babyblog

New Year Resolutions

Last year, I made 2 New Years Resolutions.

1. To wear make up and look more presentable every day, rather than slobbing around.

(I managed to keep this one up through until the summer when it was too hot to wear make up). I think I will revisit it.

2. To call my Nan every Sunday.

I managed to keep this one up all year.

So what for next year? I'll go for 10.

1. To find a day / time to call my other grandma regularly.
2. To call my mum too if she can tell me a good time to do so that I'm not disturbing her evening TV!
3. To improve my mind, learn new things. I have already started to do this by reading a lot more factual things, to learn the history behind things rather than blindly accepting news stories at face value. I want to continue and persevere with this including going out & taking classes, do fun new things.
4. I also taught myself to knit (basic!) and I'm going to learn to crochet too so that I can make Tab an Afghan blanket.
5. Join a band. It's been 4 years since the old flute came out.
6. Be more inspired and dedicated to the kids food rather than churning out the same old crap.
7. Lose weight. Stop eating crap.
8. Continue going to the gym regularly.
9. Find a place to put things away and PUT THEM AWAY.
10. Stress less about other people.

Snowmageddon

Since Thursday we've been pelted with snow pretty much non stop. At the point this photo was taken we probably had about a foot of the stuff and we've probably had another foot since.

By Toronto standards, not terribly significant. By Seattle standards, *big deal*.

For a start, they don't have many snow plows and they don't have any salt. All of the roads have a thick layer of ice where cars have packed it by driving over it. The plows that have been on the main roads have spread some form of grit which makes it dirty but really doesn't help much.

Another reason snow here is a big deal is that, unlike Toronto, it's very bloody hilly. So combining the sheets of ice that pass for roads and the fact that they are steep inclines or declines, is a recipe for disaster. Oh and let's not forget that nobody here has the faintest idea how to drive in this kind of weather! Cars are abandoned everywhere, you see people going ridiculously fast and spinning out of control, and generally speaking the world grinds to a complete halt.

Of course we love extreme driving so we have been out in it a lot! We put snow chains on the car and managed to get up the drive (no small task) and out onto the road and down the hill the less steep but longer way... not too many people out in it though. We saw people walking for the first time ever. Shops are much quieter than they ought to be for this time of year, not the best time for a snow storm!

Last night we were under threat of a power loss akin to that of 2006 where it was out for 5 days thanks to a major windstorm incoming. This year at least we have a backup plan - our caravan! The caravan has batteries and propane and we can heat and light and run it comfortably for 3 or 4 days without needing any power. Should it go on longer than that we have a generator to continue to power it indefinitely, so G went out & stocked up on petrol just in case - given that last time petrol was sold out for 50 miles. I went out for emergency food supplies which amused the cashier at the supermarket (frozen pizza, chocolate, diet coke) and some duraflame logs should we fancy sitting around the fire in the house, and we were all set. Needless to say (and thankfully!) it didn't happen, but we are nothing if not prepared!

The kids have missed 2 days of school and are now off until the new year. G hasn't been to work since Wednesday but is hoping that I will drive him in for a few hours tomorrow... he can't take the truck as it won't cope in the snow.

Head Gear

I finally found one thing Tabitha will wear in her hair without ripping it out immediately.

Not quite sure how this will work after Christmas?

Proud Parent

Dylan appeared in the school production of 'Annie' this week. He played Annie's brother Rooster (and a couple of other parts!).

I video'd all the songs, they're all on my Youtube if you click through to it you can see the rest ;o)

Annoying is..

Today schools were all closed / cancelled due to reports of the enormous snow storm that was to occur and cover us with up to 4 whole inches of snow.

After a day stuck at home with 3 stir crazy kids guess what? NO SNOW.

Tabitha - 17 months

I'm a bit late writing this entry this month thanks to being overwhelmingly busy with Christmas preparations! I think you're going to love Christmas this year - you are already very taken with the Christmas lights and the tree.. I think you're going to love your presents and new things to play with too. Can't wait to see your little face when Santa has visited :o)

The biggest thing this last month was of course the fact that you learned to walk.

Since doing this you have been ill with one thing after another eventually becoming Pneumonia so the walking has taken a back seat, but you've picked it up again in the last week or so and are going further & further every day.

While sick you were very very sorry for yourself. You dealt with it as stoically as one little girl could but you were coughing continually and not sleeping so obviously pretty unhappy :-( I'm so glad that you're finally over it... I am crossing my fingers that you are building up one strong immune system there.

Your talking has come on phenomenally again - adding more & more words to your vocabulary and also sounds, you can woof, miaow, quack, and snort!

Here are some examples of your talking a few weeks ago..... it's amazing to me that even since then you've doubled your vocab.

Your hair has become a total rats nest at the back with a mullet thing going on. You refuse to keep any clips or ties in it and it's impossible to make it look good! It is thick at the back but thin & wispy on the top, with a hairline much like your fathers! I attempted to make it lovely for a photograph for Christmas but you ripped the hairband out immediately and it was a no go.

You love playing with Harry. The two of you get along really well most of the time - he is very caring and lovely with you, but you have recently started to fight over toys. I guess the fact that you're close enough in age to be interested in similar things is in play... of course you would love his trains and cars & not your dolls (sigh!). The arguments are funny, they usually go something like

Mine!
No! MINE!
NO! MINE!
MINEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

Dylan you seem to see more as an adult. You look to him for help, to be picked up, to cuddle. He too is lovely with you and very helpful!

I am very happy to report that you are still sleeping in your own bed pretty much through the night. Your dad sometimes has to get up and see you if you cry (hey, I did the last 17 months, it's his turn!), and you often wake up far too early, but otherwise it's all good.

You're not eating terribly well. You eat breakfast - nasty oatmeal mixed with hypoallergenic formula. No idea what to give you instead if we were to change it as you still have dairy issues. You eat lunch, kind of. You are a chocolate FIEND after discovering it in the form of advent calendars. You will scream CHO-LAT CHO-LAT and point to it and cry hysterically when it's gone. SUCH A GIRL!

You've discovered teddy bears and call them your 'baby's.. you are often found with a giant giraffe entirely covering your head in bed as you clutch it in your little arms to help you sleep.

You're beautiful, we all adore you, you're fun, sweet, gentle, and very cuddly and loving. You have such a range of emotion it's quite something to behold, and it's such a pleasure seeing you grow.

Love you,

Mummy xxx