Craziness!

That's the only word to describe my last few weeks! My life has been consumed with report cards and planning a going-away party for my good friend Shoba who is moving to Kingston, ON. next week. Through all the craziness Steve built a patio, we had a shed built to match the house and we bought all new patio furniture.

He did a fantastic job and we are getting so much use out of it already! With report cards now handed in, most of the outside landscaping done (Thanks Steph for the Hosta!!!) and the going-away party over...I've actually had time to exhale this week. It's been a great week! So much fun! Went out with some friends from school on Tuesday to the Falcourt Inn for supper. We have such an awesome group but sadly we have no clue where the job search will lead them for the Fall. I'm sure we'll all still get-together regardless.

This is the gang! Our little KDS sorority Kappa Delta Sigma...lol! right Jaimee!?! and on Thursday we had a retirement party for our Music teacher at Paddy's Pub which was a great time too! Out twice in one week! I'm so wild!!!

Well it's 3:47 am...my mind won't shut off thinking about all the things that need to be done on the last day...isn't that crazy?!?

Still Daddy's Girl!

My father is the most amazing father a girl could ask for. I feel so blessed everyday to be able to call him "Dad".
Growing up I knew that my Dad had an important job but I didn't care about that...what really mattered most to me is that through it all he never missed one day of picking me up at school. He did it every single day. I still remember walking around the back corner of my primary school Laurier Carriere and happily skipping to his car. We'd drive to McDonald's for a treat (shh don't tell Mom 'cause it'll ruin your supper! hee!hee!) and chat about our days. I came first no matter what! I could interrupt any meeting or conference because I was his #1 priority and everyone knew it! Could there be anything better then that?!? (this made for some bratty moments I'm sure! lol!) Every night, while Mom was doing dishes, we played together; marbles, board games, Ahtsa (Paquin Wrestling), baseball, etc. He endured sitting through countless routines, paid admission to my cheesy performances with Shelley (my neighbour) and loved every minute of it! As I grew older, he gave me so much freedom and really trusted me which is such a wonderful feeling for a teenager. I think I was the only 17 year old who's Dad said "No curfew for you...you just come home when you feel you should!" He just always trusted I would do the right thing and I so wanted to make him proud that I would never disappoint him. Our relationship is based on respect. He knew when to be firm and knew when to let me get away with a little white lie or two and of course he knew when to pull out the "Do you promise?" card. Ugh that one got me everytime!

Some of my favourite family times were our Montreal shopping get-aways. We would stay over in Mtl and shop 'til we dropped. My Dad would follow us from store to store. He'd fall asleep on a random bench and we'd wrap the straps from our shopping bags around his arms and legs so they wouldn't get stolen and he would never complain. He was content with a coffee every few hours and to see the smiles on our faces. What a man!

I was always so proud of my Dad and my relationship and loved when people called me Daddy's girl. I drove around for 5 years with a license plate that read XO4 DAD (hugs and kisses for Dad!) for the love.

We had family meetings before they were "in", chats in the bathroom which later graduated to We-Need-To-Talk-Let's-Go-For-A-Drive chats and now... sadly we catch up by phone and email. But he still makes me feel special. Do you know what it's like to start your day with an email that reads "Good morning Poochie! I adore you and hope you have a fabulous day!" Okay I'm 32 now with a family of my own and I still love getting those emails! (and I don't know where Poochie came into play but for as long as I can remember he's called me that!)

When I was around 15, Celine Dion came out with the song "Because You Loved Me" and I vowed I would dance with my father on my wedding day to that song. The words were so beautiful and so perfect for us...

"You gave me wings and made me fly

You touched my hand I could touch the sky

I lost my faith, you gave it back to me

You said no star was out of reach

You stood by me and I stood tall

I had your love I had it all

I'm grateful for each day you gave me

Maybe I don't know that much

But I know this much is true

I was blessed because I was loved by you."

Everyone says I grew up so spoiled (okay it's true hee!hee!) but I was spoiled with all the things that really mattered most, all the love, attention, trust and time a daughter could ask for. Thanks for giving me such a wonderful childhood and for being such a great father and friend. I look up to you more then I could ever describe.

I love you Daddy! Bonne fête des pères! xoxo

Report Card denial!

I'm in major report card denial! I love my job but there's one thing I hate about it! You might be thinking hate is a strong word but trust me....I hate report cards! I really hate writing the ones about the kids that are just there...you know middle of the road kids, not bad, not great just there. They are just so boring to write! Ugh! SO here I am blogging instead of writing report cards.
You might be wondering why I haven't posted pictures lately...well that's because my wonderful husband (note sarcasm) "forgot" my camera at a golf course in Mont Tremblant...Ah yes! Super! Apparently they are "mailing" it to us! Hmmm! Sketchy! I'll believe it when I hold it!
Until then, you're stuck with my report card rant!
I think I'll go scrap booking tomorrow. (see I'm the worst procrastinator!)
but this time I have a valued excuse for putting them off...only 17 days before TMF closes! :-(

SO HAPPY!

We had just finished lunch and Michael & Abbey were outside on the back deck playing while I was cleaning up in the kitchen. I came over to wipe the table down and looked out to see Abbey blowing bubbles and Michael running around trying to catch them. They were both laughing hysterically. It was the most beautiful thing! I stopped and stared at them for a minute and when Abbey noticed me there she said so proudly "Abbey blow bulles à Michael!" and went right back to playing with him. Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky!?! I love my life!

The beginning of the end...

of diapers that is! YAY! I was nervous to actually write this earlier for fear of jinxing it! We've had four days of no accidents, only underwear for naps and dry diapers in the morning! I'm so excited! Today was a big test! We went to the park on the Base with my friend Mary and her two kids (cutest kids and so well behaved) in only Dora and Bob underwear. THEN we went to the Superstore/Loblaws to do groceries... again only in Dora and Bob and NO ACCIDENTS! I had the potty in the back on the SUV just in case they needed to use it (good idea Mary) but they didn't. I have to admit as I was walking into the store I had visions of myself running out with a wet child but thankfully I didn't have to. I'm sure it's not 100% done deal yet but four days is a pretty good start! I'm one proud Maman! :-)

What a day!

Steve left for Montreal yesterday for a friends Bachelor Party! They are all meeting in Montreal and attending the Grand Prix races then are off to Mont Tremblant for a few days of golfing! Some Bachelor Party eh?!? What happened to just good old fashion strippers???
Anyway, I'm really only jealous of the fact that I'm not there to shop because there is no shopping like shopping in Quebec! It's the best!

When I got home from school today, Barb (our caregiver) asked me how my day went...well the poor woman had to endure a 20 minute explanation of my crazy afternoon. I had actually been looking forward to the afternoon. After all, it was supposed to be an easy one because we were attending the play Alice in Wonderland put on by our drama students. My friends Pam, Sarah, Lynn and Tracy have spent 2 morning a week, every week since the beginning of the school year rehearsing this play. It's a big deal and their productions are always amazing. So...in I walk with my class. Not two minutes in Spencer pukes....my first thought was "must get him out of gym" (have I mentioned there are 300 other students, plus proud parents and community members there ugh!). So as I'm trying to usher him out discreetly and as quickly as possible before the play starts. Guess what?... he pukes again...this time I feel the splatter of it on my bare legs...AHHHHHHHH!!!! Now I can feel 400 pairs of eyes staring me down...."I must stay calm" is all I was thinking. I was heading out the side door of the gym near the boys change room and bluugh... puke #3! Could this be get any worse? The funniest thing is my friend Sarah who was standing by the door waiting for the cue to start says "Chantal, there are going to be actors coming through here any minute." So sympathetic she was eh?!? ha!ha! I felt soooooo bad but what could I do! Anyway, I run to the office to track down the custodian and to call Spencer's Mom and I'm gagging the entire time. I have the weakest stomach. Poor little guy...I just felt so bad for him...but I also felt bad for my barfy legs. I washed them thoroughly and used Donna's hand sanitizer all over them too. The office saves the day!
Wait there's more...
Before dismissal I take my class out for D.P.A. and my little David gets stung by a mystery bug outside. He is hysterical and is breaking out in welts. OMG! I run to the office (they make all things better!) and they give him ice to keep the swelling down. I'm thinking "has he been stung by a bee/wasp before?" "Could he be going anaphalactic?" Luckily, I just got off the phone with his Mom and he is fine! but it was stressful nonetheless.
So that was my eventful day! The crazy life of a teacher!

On a more positive note, I'm really enjoying my time alone with the babies (I'll have to stop calling them that at some point but I'm not quite ready yet!). They are just SO much fun! I am getting along just fine in the kitchen (okay I've had a little help!) Tonight we had spaghetti with grand-maman's sauce (thanks Mom!) and tomorrow Steve made us a supper to be reheated...what a man! I foresee a pizza in the future as well. I'll keep you posted.
I'm heading downstairs for a Coke and Wunderbar! :-)

Christmas Cards in June?

Yes!!! Christmas cards in June! Last year I made my own Christmas cards and although I loved the way they turned out...I hated the rush of making them amidst the craziness of Christmas preparation. So a few of my friends and I decided to get Jill (card making goddess!) to hook us up with some creative ideas (backed up by Stampin' Up!) for X-mas cards... well tonight was our first Christmas card night. I hosted the first one and we made 5 amazing cards using...get this purple and blue...but it totally worked!!! Very cool! I can't wait to see what else we'll be creating!

Here's the group...minus me (I'm taking the picture) and Leslie (who was teaching pre-natal tonight).We meet again in July and every month until Christmas (except August) so that by the time December rolls around we'll have a whole collection of cards to send out. How easy is that!

Here's the first card we made...who would have thought purple and blue would make a good Christmas card?!? But I LOVE IT!

Apple Blossom!

It's the Apple Blossom Festival here in the beautiful Annapolis Valley! Check out the link http://www.appleblossom.com/ All of my friends are getting drunk celebrating the event as I write this post! I am home still potty training! Where is the justice in that?!? To be honest...I wouldn't trade it for the world! Today was a very successful potty day! No accidents! They both woke up dry and went pee before heading downstairs to make pancakes. We only had one diaper today and it was during nap time. Not bad eh?!?

Our house seems to be the place to hang out for all the neighbourhood kids (those grandparents of ours buy the best toys!!!) and we were all outside playing today....Abbey came to tell me she had to use the washroom...so off we go inside and sure enough she has a little pee. I give her her reward and she runs back outside to tell all the boys "Abbey pipi pot!" "Abbey pipi pot!" it was too funny! They are English so they had no clue what she was saying but she was so proud to share the news nonetheless!
Could I possibly love them anymore....the answer to that NO WAY!!!
Here's another cute "potty" picture...are you all getting sick of them yet?

Well the big Sens game is about to begin...the first Stanley Cup playoff game to be played in Ottawa since 1927 (or something like that...I just overheard it on SportsDesk lol!) They are about to start the National Anthems...it always gives me chills when they let the crowd sing. It's going to be a loud one tonight! I can't wait! GO SENS GO!!!

Potty Training Boot Camp!

We are in a full fledged war against diapers!!! Who knew it would be this hard? I swear you need four people to train 2 kids (at the same time no less)! The picture below was taken Friday night at 9:15 (gasp!). Steve was out playing poker and I had been watching the kids like a hawk on pee patrol. Abbey went pee at around 7:30 in the potty (yay Abigail!) and Michael hadn't gone since he woke up from his nap at like 3:30 so there was no way I was putting him to bed without him having peed in the pot. Well FINALLY at 9:15 we were successful! I don't know who was being more stubborn Maman or Michael but it all worked out. The crazy thing of it all is they actually don't mind sitting on the potty. They'd sit there for hours I'm sure. We play Potty Basketball, Potty Hockey, we read books, etc. Michael sat on the pot so long tonight that I think he'll wake up tomorrow with the ring still around his bum hee!hee! Anyway, Donna says not to worry and that the kids will train themselves but at the rate we're going they'll be going to their high school graduation in Pull-Ups! lol!

Hopefully I'll have some progress to report shortly! Keep your fingers crossed!