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Its snowing! Finally!!! We've had a little bit of snow, but nothing that actually stayed.... not like in London where they got over a meter of snow! So jealous ;) I can't wait to get out there with the kids and play in the snow and enjoy winter!

Chris and I had a date last weekend. We went to see the new kids movie Megamind and then went to Candyland for a bit! I thought about it afterwards - if I had gone on a date 15 years ago with someone where I had to drive, pay for the movie and treats, listen to them talking all through the movie and then they don't even share their snacks with me, then I never would have gone on a second date with them! But when its your kid you don't complain and you enjoy it. It was a great day, and I can't wait to do it again with him!

Last night was family craft night at the boys school. It was a good night, with the boys making some interesting things for Christmas! Afterwards we went for a drive to look at the pretty Christmas lights. There were some gorgeous homes out there, and the lights were still on at Candyland so we went there too! It was absolutely freezing and we didn't have all our winter gear on so we didn't stay out too long, but it was a great night :) We also went to see the CP Holiday Train last week - another festive event to get the kids even more excited for Christmas!

Tomorrow is the boys birthday party..... this should be interesting. We're doing their parties together as its too hard at this time of year to do two separate events. We're going bowling and they each have a bunch of friends coming. This is Christophers first real birthday party, and he is unbelievably excited! His little girlfriend, Lyndsay, will be there, and I can't wait for everyone to see how cute the two of them are together - they remind me of a little old couple who have been together for 50 years and still adore each other and are best friends. Its the cutest thing ever!

Here's some more pics of the last couple weeks.... christmas baking, Joeys bible presentation at school. Its going to be a busy month :)

So smile, be happy and enjoy the Christmas season!!!!

I completely forgot to write about this in my last post. I saw the new Harry Potter movie and it was incredible! When I heard that it was being split into 2 movies I wasn't too impressed. I mean, where exactly do they stop the first movie and then start the 2nd one?! But how they ended it was amazing, and the whole thing was just awesome :) Its been years since I read the book, but from what I remember it was pretty close to the book! Can't wait till the next part comes out in July!!!

So I registered this blog at bzzagent.com. That means that I'll be writing about different products and sharing my opinions of them on here - what I expect is that you'll tell me what you think of it too! Or at least, that's what I'm hoping ;) Bzzagent is a word of mouth website where you try different products and let people know what you think of them. Thanks to Bzzagent, I am now addicted to Just Dance for the Wii! They sent the game to us to try and it led to many nights of dance-offs and a lot of silliness in our house, and some of our friends went and bought it and are now addicted as well! And now they've released Just Dance 2 and Just Dance kids!!! Honestly, the game is just awesome and everyone needs a Wii just for this game :)

Chris asked me the other day what I wanted to be when I grow up. I told him that I'm already what I wanted to be - a mommy! Apparently that wasn't the right answer.... he asked me what I want to be when I grow up, like daddy, and told me that being a mom isn't a real job! It was hard to keep a straight face during that discussion, but it was fun! Just to hear what he thinks of me was rather, um, interesting ;)

Happy to report that we found Lego in a bucket! Last year, and up until this weekend, all I've been able to find are Lego sets that are mega expensive and are meant to make one thing - like a ship, plane, firetruck, etc. Or they were branded as Harry Potter or Atlantis, or Lego City. Those sets are crazy expensive and, in my opinion, really not worth it! I don't know why parents pay $100 or so for a lego set... especially if they have lots of kids to buy for... christmas can be expensive! Anyways, Walmart is now selling just a plain old bucket of Lego! We got a set there today for $30 and it has just over 400 pieces in it. I think Joey will be a very happy little boy when he opens it!!! Yay!!!!!

Nothing else to report today. No car accidents, no tickets, life is good ;)

I'm freezing. It was so nice this morning and now you can feel the weather changing... its getting windy, and its getting colder! Hopefully soon the snow will come :)

This morning was Joey's bible presentation at school. I was petrified, I had to go... I was terrified that Joey would burn up in flames when the priest handed him the bible! But it was uneventful, and all of the kids did a great job at the liturgy. I got a few pictures of the event, and of the little social that we had afterwards :) What a great way to spend the morning!

This year we've decided that the boys are going to have a shared birthday party. Joey didn't have an actual birthday party with friends until he was in school, so this year we knew that we'd have to do something for Chris. We debated whether to have a party just for Chris and let Joey have a friend or 2 over on his actual birthday, but the boys made it pretty easy for me... they decided that it would be fun to have their parties together! So I guess we're going to have a very busy, crazy, loud afternoon with 15-20 kids at a bowling alley very soon! Actually, I have to admit that I'm kinda looking forward to it!

Joey had a run-in with a metal post the other week.... I mean, he literally ran into a post! I still don't completely know how it happened, but apparently he was running and looked back to see where his friends were and the post just happened to be right in front of him! He had a huge goose egg on the side of his head and a bruise on his shoulder and a red line all down the side of his chest from where he hit the post. Somehow he whacked his hand as well, and it was so bad that I thought he had broken it. Turns out that it wasn't broken but he did do some damage to it. Poor kid, but at least now he knows to watch where he's going when he's running!

Here's some more pictures of the boys that were taken on Thanksgiving weekend. They're really growing up :( Its strange to see how much they've changed in the last few months - Chris is getting so much more grown up and his speech is really coming along. Joey is getting taller, and his attitude is getting bigger!

We went for a day trip a few weeks back to Fleming College to see where Jason lives and goes to school. Its a great place, such a beautiful campus! Jason is really happy there, and I think the boys enjoyed seeing where daddy lives and what he does when he's not at home. They just knew that daddy was away, but now maybe it will make more sense to them because they know where he his. All in all, it was a great day - a long drive with horrible traffic, but a great day :)

The job search hasn't been going so well lately. I did have a job.... until I couldn't find care for the kids for before and after school. I hated to do it, but I had to turn down the job because of it. Its really hard to find part time daycare for just a few hours a day, and the few people who do it want waaaay too much money. One woman wanted me to pay her $18/hr - she had to make it worth her while to take part time work! Doesn't make sense to pay that much though, does it? So now I'm looking for part-time work while the boys are in school, or for something that I can do from home. Its not easy.

Other than these few things, its been pretty quiet around here lately. We're all getting excited for Christmas - this year just feels different! I'm really looking forward to the holidays this year, having Jason home and being able to spend all the time in the world with the family :) December is going to be crazy, but its going to be wonderful :)

Its hard to believe that today marks one year since Al passed away. Its been a hard year, not only with not having him here, but with everything else that has happened. This week has been the hardest. I've been trying to figure out why, but its hard to figure out sadness.

This week I've been thinking about him a lot, and the boys have been talking about him quite a bit. I haven't mentioned the anniversary to them, I figure they don't need to know and they don't realize how long its been. But we've made it through all of the firsts without him - the first Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, Easter, Fathers day... and 360 other firsts. And now, today, the first year is over. I guess its hard because we've always had a "first" to get through. Now that its been a year and we have no more firsts, its almost like we're getting farther away from his memory, from our time with him. I know none of this makes sense to you, but in my mind, it all works. It makes sense. But its still not fair.

So instead of going on and on and getting upset, I'll end with this. Al, I know that you wouldn't want us being upset or spending the day in tears today. Instead, I will think of you with a smile, talk about happy memories with the boys and remember you with love. You will always be in our hearts and our thoughts, never far from our minds. We love you and we miss you. Most of all, we wish you were here.

Summer is over and Fall is officially here! I love seeing the leaves change colour, watching the kids play as I rake the leaves (or, pay a neighbourhood kid to rake them, whatever!), and, most of all, the quietness of the neighbourhood as all the kids are back to school :) Its one of my favourite times of the year!

A lot has happened since the last post. Jason's back to school, Joey's in Grade 4 and Chris is in Senior Kindergarten. I can't believe that they're now 8 & 4... I have no idea where the years have gone. Seems like yesterday that they were both babies and now... the novelty has worn off ;) Hahaha! Chris has already found his future wife. Her name is Lyndsay and she's the cutest, tiniest little thing! Last night was the school barbecue and they were hanging out together and playing on the playground, not caring about the other kids around them. We went into the classroom and Lyndsay came in later with her family and she just ran up to Chris and threw her little arms around him and gave him an eskimo kiss on his cheek :) It was the sweetest thing to see. And yes, I did make him ask Lyndsays dad for permission to marry his daughter! And he said yes ;)

Are you wondering about me, and what I've been up to? Well, its early afternoon and I'm sitting at the computer. Does that tell you anything? Yeah, still at home, still looking for work. Its not for lack of trying. In fact, a couple of weeks ago I had an interview that I thought I had aced. I mean, I really nailed that interview. They were talking as if the job were mine, showing me around and saying "here's your desk". So what happened? No idea. But it really sucks because the job was perfect. I was excited about it and couldn't wait to start. Now, not so excited about anything. I get up, send the kids off to school and then spend the next few hours looking for work and then doing housework, laundry, playing with Bailey. Depressing.

I'm kinda stuck between a rock and hard place. I'm good at what I do, but I have no education to back me up. All I've ever done is commission payroll, so all those payroll jobs that I've applied to... yeah, not qualified to do the job. Receptionist positions... overqualified. Sales rep in the stores in the mall... no cash experience. Can't get factory work because, again, all I've done is office work and that's where my employment counselor thinks I should stay. There was one job that I applied to by submitting my resume through their online "employment opportunities" webpage... 5 minutes later I got an email back basically telling me that I suck and to throw myself off a bridge. Great for the self esteem. I'm advertising myself (not by name!) on kijiji as someone willing to do any type of work, and still nothing. Why does no one want to hire me?!

So what do I do now? I've been reading about blogging for a living. The "mommy bloggers" are women who do what I'm already doing - writing about their kids, their lives, and the daily crap involved in being a mom in this day and age. Only difference is that I write for free. They get paid. I have no idea how they do it. A lot of them are doing it part-time while working a full time job, until they can generate enough income online to quit their job. How do they do that? The only way I see to do it is to put ads all over your site. Honestly, when I visit other websites, I don't click on the links, I have no desire to "Test Your IQ!", "Make your move on Mazda" or "Check out these Russian wives!". No I don't want to advertise viagra or other, um, enhancements ;) I just don't get it. Seems like selling out to me.

Which leads me to ask - what do I do? What job do you think is perfect for me? Why would or wouldn't you hire me? And should I avoid bridges? ;)

The Perseid Meteor shower is happening right now!  Jason and I sat in the backyard for a bit and watched the stars... been a long time since we've done that! It's such a beautiful and clear night.  And yes, I did see one! And I did make a wish...... can't tell you what I wished for or else it won't come true :)

I spent this afternoon taking our fridge apart and cleaning it.  Wasn't planning on doing that, then again, I don't think Christopher planned on dumping a whole pitcher of juice IN the fridge! Oh well, now my fridge is nice and clean and organised :) 

I can't sleep tonight.  Maybe I'll go start some laundry, or maybe I'll go back outside where its nice and cool.   Maybe you should go outside and watch the stars too!

P.S. for the Wish Fairy, I don't like stainless steel and would like the freezer on the bottom please ;) Hahaha!