Thanksgiving

I must admit that I really do enjoy the idea of Thanksgiving. Not the part where it has become more of a retailers dream than even Valentines and Easter; but that small little niche where we can throw in good will and perhaps squeeze a morsel of gratitude into the cracks. The idea of being grateful for the bounties of the Earth, for our safety, for our family and friends and for a fantastic meal that we can share with loved ones is just beautiful.

My girls have been fantastic. They’ve loved our grateful jar and making chains of thoughts based on the ideas and objects that bring us the most joy. It has bee a positive teaching tool for them.

Now how does one survive the onslaught of toy-lust found in boys and girls of all ages? So far my kids are decent (I hope it stays that way). They know I am done with the shopping aspect of the holiday. Yet I can imagine the aftermath of the bombardment of budding desire as add campaigns are placed before them and school fellows encourage ‘wants’ that somehow mutate into ‘needs’. Just a few more weeks of merging the secular and the Spiritual. Okay that never truly stops. But perhaps this insane drive for more stuff can take a back seat.

Stuff: what is it and what is it comprised of? What exactly is the genetic makeup of this clutter that overwhelms our lives and underwhelms our brains into atrophy? Just curious. Most of you are smarter than I am. Perhaps you can tell me.

I am alive!

So sorry I’ve been absentee. I will post things later this week since I have no school. Phew. It has been an intense semester. Mixtures of tears and frustrations and small glories and battles won and lost …


I don’t know what I was thinking in going to school while Jason is. Insane I suppose. Still questioning my rational in this. I just hope I know what I am doing. Well I love you all and just wanted to touch base with humanity.

Love and thanks to all!

Next ...

After school functions, we started our marathon of Halloween adventures. First I thought I’d share what Coralie’s idea of heaven is …

…not a pretty sight (unless of course you are a dentist and then that doesn’t make you quit human).

But regardless of her sugar obsession, the girls and I went to Cornbelly’s. It was cold, the Pumpkin Princess never came, but the girls loved it (thank goodness).

While there, Coralie found a rocking chair and I asked her to tell me a story. She was completely excited and continued to relate a story about GHOSTS! That was about it. “Ghosts. Scary ghosts. BOOOOO!!!” And as the mother I am, I loved every minute of it and regretted not having a video camera present to capture my budding storytellers narrative.

And of course, what would any good Halloween place be without a princess section? I ask you. Geeze. Other places are just plain missing out if they don’t have a princess patch with dress ups, castles, bounce houses and carriages. I ask you what kind of rip off institutions don’t have the pen for all budding Disney-ophyte of the future?

In the end the found their ways through corn mazes, climbed to the top of towers, rode on cow trains, watched pig races, went through the belly of a monster, jumped, threw, skidded and played their way to sleep in 0-3 minutes upon entry of the car. They had a great night and so did I. :)

Jog a Thon

So the month of October has been INSANE to say the list. My homework keeps on growing in large increments (of course I am so behind its insane – rather like the mound of laundry that needs to be folded and put away).

I haven’t had any time to blog, almost at all (sorry). I’ve still attempted to keep up with everyone else’s. Phew. I realize there is still one more day in October and 4 more events for my kids to participate in, but I thought I’d try to get a move on. Need to stay on top of things or else I’ll just never do them.

So I will start with the beginning. Lilly had a jog-a-thon this month. She was sponsored by some wonderful family members and my kid ran and ran. Let me first state the conditions. A. Lillian was sick but felt it very important to help the school so we came for the event and left the moment it was over. B. It was raining. Hard. Ridiculously cold and did I mention raining? Well it was.

Regardless of these, she ran more than any other kindergartner. My big girl! And of course Coralie couldn’t be left out of it and so she ran for a lap and a half as well. I love my kids!

   

The benefits of video games on todays youth ...

Are Violent Video Games Adequately Preparing Children For The Apocalypse?

Car Woes …

Okay, so let me briefly detail our lovely car fun in the last 8 days.

Okay, my car has been making these strange sounds when it drives. So last Friday I took it in the shop and bravo and badabing, 2 hours later the car was okay, $300 paid, parts broken fixed and we are dealing. Spark plug and valve issues … my mechanic really is great.

Thursday Jason had to come to school to switch kids with me so I could go to class … thrilling. Well he parked the car in a 30 minute lot and when he went to leave the car wouldn’t start. We cleaned heads, changed batteries, jumped the car multiple times – nothing. Couldn’t even get headlights to turn on. So by 11pm at night we towed the car (costs a fortune). And by the next day found that the wires to the battery were shot. $300 later that is fixed (including the towing fee from the other business).

We thoughts. Its okay. Life is okay. This was money we were saving, but we won’t do anything for our anniversary and nothing for Christmas and birthdays and I’ll pick up more hours, but we’ll make it through.

Then today ... I will say the positive first. I made it to the shop BEFORE my engine completely blew up and was completely ruined. Phew. Mechanic said that when this happens a car typically won’t start or the engine will explode and that because of the age of the car they can’t fix it (won’t) and you have to get a used engine from somewhere … I was running errands with my girls. Pulling out of the library I hit something (no idea but we heard something like running over something under the car. On the way home the car was emitting this nasty smell. By the time I got home I was really worried and a fluid was leaking profusely from the car. I drove to the closest mechanic and the mechanic said that nothing I could have possibly hit would have caused these problems. It seems that my water pipe is leaking which killed my timing belt which somehow caused my Freon to break lose which caused … you get the point and it will be fixed in a few days and almost $1000 later.
Well, I suppose now in addition to all other budget cuts I am getting another job. Yup. But, at least there is something possibly inline. Crossing my fingers and hoping.

Pictures of my beautiful Bug

So, it took forever but we finally got the pictures back from Lilly's ballet and we got Lilly's school picture. Lilly was telling us how she took her picture right after recess (which explains her hair that I meticulously groomed before sending her merrily on her way out the car door). I love her so much. She's my Bug.