Mardi Gras

Went scrapbooking at the Old O on the weekend. I have started with digital scrapbooking through a great program through Creative Memories. I really enjoyed using it, you can add papers, use your pictures as background...it's pretty cool. There was a Mardi Gras theme so Nicole, Reta and Patti got all decked out...here's some pictures...Nicole is in the red, Patti is in the white with the big feather coming out of her head and Reta is the Jestor. What a bunch of nuts I hang out with...













Yesterday was Connor's hockey team's last home game...they won 2-1 and it was a hard fought game, they were getting quite choppy at the end and one guy hit Connor quite hard from behind...but Connor sucked it up and got off the ice...we could see him at the side of the bench walking it off. It's hard as an aunt to watch that happen, cannot imagine as a parent...

Breath Right--Amended

So Mike picked up some of those Breath Right strips because he has a slight tendancy to snore (or as Graham says...sound like a lawn mower) and let me tell you...they work!!!!! Mike told me not to blog about them but when have I ever listened?? And why not spread the joy!! I highly recommend these...Elysia ran downstairs and said "mom, dad's asleep and I don't hear him", I did on occassion check to make sure he was still alive because he was so quiet, just rolled over and poked him in the back until he moved. I would think it would provide him with a better sleep. Well done, my husband!!

Had to pickup Graham yesterday at school, his ear was sore...basically he has "swimmer's ear" from laying in the bathtub too long. He will lay in there for an hour with his head under water...oh yeah, there's goggles involved too. The infection is just in the canal and not the ear drum so we have to put in ear drops. I told him he had to lay with his ear up for a minute after the drops go in and he said "mom, if I can lay in the heart machine for 45 minutes with my hands over my head and not move, I think I can handle this..."

Kaylie Turns 10!!

Today my beautiful niece, Kaylie, turned 10 years old...that's double digits!!



I remember the day she was born, I was working and ran down to the hospital at lunch time with a polaroid to see my new niece and take some pictures back. I wish she was closer so I could give her a big hug...HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAYLIE!!

Spring is Arriving!!

I have crocuses popping through in the garden...this picture is not from my yard, I have no flowers yet but it's a preview. Last year when we first moved into the house, everything that came up in the garden was a surprise. Unfortunately there was no spring bulbs planted so last fall, I may have gone a little overboard with tulips and crocuses...so I am anxious to see what comes up...that's the true sign of spring for me!

Today's the Day!!

I know I've said it before but today is really the day I am winning the lotto, this working for a living thing sucks!!

Graham said he wasn't feeling well this morning and I was almost hoping for some vomit (that's my rule, no vomit, no stay home) but I'm at work so what does that tell you. Of course, once he found out daddy was still home, he hopped out of bed. I'm starting to get a complex. Poor Elysia her finger is still sore but she says she wants to play soccer tomorrow, they are almost done. We received the newsletter about Graham's baseball for the summer, they have changed some things so there is no stealing anymore at his level and he was upset because he's been waiting his "whole life" to steal bases in baseball.

Gonna see some of the Russel Metals ladies this weekend at the scrapbook event at the Old O so I am looking forward to that...

Back to School

Poor little kiddies had to go back to school today. 9 days off, 3 days school, 5 days off...poor little things. And judging by the mood my son was in this morning, the teacher can have him, of course, he will be sweet as pie for her.

If you think you are having a bad day, check out this poor cat! He has the same look Graham had this morning.

Mike and I went for a walk last night, it was sure nice out. I joked that the neighbors were going to wonder who he was...

Gotta Work

Well, still haven't won the lotto, so I am here again!

Had a lovely weekend. Friday we had the egg hunt and pot luck dinner at the Coldbrook Hall. We had a great time! Towards the end of the evening the ladies sat at one table and complained about the men and the men huddled around the cooler and complained about the women (and apparently how much we spend on hair cuts). Anyway, it was alot of fun.

Yesterday we headed to Grandma's house for supper. Good food and fun again. I think we wore poor little Sofie out, maybe Mike too, he was napping on the couch...you know what a turkey dinner can do to you!

Happy Easter!!

It's Easter morning! Graham had the ears eaten off his bunny before I even got out of bed. Elysia was up before nine and then they played together without fighting...it's a true Easter Miracle!

Our subdivision had an Easter Egg hunt on Friday. I didn't understand all the rules and put Graham's name on his eggs, which really didn't matter but I had put a pair of socks in two eggs, pair of socks would have been okay but it was one sock in each egg, not exciting-anyway, we managed to find the socks and change them for candy filled eggs.

Before the hunt there was a sing along for the kids...we have all discovered that everyone only knows the first chorus of Peter Cottontail and nothing else, so the singalong was short and sweet.

The kids, Mike and I had decorated some eggs last weekend, we got a little artistic with them towards the end and then we could put some metallic flakes on them as well...here's some pictures of our talents.









This is a picture of what Elysia did to her finger this week playing basket ball...no it wasn't dipped in the egg dye, it's bruised...it looks much better than it did, it was quite swollen...think it was sprained pretty good.

Mike is working today and a few people called in "sick" on Easter Sunday...hmm...little suspicious. Mike had quite the philisophical religious discussion with Graham last night who was asking about the true meaning of Easter.

Dance Like No One is Watching!

I know I do that...I'm a much better dancer when I think no is watching!! But if my daughter is watching, it's just fun, because she is mortified!

No school for the kiddies today because of the freezing rain. My step were slippery when I came out of the house but the roads seemed fine, even all the way to Booneyville where I work.

Graham starts his new dose of medicine tonight, wonder if the "Travelling Wilberry" will end up in our room through the night...we'll see.

Tomorrow our subdivision is having an egg hunt and a pot luck supper, these people are great. Mike is making his cabbage rolls, I don't think he had much choice as they were requested (personally I loooooove them). Although if Colette is reading this, tell your mother, hers are still better!!

Say What You Want

Thought this one was cute...say what you want whether they want to hear it or not!

Poor Elysia, she sprained her finger playing basketball yesterday, she did a good job too, it's pretty swollen and purple...but it's amazing what one of those elastic type wraps can do...

Graham had nightmares again last night, he ended up in bed with me this morning. Mike had already left for work (he had some breakfast thing so he was gone before 5) so Graham just moved into that side of the bed.

I have been trying to keep up with the laundry this week or as I like to call it "Mt Washmore"...and I helped Graham shovel (I mean clean) out his room...disgusting! I want the house clean before the weekend, because it's a long one and I want to enjoy it..usually I enjoy it and just have a messy house.

Don't Mess with Me!

I love this picture...kind of a Don't Mess with Me theme!!

Back to the grind today...woohoo...my desk is messier than I like so what I don't get done today goes in the garbage...haha...just kidding...I'll burn it!

Kiddies went back to school yesterday...hehe...I don't think they missed it too much. Elysia took vegie sushi to try for lunch...yeah...not so much, I give her credit for trying it but she didn't like it. One of the guys in the class took a big finger full of wasabi...he paid the price for that.

PS Did I mention my husband, Mike!?

Weekend

Fairly uneventful...

Graham had soccer Sat morning but he had pulled his "groin" the day before golfing with Connor (so he said) and was apparently ready for amputation...finally convinced him that exercise would help it and that he should at least go and do the warm up at soccer. I told him if it was that sore...maybe he shouldn't be trying to score any goals at soccer...he couldn't understand that part. After the warm up at soccer, he looked up and gave me the thumbs up sign that a miracle had occured and he was feeling better...amazing!!

We babysat mom's puppy, Sofie yesterday. We took her up to Josee's house. After lunch we kicked Sarah, Connor, Elysia and Graham outside to play, we said for exercise, but really we just wanted the dog to ourselves...she's quite the little character...she has turned us to mush...and she does not like to be ignored.

We took her back and watched Connor's hockey game...he played well but they lost by a goal. It was one of their better games, alot of passing.

PS Did I mention my husband, Mike...

Dodged a Bullet

I guess the jet stream has pushed that storm off NS...the three lows will come together off shore and we will only get wind, we are going to miss the snow...haven't had the heart to tell Elysia yet, she wanted no school for Monday.

Elysia had a soccer game last night, they had no subs, her little cheeks were red when she was done, she had a really good game though, really playing the wings more and had about 5 or 6 shots on net...the goal is coming.

When I left the house this morning, Mike and Graham were having a playstation tournament (Elysia, of course was still curled up in bed...ah to be a teenager again). Jane is coming by the house to take Graham to the movie with her kids and then back to Liz's house to play.

Josee and the kids are back from their winter vacation so maybe we will pop by later to see them...

Take a Stand

Take a stand for what you believe!!!

Thought this was kind of cute...

just another day

Well, I haven't checked my lotto ticket so there is still hope!!

Apparently this weekend we have three separate lows that will come together over NS and hammer us...guess the shoveling is not over yet...of course, Elysia's first comment is "do you think there will be school on Monday"...hello...you just had a week off.

Picked the kiddies up from Grandma's house last night, they had a nice visit with her and wore her little puppy out. Poor Sofie had a "willnot" problem, she did a little number two last night and it got stuck in her fur...you know poop that "will not" come off. My fussy daughter, Elysia, gave her a bath and cleaned the poop off...yes, I said Elysia. Are you shocked?! I know I certainly was, this girl doesn't like to clean up after herself let alone sh*& off a dog.

Elysia didn't end up going to Halifax this March Break, with the storm coming I don't know when I would be able to get her...maybe in another week or two.

Poor Graham and his dreams, he's not sleeping well, I can hear him talking in his sleep in my room. Twice this morning I thought he was awake because I could hear him talking so I went down to take a peak and he was still asleep mumbling.

PS Did I mention my husband, Mike...

Lotto

I have decided that tonight I am winning the lotto!!

My mother has kidnapped my children and I told her I am not paying the ransom for two days...haha...they are having fun, mom said they wore her little dog out yesterday. I will pick them up tonight after work, I am sure they will be sufficiently spoiled by then. Mom gave Elysia and her friend her bed so they could watch tv...Graham said he slept in the "crown suite" downstairs. I know he's happy the girls are still sleeping because he gets Grandma and Sofie to himself...and we all know how much he hates attention...not!!

Mike and I had a quiet dinner at the pub, the house is too quiet without them though.

Kids

The kiddies are heading to Grandma's tonight...I'm sure they will leave Grandma's new puppy alone...not!!

Mike and I are going out tonight, movie, dinner, don't care, just out! We could stay home and do a really good cleaning on the house...hahahahahahahahaha! I make myself laugh!

Poor Graham had nightmares again last night, he's been having a few, it's a side effect of his new medicine and we do have one more increase in dose to deal with but it may have to wait a while. Poor little man, he came in the room this morning and he was shaking and his little heart was pounding...it's okay, it's allowed to pound once in a while.

Josee and the kids arrived at SugarLoaf yesterday, I'm sure they will have fun, cannot wait to see the pictures, if she actually blogs, other people may see them too. Finally talked to Tracey last night. Her girls were both in soccer tournaments on the weekend, 8 games in two days, I think they are soccered out!

Invasion

My house has been invaded...Elysia's friend, Shayla is down from Halifax for a few days and then Elysia is heading there. Graham had his friend Connor for the night, they are having a playstation tournament. Some days, I'm not so upset to be working...

Talked to my father in Ottawa last night, they had about 60 cms of snow this weekend...better them than us...sorry, dad.

Josee and the kiddies have headed off to Sugar Loaf with friends...jealous...who me??

My mother is taking my kids tomorrow night, so Mike and I may go and see a movie that does not have animation or lots of kids in it...cannot wait!

Friday

Thank goodness...seemed like a looooong week!

Have a dentist appt today, just a cleaning but still--yuck! I hate them digging in my mouth.

No soccer this weekend, must be a March break thing. Heading for a quick visit to Auntie Josee's tonight. Josee is picking up Graham on the way home and then Elysia and I are going after her friend's birthday party.

That's it...not much to say...did I mention my husband, Mike...

Thursday

Only one more day if you don't count today...

Mike has been quite busy with work lately, they are doing more and more functions. This summer is busy as well, lots of weddings (those crazy kids). But we are off in July and going to BC to see Tracey and the girls so I am looking forward to that!

One of the ladies here rolled her SUV last night, thankfully the truck took the worst of it but she's fairly sore and bruised. It was a brand new truck, probably less that a month old, her husband joked there were easier ways for her to deal with the fact that she didn't like the color. Alot of the sideroads were still quite messy last night.

Graham asked me last night that when he is long dead and his body becomes a fossil will someone find the metals that held his chest closed (wire is used to close the breastbone after heart surgery). I don't know if he sits there thinking of this or what?

No School Again!!

The kiddies are home...it wasn't the best drive out to Booneyville but by no means was it was worst I've had.

We are still on Cloud 9 with Graham's good results, doesn't mean that he doesn't have things to watch out for or that there won't be bumps in the road along the way but for right now it's good and we will take that.

My niece Sarah was babysitting Grandma's new puppy, Sofie last night so my kids were quite jealous (quite honestly I was too, she's pretty cute). I am afraid that I have turned into one of those annoying small dog people who treat them like babies...but she's just sooooo cute!!

Something Exciting

Graham's cardiologist called today and when I heard that I was panicked...why was he calling, there must be something wrong?! Actually it was good!! Good news is great.

The cardiologist says that Graham's heart is getting good blood supply and any damage is old damage and there is nothing new. So basically it was a best case scenerio and Graham can continue to play sports. When we told Graham he jumped up and down and now his "dream of playing in the English Premier is still alive". So Graham doesn't need any more visits than he has been having and they will continue his medication because it's not doing any harm. We'll take it!!

I was very emotional when I found out because we have been very up and down over the last few months with this. We don't really know why his function went down a little but it will still be monitored.

Nothing exciting

Nothing exciting to say and I will keep it that way. The most exciting thing we did yesterday was to go and get groceries...woohoo...

Freezing rain coming tonight, the roads could be treacherous in the morning (right, Mike).

Graham complained to his teacher yesterday that his chest felt clogged...basically he thought one of his crackers got stuck like his father's roast beef. I explained to my little drama king that he has to be careful how he words things to his teacher because they automatically assume it's his little ticker...anyway, he was fine once he ate lunch and the cracker moved "into his belly". I think the kid should be in drama.

Elysia wants to head to Halifax for March Break...I told her she's on brother duty and of course, she is thrilled beyond words (not!). I think one of her friends are coming for a visit and then I may let her go towards the end of the week...my friend Jane and her kids will be at her mother's house and she's offered to have Graham over to play with Mitchell...may just take her up on that.

Have a good day and remember, not exciting is good!

Roast Beef

Local Chef chokes on own cooking!! Not exactly a headline we would like to see but it happened.

Mike was doing some "quality control" on Friday...took a pc of the hip of beef to "taste test" it and it got stuck. He was able to breath but since Friday had been unable to eat anything and only drink in small sips...so finally after my gentle persuasion (some may call it nagging) he went to the clinic in Wolfville yesterday and they sent him straight to the hospital. He was put on IV and they gave him some stuff in it to make his esophagus relax...then they gave him nitro to make his vessels dilate...this made him really sick but he had nothing to throw up. I felt bad for him (yes, that's right Mike). He managed to swallow some barium so they could xray him and they could see that there was almost a complete blockage just above his stomach. At that point they told us that he would have to spend the night and they would put a scope down and push the beef through. They said that roast beef and steak are the two worst choking things they see. Anyway long story made short (or is it too late for that), they repeated the IV stuff and the nitro and it went down and he was able to drink and eat last night so they gave us the boot. But he does have to follow up because they said anyone who has had a blockage should be scoped anyway but as an elective procedure...the kids were very upset when I said I had to meet him at the hospital...Graham was crying. I explained to them this morning more of what went on, I don't like to keep things from them or lie to them, Elysia told me she was very worried about him. Although they did get to go Grandma's house and play with little Sofie, so it wasn't a hardship to whole way around.

My freaking nerves...just so my family is aware, I would like to go one week without a hospital visit...keep that in mind please.

Mike told me it wasn't necessary to mention him in my blog today...how long has he known me?!