My Guilty Pleasure

OK. OK. I admit it... I'm addicted to reality TV. It's funny that this was posted as a journaling challenge today because just yesterday I had a funny conversation with my sister about reality TV. There was some commercial for one of the shows that's on now and she said (with great disdain) something like "Who watches that stuff anyway?". I'm sitting there quietly thinking: ME!

I have to admit to watching almost any reality TV that comes on. If you can name it, I've probably seen at least some of it! My favs are probably Big Brother, The Amazing Race and Survivor, but I watch many, many more! They are like train wrecks - you don't want to watch, but somehow you find yourself peeking.

If I were ever to be on one, I think it would have to be The Amazing Race. A friend I met at work, Damyn, and I discussed this ages ago and thought we would make a good team as we balance each other off. He's a little crazier and I'm a little more logical and grounded. I think we would work well under the pressure together and since we spent so many years working together in some stressful situations, we know how the other reacts to things. I LOVE traveling and just think it would be so much fun to be able to have that once in a lifetime opportunity! And hopefully we'd win a leg or two of the race and win trips to be able to enjoy some of those places under more relaxing circumstances!

Oh well, I've admitted it and will most definitely enjoy the season finale of The Bachelor tonight!!

Colleen

Blog Journaling Challenge

On the scrapbooking website I'm always on (2Peas in a Bucket), "burberrygirl" has been posting challenges and I always read then and haven't done any, so this is my first!

1. How did you get into scrapbooking?
I feel like I have pretty much always scrapped in some way, shape or form. I guess I really got into it in a more serious way about 10 years ago when I went to a friend's CM party because she was starting to sell it. I didn't get hugely into it then because I was a university student and couldn't afford it, but once university was over, there was no stopping me!

2. How do you define your style?
I would say my style is fairly simple and quite linear. I like clean lines. I love patterned paper, but it has taken me a long time to feel comfortable using it! I think I'm a balance of a simpler style as well as a little more "current" just because I like trying new things - even if I only do them once. I would say the new things can't be that time consuming though either!

3. Do you like scrapbooking with other people?
I do like scrapping with other people! I started going to CM crops that my friend was hosting. I was able to talk my mum into scrapping with me and she started to come as well! We have also been to two retreats and had a great time and got a lot done.

Aftermy first son was born and I was able to get out of the house for an extended period (when he started taking a bottle), a friend and I also went to a crop at my lss about once a month and that was about the only way I got anything done on his baby book!

4. Do you have friends that scrapbook with you?
I guess I already answered this in the previous question: my mum and one friend! I'm hoping that with my sister going on maternity leave in another couple of weeks that we'll be able to scrapbook together too!

5. Do you ever scrapbook about yourself?
Yes, I'm trying. I have an AMM album that I started a long time ago, but it only has a few pages. I also have a mini book that is about half done and it was based on an idea in the Feb CK of 2005! I think this is important for my kids though!

6. Do you scraplift? If yes/no, why?
I most certainly do! I don't have time to sit for too long and ponder the universe, so I use lots of different things for inpsiration! I also have a lot of pictures to scrap, so I want to get them in albums rather than try and think of something "new" to create!

7. Do you stamp in your scrapbook pages?
I do stamp a bit because I have some of the Making Memories foam stamps for titles and things in my books. I just did a page for a lo as well that used a "Happy Birthday" stamp that I had. This idea was a scraplift from the DW 2006 calendar! (see layout at the top!)

Colleen

Must. Get. Out.

I was having a relaxing morning with the boys and was thinking maybe we would just have a "pj day" and stay at home and relax. I was having my coffee, Kyle was playing on the computer and Nathan was gazing into neverland as I talked to him. Everything seemed so calm and relaxing that there didn't seem to be any need to get everyone dressed and "pile" everyone into the car.

By about 10am though, not only was Kyle starting to get a bit antsy, but so was I! It's so funny because I know how important getting out is for me, but I sometimes forget and am quickly reminded. The fact that I have 2 kids to get ready now rather than one doesn't really make that much difference. Yes, it takes a little longer, but getting out and seeing people and doing something is just as important for me now as it was when I made the promise to myself after I had Kyle about getting out and about.

I got myself dressed and Kyle ready. He was more than anxious to get out! We bundled up Nathan and off we were! We just went up to the drugstore to get a couple of things I needed and it wasn't anything exciting, but it was out of the house! Kyle also got lucky because he asked to go see all the "music" (TVs, stereos, etc) and I happened to see a Wiggles video. Yes, I did cave and get it for him, but he was so excited and it's not like I don't think he'll ever watch it! The question is more like how quickly will I get sick of it! (As a matter of fact he cried and had a little tantrum when I told him it was time to turn it off for his nap!)

Kyle also asked for a "cheese sandwich" (which means a ham and cheese bunwich) when he saw the Subway sign. We stopped and got him his sandwich and he charmed the women in the shop while we were there as usual! He's such a little cutie and so polite that everyone loves him everywhere we go! What a boy! I'm afraid of what'll happen when he a teenager if he's this charming now!

Tomorrow the three of us are going to visit some friends and Kyle is quite excited about being able to play with the other kids his age. Then, on Friday, Grandma is coming out here on the Skytrain to pick up Kyle and he's going to spend the day visiting her and Opa and maybe take a trip up to see Opi since he's been asking about him. Don't know what I'll do with myself! Maybe I'll get some scrapping in while Nathan naps and maybe even get a nap in myself!

As I said, today's trip wasn't an exciting one, but we got out and enjoyed it! It made me feel better just to get dressed and out of the house!
Colleen

Does your face light up?

"When your kids walk in the room, does your face light up?"
- Toni Morrison

I was watching Oprah today and they were talking about guests that had written her about being impacted by someone on her show at some time. I hadn't originally seen the one with Toni Morrison, but what she said made absolute sense and it is something I make an effort (though most of the time I don't need to) to do. The intersting thing too was that the person who'd written the show about her was a biker guy with tattoos and he said he was surprisingly affected by what Toni Morrison had said.

What she was talking about was how important it is for your face to light up when you see your kids. Her comment was something to the effect that it doesn't matter what you say, but also how you show it. It really doesn't take much to make my face light up when I see Kyle simply because he is such a joy and generally such a good little guy. He has a wonderful calm disposition most of the time and then sometimes he's just 2 and that's fine too!

Nathan makes me smile when I look at him just because he's so "new" and wonderful to look at. Plus, he has that wonderful baby smell! I have to admit that at 3am when he's crying and I don't know why, I might not have a smile on my face, but those moments are part of being a parent of a newborn and they don't last long. I constantly try and remind myself that even though I may be tired, I still need to cuddle him and enjoy it because he'll be Kyle's age before I know it.

I hope both of my boys always know that they make me light up!
Colleen

You got road rash how??

scrapladyb on the 2Peas (scrapbooking) website posted a journaling challenge today of our most embarrassing moment and let me tell you that it didn't take me long to come up with mine! The good part is that as soon as I thought about it, I had a good laugh too!

It was about 10 or 11 years ago now (oh that's hard to believe!) when I was living in Japan. I lived there for about 3 years and was fortunate enough to have some family come over to visit. My mum came first and was there for about a month. I was actually thankful that it turned out my parents couldn't come together because I'm not sure I would have had room in my "apartment" - otherwise known as a walk-in closet! My dad came for about 2 weeks and it was actually during his trip that one of my most embarrassing and hilarious moments happened.

I was teaching English in Osaka and the school I worked at had Japanese and foreign teachers. We would often go out for a bite to eat and or drinks after work. I had some vacation booked while my dad was there, so we went off to Kyoto for a day trip, but had planned to meet up with my British co-worker Suzanne and a student we both taught (businessman) after work at 9pm.

My dad and I had a great day sightseeing, but it had been a busy day what with getting up early and having a full day touring around. We made the mistake of not eating a lot during the day just because we got too busy and didn't think about it too much. Anyway, we headed back to Osaka at the end of the day and met the other two at a club. There wasn't much food to be had, but we started in with the drinks. Well, we had a few and then a few more, but with not much to eat - not good. My dad and I were actually better off than the other two for some reason!

Well, we headed off home after being there for a while and had to cross this HUGE street that was 8 lanes across. My dad and I were walking side by side in front of the other two as we crossed. Suddenly I hear Suzanne yelling something at me from behind and before I know it, she has "tried" to jump on my back for a piggy back ride. The only problem was that I had had a few drinks and she hadn't warned me, so I ended up face first in the crosswalk with my dad trying to help pick me up before the traffic ran us over. By the time we get to the sidewalk, I realize how badly my face hurts only to find out I had road rash down one side of my face. My first thought is that I'm going to have a black eye, road rash and that I have to go go back to work in a couple of days, so how am I going to explain this?!?! My second thought was that I couldn't believe this was happening with my dad! It's a good thing he's pretty laid-back and fun!

Oh well, I think I did give some story at work about tripping on something and falling, but the real story got out anyway because of the other guy that was with us. He thought it was so funny that he told a bunch of the other students and a story like that is going to spread like wildfire! My dad was good about it as well as taking care of me too! And did I ever give Suzanne a bad time about it for ages afterwards.

It makes for a good story though and I can laugh about it now! Then there was the night in Japan that another co-worker knocked the bridge in the front of my mouth out with a huge can of beer! Why do these stories include alcohol and my co-workers?! Oh the joys of being young! hee hee That story is for another time though...

Cheers,
Colleen

A first - for me!

Nathan was scheduled for an ultrasound this morning and it was the first time that I would have to try and get the three of us out of the house by myself. The best part was that his appointment was at 7:45am, so we had to get at it early. I made sure that I was up by 6am and started getting myself ready and got Kyle some breakfast while I was doing that. Then, it was on to getting Kyle dressed and ready to go and I didn't even get any complaints about that! Nathan thankfully woke up about the time I would have had to wake him up to "eat", so I changed him and nursed him for a bit.

I got the bag ready and took that out to the car. Then it was back into the house to get jackets and shoes on Kyle and I and get Nathan's jacket on and then get him buckled into his seat. All of this seemed to go without a hitch and by the time I got us into the car and we were ready to go, it was 7:13am. My goal had been 7:15, so I was more than happy!

We got to the hospital and then it took me a minute to figure out the logistics of getting the kids and I out and ready to go without anyone getting hurt! I'm afraid Kyle gets out last now since he's the one that could get hurt most easily. I got out the stroller and put the bag in it and then Nathan went in. I grabbed my purse and unbuckled Kyle and we were on our way after making sure all the car doors were locked!

The renal ultrasound didn't take very long and we certainly didn't have to wait long either. There were even some toys on the wall for Kyle to play with and I had taken a new snack that he likes - raisins - so that kept him happy. Even when Nathan was having his ultrasound done, Kyle was really good! The tech gave him a Bob the Builder sticker and he was happy about that, so between that and the raisins, we did very well.

We ended up getting home around 9am. Even though it was still fairly early in the morning, I felt like I'd put in a full day. Being busy early combined with the lack of sleep had about worn me out already! I think Kyle was tired too as he wanted to go to bed about 11am too, but I'm holding off until after lunch!

Better go get Nathan since it sounds like he just woke up from a litle nap!
Colleen

Sleep...

Another one of those things that you don't realize how much you love until it's gone! Don't get me wrong, I've always known I like sleep, but when you have a newborn and are fighting fatigue all the time, you suddenly cherish the "long ago" days of a full night's sleep!

I think one of the biggest ways it affects me is in my lack of patience. Now, this is not a good thing with a newborn and a two and a half year old! Kyle seems to be constantly asking for things and wanting help with something or other. Normally, this would be fine, but if we've had an especially bad night, I get cranky about it. I found myself apologizing to him yesterday for getting frustrated with him - it really had nothing to do with him. There's nothing like apologizing and then getting a big hug and kiss though.

I know I have trouble at night with Nathan too if he falls asleep when he's nursing and appears to be "out" and then wakes up. I have actually now gotten into the habit of putting him to bed and then checking my e-mail or something for 10 minutes because I hate getting in bed thinking he's asleep only to have him wake up as I'm drifting off. Last night at one point we were up for an hour and a half because he kept falling asleep and then waking up when I went to put him to bed. I ended up coming into the living room and turning the lights on to try and keep him awake. Of course, that also meant I could watch last night's episode of "The Bachelor" that I had taped - haven't seen the ending yet to find out who's gone!

Of course, this time with Nathan, I also can't just go back to sleep in the morning when he does. Kyle is still getting up at about 6am when Daddy is off to work, so that means I'm up too! This morning he was up at 4:45am for some reason though and never did go back to sleep. I managed to sleep from 5-6am until George left, so I got a little extra sleep after being up twice last night with Nathan. Let's hope Kyle has a long nap today!

I sure notice a difference between the way Kyle and Nathan nap at this age. Before Kyle was born, everyone told me how much babies slept, but were they ever wrong when it came to Kyle! He napped during the day, but it was about 15-20 minutes at a time and if you got 30 minutes that was a "sleep" for him! Nathan is more "typical" I guess you could say in that he does actually sleep for stretches during the day. I use that time to do things with Kyle or get a few things done around the house.

Kyle certainly has slept well since though and I can't complain about that. He's also still napping when lots of the other kids his age that we know have stopped. I have read that kids his age really do still need a nap and am glad he's stuck to his because it still gives me a break in the daytime too. You'd think I might even be able to get a nap in there too on a day when I was really tired, but the boys seem to have this sixth sense and when one naps, the other is awake and vice versa! Oh well, I have to say that things are much better than the first couple of weeks when I was sore from the C-section and Nathan had his days and nights backwards! Everything seems to change at some point - usually just when you think you've got it figured out!

Colleen

Who knew family pictures would involve firefighters?!

Nathan was 4 weeks old yesterday, so I had arranged to have family pictures taken at Sears. When Kyle was the same age, we did the same thing and I would like to try and make sure we do the same and don't fall into the dreaded "second child with no pictures" syndrome.

We managed to get out of the house in good time and get there with time to spare. We made our list of pictures that we wanted in the car on the way because we did want a fair number of different variations. We got in and started with some pictures of just Nathan and they went pretty well. The next ones were of both boys and I was surprised when Kyle didn't really want to have his pictures taken because he'd always been so good before whenever we'd taken him and that was including the Christmas pictures we did at the end of November. We told him that we'd stop for Tim bits on the way home and that seemed to help.

There was only one girl working, so when people came in to pick up pictures she also had to do that. Of course, Sears is doing there usual thing where they print extra pics for you and when you pick yours up, they offer them to you for more money! There were two families in a row that came in to get pictures, so we ended up sort of waiting around. As we were waiting, the fire alarm started to go, but it wasn't a straight sounding bell - it was sort of wonky. The girl said we didn't need to leave.

By this point, Nathan was getting a bit hungry, so I went in a little room and nursed him for a minute. As I was coming out, we were told we all needed to leave the building, so we picked up our stuff and headed out.

There were two fire engines outside and Kyle was quite excited. I was putting on Nathan's jacket and sorting him out and when I turned around, Kyle and Daddy were talking to one of the firemen and looking at the truck. I walked over and Kyle had already been given stickers and a pencil. The fireman offered to let Kyle in the truck, but he heard the radio in there and got a little scared. We chatted a bit and then went for a bit of a walk.

We came back to the Sears door and there were a bunch of firemen just inside the door and one of them saw Kyle's face light up when he saw all of them. He came outside and started chatting with Kyle. He again offered to let him in the truck, but Kyle still wasn't interested. The cool thing was that he showed Kyle his mask and even put it on to show Kyle that he shouldn't be scared and was talking to Kyle about it the whole time. A really nice guy and "hot" to boot!

They were finally finished with whatever was going on inside and we headed back in to finish our pictures. I was surprised that both Nathan and Kyle were still pretty good and we got some good shots. Mind you, we had to wait again for someone picking up pictures as well. After being there over two hours and spending more money than we wanted (of course), we headed home with our promised stop at Tim's for bits.

An eventful evening!
Colleen

Jumping in after hesitiating for so long...

Well, here I am after saying for the longest time "Why would anyone start a blog?". For me, I'm not sure the answer is short and simple and this will proably evolve into different things over time. I want somewhere mostly to be able to journal and use this is my scrapbooking, but this may very well give people I don't often see a place to come and find out what's happening with us these days and see some recent pictures.

I'm not really sure how often I'll be here or update, but I'm going to try and make this a habit.

Welcome to my blog and my most recent "adventure"! Funny how your definition of that word changes with age and circumstance. Hmmm...something to ponder in a future blog entry!

Cheers