30 Days of Blogging – Day 30 – A Dream for the Future

Well this is kind of like the last one but more generally and big-picture …

I hope to stay on the path we’re on now. Would there be some things I’d like to change? Yes. There are some relationships I’d like to step back from in my world right now, and others I’d like to repair. There are times of great busy-ness and stress, and times of ennui/boredom. There are times I wish we could travel more, have a nicer car, live in a bigger house, like almost everyone.

But then I remember – where a year ago we had one child, we now have two. Where three years ago we were renting an apartment, we now own our own home, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a basement, a yard. Where a matter of months ago I had no real job, I now have three. Three very different jobs, all of which both challenge and thrill me to no end. I do have a great family, wonderful friends, and all those things in the first paragraph? We’re working towards most of them, and those we aren’t working towards are really small things that we can more than get by without.

We are currently living a version of, and moving steadily closer to the complete version of, the life I always wanted. A husband, a home, a job I love, healthy children, and the ability to do fun and adventurous things on a fairly regular basis. While I might ask for more of the same, or for the same to be a bit smoother and easier – I really wouldn’t change a thing at its core. XO

30 Days of Blogging – Day 29 – Hopes Dreams and Plans for the Next 365

1. First and foremost is to maintain the positive aspects of our status quo here, which is for the most part wonderful. We have a happy, healthy little family in which I am a wife and mother, we have a lovely extended network of family and friends, and I just hope for those wonderful relationships to be maintained; everyone to be in good health, happiness, etc. I know that can’t be perfectly possible all of the time, but we can try our damnedest. Especially when it comes to my two little boys, who are so happy and content and I intend to keep them that way.
2. On a similar note, finalize Little J’s adoption.
3. Get my full driver’s license (in Ontario we have graduated licensing; I have my second stage license of 3; I’m good enough at this point to go for my full license I just haven’t bothered because we’ve been busy, and it doesn’t afford me that many new privileges; but it’s getting to be about time, if this license expires I need to re-test to keep it, and I’ve already done that once so I might as well take that test to get my full license and not worry about it again until I’m 80).
4. Get a teaching contract that meshes well and allows me to keep my job as youth pastor at my church, as right now I’m enjoying both callings immensely.
5. Travel next summer; we agreed after Walt Disney World that even if it’s just a few days to somewhere inexpensive (local camping or whatever), we need to take the time to do at least a little something vacationy each year. We’re hoping/dreaming this year for either the Jersey Shore where I used to vacation all the time as a little girl, or Prince Edward Island, where I’ve never been. Both incredibly kid friendly, with beautiful beaches and comfy accomodations.
6. Do some of our more urgent home improvements – we have an ancient stove and dryer I’d like to replace, we have some paint that’s chipped since we’ve moved in that I want retouched, our powder room sink is all rusted, etc. Our garden has also gone to weed again and I’d like to fix that.
7. Sign up for SOMETHING as a family – whether it’s art classes with Ari, swimming lessons with Little Tyke, or whatever, I want to get some more structured activities into our days which so often degenerate into ‘where do the kids play today, the living room or the park out back?’. That’s fine for now and no one’s complaining, but I think the opportunity to meet other kids and to get out of our little zone would be good for everyone.
8. Be consistent in my plan for weightloss, and actually, y’know, lose weight.
9. On a related note – it is my goal by next spring to run a 5K race. I don’t care how fast my time is or how long it takes me, I just want to be able to say I can run 5km.
10. Actually complete a writing project that is longer/more involved than a blog entry. 🙂

30 Days of Blogging – Day 28 – What’s Inside My Purse

My purse right now is ridiculous and really should be labelled ‘what’s inside my purseS’ because I have a ‘Mommy’s working out of the house’ today purse, and a ‘Mommy’s not working today’ purse. My ‘Mommy’s working today’ purse includes a bunch of church related materials, my day planner, makeup, a hairbrush and some backup ‘oh crap the person I’m replacing didn’t leave me enough to do’ substitute teacher activities.

My ‘Mommy isn’t working today’ purse also includes a hairbrush, diapers, toys, non-perishable snacks (think goldfish), makeup, diaper wipes, hand sanitizer, vaseline, and a bunch of random paper (receipts, junk mail) that I toss in there and haven’t gone through.

My wallet and whatever book I’m reading for the day go back and forth between my purses as needed.

30 Days of Blogging – Day 27 – My Worst Habit

Eating. Without a doubt it is eating. I have a sweets and fast food weakness, and am currently overweight to a very unfortunate degree. I am beginning to work on this in various ways that I would rather keep personal at the time being, but it is easily the scourge of my life.

Other than that it’s your run of the mill bad habit stuff; don’t always put everything away/clean as I go; I’m a procrastinator; I can run late. But ‘worst habit’? Food, by a mile.

30 Days of Blogging – Day 26 – My Week In Great Detail

I’ll recount in as much detail as I have in my head … hmmm.

Monday I don’t remember at all. A bunch of housework, marking, church-related stuff, general puttering.

Tuesday I went to the library in the morning to actually do some marking (when I say I ‘marked’ Monday I really meant I sat at my computer with some schoolwork open while tending to babies and other stuff – I have learned this week I need to leave the house to do work). In the afternoon myself and the men went stroller shopping unsuccessfully. Had dinner out en famille, came home, watched some West Wing, went to bed.

Wednesday Little Tyke had a speech therapy appointment and I had a staff meeting at church. We successfully bought a double stroller and ran some errands in the evening before going home.

Thursday Little J and I hung out at home while Ari and LT went for a run – we went out to the movies (Despicable Me) in the afternoon, and finished up The West Wing in the evening. I also began painting (well really, colouring using paints – it’s already drawn) a picture to hang in LT’s new ‘big boy’ room.

Friday I substitute taught for the day, before coming home to spend the evening with my boys; we were going to go to the park but it was a bit damp and chilly so we played inside. Saturday was lazy and other than running a few errands and taking Little Tyke for a walk, reading a book and starting ‘One Fine Day’, it was pretty quiet family time.

Today is described pretty well in my last post. 🙂

30 Days of Blogging – Day 24 – Where I Live

I’m not going to post a photo of my house here – just call me paranoid, I know that’s probably silly – but suffice to say this: I live in a modest but comfy 3 bedroom townhouse in the South end of Ottawa. 🙂

30 Days of Blogging – Day 23 – A Youtube Video

I’m going to put two up as I’ve been on a bit of a kick again of how cool Sesame Street is! Something for everyone adults included. Video 1 is their parody of True Blood (for reals – True Mud). Video number two is Katy Perry’s appearance with Elmo, which unfortunately won’t make the actual show due to her outfit being too revealing for some. Sigh. Nonetheless – really cute and I’ve enjoyed these videos the last couple of days. 🙂

30 Days of Blogging – Day 22 – A Website

I’m going to put a few here I use daily.

http://www.facebook.com (must I explain this one? really?)
http://www.perezhilton.com (yes, because I am a celeb gossip fiend)
http://www.prowrestling.net (ditto, re. pro wrestling)
http://www.slate.com (for me, because I’m a political junkie – not so much one? At least check out Dear Prudence, which is by far my favourite advice column ever in history)
http://www.cnn.com (straight up news, with a slap on the wrist to me for not using a Canadian news site)

30 Days of Blogging – Day 21 – A Recipe

I’m going to go with an easy and an old favourite from the Kraft kitchen – I have other/better recipes both in terms of taste, health and all kinds of things – but this is a great one for busy families on the go and my brother and I always enjoyed it as kids.

Kraft Dinner Lasagna recipe – CLICK HERE

NOTE: This recipe recommends white cheddar KD; but you can use original just as well. That’s what we used ‘back in the day’.

Another good, quick and easy one on the same vein – CLICK HERE for the recipe for Spaghetti Pie.

30 Days of Blogging – Day 20 – A Hobby of Mine

Too many …

Writing (I include blogging here)
Theatre
Movies
Solo sports (walking, swimming, skating)
Needlepoint
An unfortunate amount of TV (especially wrestling and Y&R)
An equally unfortunate amount of video gaming (Legend of Zelda, the Sims, etc.)
Travel (and I want to do more)

Is parenting a hobby? If so I’ll include it here and at the top of the list. But ‘hobby’ just doesn’t seem to do it – calling, life’s work, job, any of those things seem to suit that particular role I play better. But I didn’t want anyone to think I just left something so intrinsic to my being off the list. Because those two beautiful boys eclipse and overshadow anything I put up there (especially my lovely electronic time killers lol).