Grrrr. I've been miserable this week. I just can't figure everything out - somethings gotta give, but there's nothing that can. Trying to figure it all out is hard, it sucks.

First, there's work. Its busy. And the company has grown so big. There's so many more agents and offices now, but the admin department hasn't gotten any bigger. There's more and more work being put on us, and there's not enough hours in the day to get everything done. I come home miserable and stressed and that's not fair to the family.

Second, there's home. I get home from a crappy, busy, stressful day at work and there's so much to do here. Laundry piles up, kids toys are everywhere, no one listens to me, and there's so much work that needs to be done. We need a new screen door because the old one blew off in the windstorm the other day. Joey's bedroom ceiling needs to be fixed, we need a new hot water heater and the windows have to be replaced, and that's just the start of the list.

That brings up the third point. The one that makes me most bitter. Jason was called back to Walkers. Long story short, he had to quit and give up his call back rights so that he could stay in school. He received a severance package, which he had to report to EI. Now we're waiting to hear just how much EI will take from it, and it could possibly be every penny he got. That makes me angry. Really angry. Jason is the one who worked there - not the government - so he should get the money. But just because he chose to go to school rather than get another job, he is being penalized. I'm livid, and I don't understand it. We're always struggling, week to week, paycheque to paycheque. Then when we actually get a little bit of money the government is there with its hand out. We'll never get any farther ahead. And this sucks.

So that's why I'm miserable. I'm giving 150% at work, and even more than that at home, but it still doesn't feel like its enough. There's not enough hours in the day, and I can't be cloned, so I have to figure out what to do. I doubt that I can cut my hours at work since its so crazy, but I don't want to do it anymore. If I have to put my all into something, I want it to be my family and my home, not my job. But I can't just quit because I like to think that my job is somewhat secure and stable. With Jason going to school, I need security. I know that if the kids get sick or I need to take a day off, I can do that at Remax. But on the flip side of it, if I go somewhere else I may take a cut in pay, but maybe I'd get benefits and more than 2 weeks vacation. I honestly don't know what to do, and I hate it.

I'll figure it out. Winning the lottery would be wonderful right now, or finding out that there really is a cleaning fairy. If you see her flying around, send her over asap.

This little girl, Victoria Stafford, has been missing since April 8 from Woodstock. I can't even begin to imagine what her parents and family are going through, so if the only thing I can do to help is keep Tori's picture on here, maybe someone will see it and recognize her. Anyone who reads this and has a blog, post the picture on your site. Get her picture out there and keep it out there. Lets help to bring Tori home!!!

Happy belated Easter everyone! The Easter bunny stopped by our place and hid some treats for the kids, as well as a movie, Diego toy and kites! Needless to say, the kids were spoiled, and they loved it :) I hope everyone else had a wonderful Easter!

Well, I broke down... and I bought a Wii!!!!!! I have to say - I LOVE IT!!! Do you know how nice it is to see Joey & Jason beat each other up or play tennis/bowling/baseball together, instead of Joey sitting on the couch playing DS all by himself? This thing is going to replace our Saturday morning rituals of cartoons - we're just gonna have bowling tournaments all the time :) Its fun!

Chris is now fully toilet-trained, and he even wakes up dry in the morning! I never imagined that I'd be so excited about it, but he just gets it now, he understands it. Way to go Chris :)

Joey went to the symphony yesterday with school. He said that he liked it, especially the drums. Maybe he'll be a musician when he grows up...... you never know!

Jason's doing GREAT in school - with a 95 or 96 average in his math class :) So proud of him! Still not looking forward to September when he goes away, but we're just looking forward to the future and how this is a good thing. We'll see....

So that's it - a little update from the Braniff crazy madhouse :)

What a week. I'm so glad that its almost over and that this week is a short week :) Hope Friday comes quickly!!!

It started off last Saturday... Chris was awake all night, crying and saying "owie in my ear". Turns out that the poor kid had an ear infection. I had a throat infection that was causing pain in my ears. Sucked. But there was a good moment last week - on Sunday night I went to see NKOTB again :) It was a great show, loved it! We had floor seats, 13th row. It was great until other people stood up when the opening act came out. We couldn't see at all. So I did what I do best - complain - and I got us seats on the 300 level, first row balcony, right at the side of the stage! No one else around us, just us, and we were able to walk to the side and watch what was going on backstage :) But on the flip side of that.... I don't recommend going to a concert with an earache or sore throat... I was hurting till Tuesday!

Then Monday came. Our bunny, Joey's beloved Max, passed away. We think that he may have had a stroke because all of a sudden he couldn't move right. It was heartbreaking to see Joey upset about it, but Max is now buried with Boots and we'll be planting something nice for them in a few weeks. Sad, sad day.

It has sucked this week at work. SUCKED!!! I can't belive how busy it has been, especially Monday and Tuesday... I've been bringing work home with me, putting my phone on do not disturb, going in tomorrow (Sunday) just to try and stay on top of it all. If we're in a recession and this isn't busy.... I hate to think what the "busy" time will be like.

What else, what else... Oh, I got Joey a suit today. His first communion is coming up in a few weeks, so we went out and got his outfit today. He looks so grown up! Its the most beautiful little suit, and he looks great in it. I should dress him up more often!

Chris is now pretty much toilet-trained. Hardly any accidents at all, only 1 or 2 in the past week, and he even stays dry through the night. I'm proud of him - we've tried this so many times and I guess he just wasn't ready. Now he goes around singing "I'm a big kid now!", just like the pull-ups commercial :) Cute! He also goes around singing "We're not gonna take it, any more!" by Twisted Sister.... we didn't even know that he knew it until it came on the radio the other day and he sang along with it. Funny!

Ok thats it. I'm tired, its been a long week. I'm going to bed so I can get up for work tomorrow :(