*knock knock* Are you there?

and the answer is yes! I'm here! It seems life has caught up with me.. again.

Just this week was our week from crazytown. With my daycare boy for 3 days, the boys having school for only 4 days, and with things happening each day I was out and about and all over! Thankfully my Aqua fit, husband's help and brother's help have kept me sane for a while now.

I'll give you an "update" from Thursday.

In the morning my daycare boy showed up at 7am (normal) and by 7:30am he was in his high chair and Kyler and I were out the door. **For those of you who think I just left the daycare boy in his high chair alone ^My Mother^ I didn't. My brother is living with us and watched the daycare boy and Quinton** This is after quickly packing lunches, doing homework and getting bags ready to go to school. K and I were off to see the dentist. This was K's last polishing down and we managed to do a great job with it. No tears! Instead we used headphones. Kyler was allowed to listen to his music as loud as he wanted while sitting in the dentist chair.

We went home and I ran in the house and Jack took Kyler and Quinton to school. By the time he got home I had load #2 in the laundry, the boys suitcase upstairs, daycare boy changed and ready for the day, and my suitcase upstairs and ready to go. I started my "don't forget this" bag of things to take home and began packing the boys for our weekend.

Jack went and picked up Quinton for me while I fed the little boy. Quinton and the daycare boy watched a movie while I got some more laundry, packing and organizing done. I put the little boy down for a nap and Quinton on the couch to "rest". I got the rest of our packing done and ready by the door and then it was time to get the daycare boy up. He was changed and his laundry from our house was in the washer before his dad got there. We packed him up and headed him out the door.

Quinton got his swimming stuff on and Jack, Q and I headed out the door. We drove to school and I went in quick and got Kyler. I ended up giving some "free Doula advice" to the secretary who is expecting in the spring but is sick right now. Then off we went to swimming lessons. I got the boys inside, and talked to Simon about swimming lessons. Then on my way out talked to all the parents of the people we do our swimming sessions with.

I got home and picked up my phone I realized I had forgotten and responded to Jack's questions about some swimming lessons stuff. Then I walked down to school.

I talked to Mr. Brown about how Q was doing. We went over his sheet, talked about how he was doing (great), what he has improved on (his picture drawing skills), and what he can work on in the future (printing his name without help from a name card).

But really... after a while with doing these interviews (this is the 6th time I've done interviews with Mr. Brown) the conversation is quick and easy and we are done before my time is up. This time Mr. Brown and I went over different apps on our phone and different games we have, how they work and what is fun for the kids. Eventually I realized I was into another students time block but I guess they didn't show! I went down to K's classroom and talked to Mrs. B. (no they are not related) I was able to find a time with her at 4:30pm instead of 6:15pm I had on my forms with her. So I trekked back down to Mr. Browns room and visited with them (being Mr. Brown and Mrs. F - the EA) for a while. Mrs. B came down about 5 minutes later and said her next person didn't show up and asked if I wanted to start now! HECK YES!

We talked about how K's report card was (great! alot of B+'s 2 A+s and 1 C in writing), what he can improve on (his writing), what he need help on (reading and understanding what the story was about) and a few more things. It was a good visit and I got a quick preview of what is happening in their class for the next little while. That I am very excited about! Kyler will be learning about money, time and adding and subtracting. I am very excited for this and we already have our "money bag" ready to go at home.

I went home from the interviews and my brother had already started the wash (thank you Jack!). I got the boys fed and ready to go to my parents house. I began to load the car and hubby came home. He fixed a few things quickly at our house for the websites we host and helped load the car and off we went!

We drove out of Toronto around 6:30/7pm. The drive was nice and easy and fast! We made a stop at Jack's old house for some mail and then back on the road to Sarnia. We got the car unloaded and the kids in the house. They were sugared up and off to bed by 11:30pm. Then all of us went to bed.

What a day hey?

Friday morning Q woke Papa up by walking into his room and saying "Papa, I can't sleep a whole night, I can only sleep a half a night". So downstairs went Papa and Quinton around 5am or so. Papa stayed with Q until he had to go to work and then Nana was up. I got up shortly after and planned on doing "nothing" all day. Which turned into.. driving to Strathroy and dropping off K's Columbia winter coat. Thank goodness for lifetime warranties. They are going to replace the zipper on the coat and ship it to me in Toronto! I got back into Sarnia around 10:30am and picked up Nana, Jack and Kyler and we headed to TRU (Toys R Us). Nana was doing her pick up for the weekend. Kyler got a HUGE Star Wars Lego ship and Quinton put in his order for a Batman Lego. Which he got as well. We then went and found a new polo for Kyler so he can wear more ties to school (his new thing) and then to another kids clothing store to find him a new hoodie and a few long sleeve shirts to keep him warmer at school.

We got home in time for Nana to have a nap. That sounded like SUCH a good idea so I went off as well. I got up shortly after 3:30pm and got ready for scrapbooking. I went to the store and did their Friday Night Crop. It was so nice to see everyone again. I made 2 great layouts and then headed home.

Saturday morning we went out for breakfast with Papa and his friends. That was great. I love seeing them all and it was perfect timing as one of the couples is heading to the USA for a few weeks of warmth! So it was good to see them before they were out for a while. We visited for about 2 hours. The boys did great for that long. I'm so proud of them. We then went out to run around a bit. We stopped at Staples, and another store then were back at the house. Just in time to drop off Arnold and the boys, get something to snack on and head out to follow Papa.

He had to drop his car off somewhere to get fixed so I followed him out and then came home with Dad. When he got out of the car Arnold got in. We had a meeting at LI about some website stuff and advertising ideas. Then back home and turn around again and go out with Mom and Jack to get Jack some new clothes for his new job :)

Mom had also found a few gift cards in a purse in the basement before she threw it away and one GC was for Chapters for 30.00 (I got a new cover for my Kindle) and for Carol Baker Vasage(sp) for 50.00 (I got some cover-up). What fun shopping with someone else's money!!

We went home and Nana had a nap while we waited for our dinner guests. My childhood friend Jess and her husband Mike came to have supper and visit. After they left we watched a movie then off to bed.

Our "fun" Sunday....

We woke up to Quinton at my parents door to their bedroom going "Papa! We have a big emergency" and since Q says this alot for random things, no one really thought anything of it. Then we hear mom yell up the stairs, "Get your dad, the basement is flooded!" Oh yeah.. 4 sleepy adults jumped out of bed. Arnold was down the stairs before he had his glasses on (someone grabbed them for him) and we were all in the basement in no time flat. The hot water heater pressure release valve was leaking... and it looked like all night long! It was all over the laundry/work room, the main hallway and into the main area there. It was alot of clean up. We called Grandma and Grandpa and asked for their shop vac that works for water as well and while Jack was heading over in his PJ's to get that I was on my hands and knees using our little spot bot on the manual setting to get as much out of the carpet as I could. Dad, Arnold and Mom were emptying the work room of everything in the way and trying to stop the water as soon as possible. With a few hours of getting the water out of the carpet, the water shut off and things moved around to dry we finally had a few moments to catch our breaths! Dad and Arnold went off to the store to get/find a new water heater, Jack was off working on his training for his new job and the boys ended up outside to play. Mom and I worked on a few things for the big parties we have coming up in our lives in the next little while.

What a crazy crazy day! Needless to say at 9:30pm, to sit down and write this blog post was kinda relaxing :)

So Am I here? Yes! Just crazy busy!

What a sick month!

I would never, and I mean EVER wish this past month on anyone. From Quinton having the flu the first few days into Jan and now everyone sick with a cold. This is not fun, at all. EVER.

I hate every minute of it.

Lets just say, right now it's 10:45pm and I'm sitting up with Quinton who has a cold, watching a movie after putting Vicks VapoRub on his chest, neck, back and feet. Yes feet. I don't know why but it works.

It's going to be a rough weekend while he fights this one off. I hate it when my little man is sick. It's so hard. I hate it when any of my men are sick.

Kyler had a sick day this week where he stayed home and did nothing all day just so we could help him get better. It seems to have worked.

And as Jack would say, they are getting their appetite back! These kids ate me out of house and home today! Even after 2+ servings of a pasta dish they were still hungry.

Anyway... if you can spare a prayer for our kids we would really enjoy it. It would help them out so much. And if you don't mind including me that would be great. I'm sick as well and I'm not sure how they deal with all this "pain" in my head/throat.

Happy January! I can't wait until February, we *must* get better by then!

Happy Movie Day!

Today is our "movie day". It could have been yesterday with all the movies we watched, but it's today.

Kyler is at the community centre again this week. He had alot of fun hanging out with friends and this week Thursday is their movie day. So off he went this morning. We had a dentist appointment this morning so he went over right after.

I'm watching the little girl across the road today (the big girl is at the movies with Kyler) so we are going to watch a movie here as well.

Right now the kids are playing in the basement and we just finished snack time. In a few hours they are going to come up and watch a movie, have hot chocolate, popcorn, and lunch (maybe lunch first?).

I'm excited to have something "fun" to do with the kids.

So, to all of you at home, chilling out and doing nothing, pop in a movie and enjoy Movie Day with us!

Happy National Tinfoil Day!!

Happy National Tinfoil Day! Well, a late Tinfoil day! However I am 1 day earlier than last years post!

On Jan 1st it is National Tinfoil Day in our house, and my parents. Here's the link to last year's National Tinfoil Day if you want to read more about it:

2011's National Tinfoil Day

This year we didn't quite get it on Jan 1st. We had to get the kids back into a routine of going to bed EARLY. So instead we did it last night at supper time. The kids were very excited. Check out the photos:

Good Bye 2011 and Welcome 2012

Happy New Year Readers!

I'm very excited to be starting a new year of blogging. This past November we "celebrated" this blog being open for 2 years now!

This year our family is changing. We are excited to see how God makes our lives different every day and how we adapt to it. It's one of the most wonderful things we can do, change and be more like how Christ wants us to.

Last year was commonly known as "The year from Hell" as my parents say. Along with health issues, losses of jobs, changes in life situations and just the wonderful day to day stress it really felt like it.

This year we have new things coming on, new changes and so much to look forward too.

Right now I have to remind myself that even though the wii is going on in the basement at the same time as Lego is being played with it is not my kids. Arnold is playing on the wii and Jack is playing with Lego. Ahhh the joys of having kids toys out again.

As for plans this year. I have a few personal ones, losing 30 pounds by the time I turn 30, being to stick to our budget better, eat dinner at the table every night, plan out about 104 to 110 new meals next year, do one new picture a week for my blog, get passports ready for the whole family and keep exercising. I also plan on getting us on a few vacations/stay-cations, being more active as a family, and keeping the house clean!

Who knows of any of that will happen, but as most people say, when a new year comes it's full of possibilities!

Merry Christmas!!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas this year. We were so blessed and spoiled it was nuts! I kept feeling like we needed to load it all in the car and go as fast as possible. You know that commercial for IKEA where the wife is leaving the store yelling to her husband "star the car! Start the CAR!" like she robbed the place? That's how it felt. I can't get over the wonderful gifts and love shared to us from family and friends. Thanks!

We are now in recovery mode for a week or so. We have to re-find our house, get the stuff organized that we were given and figure out what we want to bless others with when the Canadian Diabetes association comes by to pick up our donations.

Anyway... if I miss you guys this year before this weekend. Have a FANTASTIC new years! We are very excited to see what it brings for our family and friends.

New Food Fridays #104 ~ Broccoli Chicken Potato Parmesan

Made: December 22nd 2011

From: CRC 54

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pound of small red potatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 can of condensed broccoli cheese soup
1/2 cup of milk
1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
2 cups of fresh or frozen broccoli florets
1 package of refrigerated cooked chicken breast strips
1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

1 - Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the potatoes. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2 - Stir the soup, milk, garlic powder, broccoli and chicken in the skillet. Add the cheese and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender

Miranda's Mix Ups - I didn't have broccoli CHEESE soup. So I used one can of broccoli soup and one can of cheddar cheese soup. It was so yummy!! I also didn't use vegetable oil, I had EVOO. And I used chicken that I cooked and sliced up into small bits. It was SO yummy!