I want to go to warm weather camps and be all I can be I just need $$$$ Cause I'm sure I have it in me to be great- just need a hand getting there.

TWO teeth missing Now

... and the tooth fairy visited.. and Maya gave all her money away to the foster shild the sunday school supports, this would be considered generous but Maya still really does not get money.

Hiking

Vinyl Cafe

We are a CBC family, generally we listen it in the car, and download pod casts for the shows we miss. A favorite of the whole family is the Vinyl Cafe, thus went we mentioned to Maya that Stuart McLean was coming to the area she really wanted to go to the show.
Really fun show, Reed Jamison was the musical guest. Two new Dave and Morley stories were read, along with the older toaster story.
The highlight of the show- well at least for us, was when the youngest audience member was asked to come forward which was Maya! (except for a one year old which didn't count). So our incredibly timid, shy child left us and went down the steps and all the way up on the stage alone to claim her prize. Stuart had her up for a couple of minutes and asked her to guess an age for the oldest audience member and she was too shy to answer.
We asked her afterwards if she was scared, and the said "no, it was like when she was on the stage at church but there was a lot more people."
Stuart and John Sheard the piano player mentioned afterwards that they were very impressed with her.
All in a all we had a great time, both on our own, and vicariously through Maya.

If Ever is driving you nuts...

Not that we sit the kids down in front of the computer much at all, but here are two sure fire videos to make Ever quite happy:
1) Monkey Video. Makes him smile and laugh every time.

2) Daft Punk Alive 2007 videos. They makehim happy and/or put him to sleep. The is the one we were at and Ever was there, if only as an 8th-month fetus. Maybe that has something to do with it.

Maya will just watch music videos endlessly if we let her...

Jumping

Something the kids enjoy lately is jumping off of various things. So far nothing has been broken (either household items or bone)

One of those firsts.

Yesterday, while celebrating Thanksgiving at my parents, Maya was swinging a purse around with her mouth and it slipped and caught one of her loose teeth. Much wiggling of the now much looser tooth over the next hour (with lots of blood I might add) and she eventually pulled it out.
She it holding on to the tooth until she gets a "tooth necklace" or something the get at school. The tooth right beside the missing one is also quite loose so I imagine pretty soon it will be gone as well.
Interestingly, the first tooth she lost is also the first tooth she got.

What I have learned about myself...

While other people may have big emotional Revelations, I am just not that deep. So my big Revelations in physically related.
Sometimes I am irritable, and unhappy, I don't really realise that I am unhappy, and in a grump until it is over. The reasons...

...I am in pain. I am not consciously in pain, but it is a subtle ache.
....I am cold. Not so good is a drafty old home.

Sad Movie

Last week my friend Dave and I went to see the movie District 9 at the local theatre. It was thrusday night. We arrive about 5 minutes before the movie was going to start.

We were the only ones there.

So they didn't show it.

We were sad.

But we got free movie passes.

So that was happy

Body News

I had two specialist appointments made for myself by my family doctor within seven days.
Results:

Sports medicine- October 16th 2009

Allergist- April 1, 2010

So many things to say, so little of it complementary of of health care system and the state of health for our population in general.

Loneliness

I spend alot of time swimming, biking, and running. On any given day I am alone with these pursuits for at least a hour. For the most part I do enjoy the solitude, the lack of demands, and the sense of peace I obtain from working hard. But I do get lonely. I am a self professed master of small talk. I can make conversation with almost anybody about anything. Problem is I can never find anybody to do these things with.

To keep the loneliness at bay I do listen to music, but that does get old. So just this summer I have started listening to pod casts. I mostly listen to triathlon related ones, the occasional CBC one, and an in search of a good nursing related one.
One that I enjoyed more others was called Tri N Realty. One woman's journey to iron man Canada 2009. Now that the race is over she has stoped posting her pod casts and I feel surprisingly abandoned. I feel like my best bud has just left me high and dry.

So if anybody has any good pod casts to help me feel like I have friends let me know.

A

Finished Douglas Copelands newest; Generation A. Feel like I should like it, liked the concept but not with him writing it, it just goes nowhere. Not that I could do better, I'm just saying.
His stuff his starting to feel pointless, and repetitive, and I feel guilty. I should like him. It is that Canadian guilt.

TWO

The little man celebrated his second birthday yesterday. Rather mellow day. Outdoor plans were cancelled due to rain. Took him to the indoor playground at the corportaion that shall remain nameless- purchased our way in with a icecream sundae. Took him for pizza for lunch. He helped to make his cake. Had a long sleep, painted himself and Maya then had a bath, ate french fries for dinner, ate cake, opened presents, played with presents, thought about poohing on the potty- didn't, then sleep.

The person who is to be responsible for birthdays, and shall remain nameless, did nothing so Ever is even lucky he had a present to open as I wasn't even going to do that but happen to have seen little monkey and a train book and picked them up a while ago. My parents dropped off a present of monster trucks so they saved the present day. I mean he doesn't need anything but it is nice to have something.

Ever really liked his monkey cake- that's what he is pointing to.

All teeth

Milestone

Whiles I was cleaning the kitchen, Ever occupied himself upstairs tonight. Apparently is activities included climbing our dresser and getting into my Benadryl.
Thus, the first ever call to Poison control for Ever.

He is fine- just may sleep through the night tonight. When I told Luke of Evers activities he assumed it was intention on my part.

My Day

Random details from my day
- I went to the Keady Market and was stocking up on squash. The lady selling said that I must be making some huge fall display with all I was buying. I dead paned it said no I am going to eat them all, I eat alot of vegetables.

- With my prise money from a race I bought a pair of calf skins. I am uber running cool.

- I got bite by a wasp in the woods, a kilometres from anybody, on my neck. I am allergic.My previous reactions have been intense local swelling. No epi-pen, but I only have minor swelling yet.

Lakeside Sprint Triathlon

 


It is always great to do well, do the best you can and be rewarded by placing well or even winning in a race. I personally love that feeling when I really didn't think I was capable of doing so, when I feel like I reached deep down and put everything I had into a race, left it all at the finish line. Alternatively, when I feel like it is a given I am going to do well it is not as much fun. Sure I have to go out there and try, but somehow I feel like I do not belong. That is how I felt at the Orillia Try a tri. Thus I knew my days of tri a tris were over. Hence, for my last multi sport race of the season I did the sprint triathlon at Lakeside. This race is part of the HSBC series, which some people don't seem to like for some reason. I noticed that there seems to be slightly younger crowd. The race is smaller in size, and the food different. More fruits but less substances, I like the product samples at Subaru. . There were chicken dog which the race director kept on going on about being healthily... does he realise that these genetically engineered chickens most likely were raised in factory farm settings being fed corn? Anyways, I did like the more intimate setting, great site for families. Could have used more washrooms, but so could any race site.

Going into the race I wasn't expecting the best, coming off nights, had swam once since Orillia, and have been getting out for rides less then once a week. I have been running so I was counting on my strength in that sport to carry me through. I expected around 1:20time, and again hopeful I would not drown.

We got to the race site really early as I thought it would take us alot longer to get there, which ended up being really great. Good parking spot, good spot on the racks and room to spread out my transition. I hate being rushed. Was rather chilly in the morning- Maya was rather upset I asked her to wear pants. Didn't bring enough clothes so got into my wetsuit to warm up. They said the water was 66, which is a nice temperature for swimming actually with a wetsuit. Did a few strokes just to loosen up. Watched the first wave go off and lined up far in the back. Was chatting with a girl about how bad we swim and then the air horn went off- where did that come from? Got kicked around a few times, but settled into a easy rhythm. Swim went really well for me- mostly because when I went around the last buoy I was facing west/ the sun and could not see anything along with my foggy goggles so I just settled in and swam. Went off course and almost hit a boat. Couldn't believe when my hand hit ground. By that point I was tired and did stop swimming and walked ran up to the shore. Luke said he didn't believe it was me- top 1/3 of my wave. Yippee!! Total time 600metre swim- 12:55

Bike was OK- I must remember to make sure my bike computer is working BEFORE a race, because once I am actually racing I can't get it going. Grrr would have liked the speed feed back. Obviously as I have put little into the bike- was not expecting alot back. Was passed by older men who would have started in the wave behind me in the swim and two women who I think were in my age category- they were off like a shot so I really had no chance of catching them. Played leap frog with a guy, got stuck behind a truck until the guy and I just started waving our arms to indicate we wanted to pass. Problem was with was on a down hill and we could have gained sped there as opposed to hitting our brakes. I think the truck may have actually been ridding along a participant because it was not moving grrrrr. Will somebody please remind me to work on mt dismount.. cause mine sucks. Second transition was hard. My feet were still numb from the run up from the water, my wetsuit were on top of my socks- thus I ended up putting on wet socks- with shaking hands.. I wasn't to cold so I have no idea why my hand were shaking. My T2 time sucked, could have taken at least 30seconds off- if I had remembered where my spot was. I think I was excited about the run so got a little stupid. hahah

Run was wonderful, not passed by anybody- male or female. Had soo much fun, chatted with a few guys who were telling me to slow down! Heard a few moans from girls when I passed and saw my age on my calf- those must have been the ones who passed me on the bike. All through the run I could not get over just how many females there were ahead of me. I knew the duelathetes would be in the mix but I completely forgot about the 20-29s starting ahead of me. Even when I finish Luke said he saw alot of females ahead of me- I actually thought I had a great personal race but didn't think I would place.
But my run saved me again- second fastest female pushed me into 3/27 in the 30-35 female. 61/264 Overall. 12/117 Female. I think. Very pleased with day, even without a medal... cause i'm getting really sick of third.

Colourful

Maya's Lakeside TriKIds Race Report

I have never wanted our kids to participate in hockey for a variety of reasons, actually to many to name right now.. except for the cost. I always thought the cost of it would be too much. So we encouraged simple things like swimming- only need a bathing suit right? Biking- well every kid has to have a bike right? Running- all you need is shoes. Well add that up and you get triathlon, which actually adds up to alot of gear, entry fees, and cold hard cash. Now at Maya's age it isn't that obvious but it is there. For instance, Maya had a twelve inch bike. It was just to small, we felt bad for her trying to keep up with us. She was pedalling her little heart out and going no where. So we bought her a new bike... and of course we wanted to support our local bike guy, buy a bike that would last two kids and then some. So she got a Diamondback , on sale mind you. Then her entry fee, I went to register online last week for $35. It would not work but the website said race day registration so I didn't worry about it until Luke told me after he had registered her on race day for $50!!!!! We could not just say no after we were already there. But that makes me so mad.


The big debate for this race was to use a life jacket or not. Maya really feels more comfortable in one, although she can swim , so I wasn't making an issue. Then in transition some parents told us that the water was only chest deep so Maya made the decision to try without one. Then we got to the water and realised that basically they were starting from chest deep water and swimming/wading in- less then 20metres!!! Bummer so short! Maya was excited, and nervous. She kept on failing to the ground to fiddle with sand, and sticks. Once they called the kids to the water a little boy graped her hand cause he was scarred. By far the cutest thing ever.


They were off like a herd of turtles. Maya ran into transition and quickly got her helmet and shoes on, waiting ever so patiently for a volunteer to help her get her bike of the rack- which I asked them not to do and finally not wanting to wait for the closest volunteer to to finish help a little boy DRY HIS FEET she lifted her bike off the rack herself. She couldn't hear me with all the other parents screaming but thankfully she did fine and it didn't land on her. . I was amazed at her speed as she zoomed out of transition, running fast with her bike. .....then she was right back again, and out on the run. I really do not know what the distances were.. but it was short. Maya did the whole race with a smile on her face and dress shoes on her feet. We could not find her old Velcro shoes- key for fast transitions, and her new ones were at school so she wore a pair of dress shoes that had rubber shoes. Although Maya could have done the whole thing barefoot just fine. She says she didn't pass anybody on the bike or the run but she must have because she came in fourth female. We didn't realise this until we got home. It had been a long day and I was sure that the awards wouldn't be until all the ages had gone- 2 hours later so hopefully they didn't have awards five deep.

Before the race we were talking about just going out and having fun and Maya says- "it is OK if you don't place cause then there is always door prises! That's my girl!

Thank Goodness

I hate shaking hands. I hate gripping dirty, puffy hands, that are weak. The touch has no meaning and my hands are always sweaty Awkward.
As a cultural practice of greeting I want no part of it. When forced I will say hug instead- I hate hugging even more though. Thus my dilemma Sunday mornings at church.
I dread the pastor asking us to stand and greet our neighbours in the pew. So then I become the weird one who just waves at everybody saying sorry but I do not shake hands. These people will gladly wash the feet of leapers but show no love to people to actually do not want you to touch them, I'm telling you I get looks of disgust for having personal space issues.

THUS
This past Sunday when it came time to greet our neighbours, AND the pastor mentioned that with concerns of spreading the impeding doom that is H1N1, perhaps we should not shake hands anymore, I almost yelled hallelujah.
Not that I think H1N1 is going to kill us all, and really we have been spreading viruses all along by shaking hands, but now I have a valid excuse for obstainning. Thank goodness!


On another note, Hallelujah is a hard word to spell.

First Day of School

Here is Maya all ready to tackle her first day of grade one. Thanks to her Grammy she had a new dress to wear as I have been rather slow in making her a new one. She really doesn't need any thing, but she wants alot.

Initially the reports coming home were not so positive, she was sitting beside a boy that she is not to fond of, she couldn't find her friends at recess and walked around with the teacher, and that boy made fun of her carrots at lunch. She didn't like her teacher, she didn't like her classroom, and she had forgotten all her french.

Slowly things have gotten better- I told Maya what to say to the boy if he bothered her. Although it is definitely not nice. Naughty mommy. Her teacher calls her a little cutie and now everything is all butterflies. It was rough for a few days- for both of us- I had flashbacks to my terrible public school years. But now we have settled in. Now if Maya would not make me want to spank her while we are trying to read french.

Note Maya's new haircut...she wanted it short short short.

5 Peaks Horseshoe Valley TRAIL Half Marathon.

On my agenda for this past weekend was the possibility of three different races. I would have loved to do all three but that wasn't physically possible, it would have been possible to two, but the reality is, financially I can barely do one. Sooo after much weighing of the pros and cons of all the races I decided on doing the 5 peaks trail series half marathon at horseshoe valley.

Went to Barrie ALL BY MYSELF the night prior to sleep at the ever welcoming Vanderkooy residence. Could not sleep as a result of nights/ wanting to finish my book, but never less I rose rested had my usual oatmeal/flax/almonds/blueberries/maple syrup, and stopped for Coffee on the way to race site. Got there a little later than I would have liked, called Luke to say good morning and realised I could not find my socks. Managed to get a XL new wigwam trail pair from the race director- guess it was a handout from another race. Gave me a blister- but the blisters I would have gotten from running without socks would have been way worse. Lined up and was ready to go!

Started mid pack second wave...when will I EVER learn. Should have started back of first wave. Now passing in a road race is easy- single track trail run-not so easy. Luckily most everybody moved over as soon as they realised I wanted past. Love, loved, LOVED the course- when I got to 15k was so disappointed it was almost over. Great single track that I excel at. On the open flats I would slow down- but the technical single track I gave all I had. IN fact after the race a woman I had passed came up to me and said her friend and her nicknamed me billy goat girl. I was flying! Serious good fun. As it was a trail, and I expected to be running around 2.15hrs I wanted to gel up twice. Around the 45min mark an aid station was offering gels. I carry my own and thought that I was starting to get a little clumsy so I would gel up with my GU, I reach into my bra..and there was one ONE. Due to extra space in my sports bra one must have fallen out through the bottom?!?! So I held off and waited until the one hour mark. Ended up running with a few racers- chatted a fair bit with a fellow from Timmins who drove 7hrs for the race. He was having it rough with the hills. Was really surprised how fast the km kept going by, just the right mix of flats and technical. Was really surprised how fast I went. I honestly expected around 2:15- 2:30, somehow I managed to do it in 1:59:42, a 6:00pace which I am thrilled with. Good enough for third woman overall.

After the race I savored the post race food without children hounding me, chatted with a guy about races, and as an afterthought looked at the results- I had just thought I had age grouped not overall- was very surprised when my name was called. For my efforts I won a bag of kicking horse coffee.

And the day just got better, on the drive home I stopped at Haisai, Michael Stadtländer’s new restaurant. Spent more on lunch then I usually would- but wonderful. Although the wooden log, stone table isn't a good combination. Tippy, and I could not get close to the table.

And then when I got home, Ever was napping- SO i got to have rest- unheard of!!

Great Day!

Back To School

At the end of the school year in June Maya came home with a list of supplies she would require in grade one. Of course we promptly forgot about it until I realized perhaps she should send her back with more then a smile.

The list included such gems as a water bottle, and pencil sharpers (2). In MY day we went to the water fountain for a drink, and every classroom had a sharpener. Now I know schools can't provide everything, but come on water? A sharpener? So I called the school to enquire, perhaps I could donate a sharpener for the classroom I thought. No, the rationale for water bottles and sharpeners?? So the kids didn't have to get up!!!!! Umm perhaps this is why ADD is sky rocketing, perhaps this is why kids are getting fatter and fatter, and soon they will have DVTs from immobility. Seriously I'm surprised all the children do not sores on their bums from sitting.

On another note, she was also requested to have two plastic pencil boxes- in fact was given specific measures of said boxes required. Can we say dictatorship? Thus I did not spend my $2 at the dollar store for a plastic box produced in china that is sure to have broken hinges by Christmas. The pencil crayon roll contains coloured pencils from MY school years. The pencil case- three pencils, a pair of sizzers, a glue stick, and a eraser. That's it. That's all. I made the cases from scraps- cost $o.