Reading Week!!!!

It's finally reading week!!!I really needed the break, although I'm not sure how much of a break it really is. I've got a crazy amount of stuff to do. I've gone one more research essay to write (I've already done 2) and studying to do for school, plus I've got to do about 600 loads of laundry because I've let it pile up, and I'm also going through and washing/sorting the boys old clothes so I can sell/donate them.. I've also got to continue with redecorating my parents house so they can list it in the spring, and since I'm apparently the only one who can do anything around here it makes it a bit harder. And that doesn't even take into account spending time with my boys.... egads that's a lot to do in a week. .We finally had some nice days last weekend (first time in months it hasn't been raining it seems) so I took my sister AuntyM, Mister M and D-Man to the pumpkin patch. It was a blast, there was a corn maze, a hay ride, a spooky barn, farm animals, a pumpkin cannon, a picnic and we got to go to the patch and pick our own pumpkins for Halloween! The boys had a blast! When we got home from the pumpkin patch we decided to get all of our Halloween decorating done. We really like to do a lot, it's Mister M's favourite time of the year for decorations. He loves it when we make our yard super spooky and cool. This year we've got a cemetery, a crime scene with a glowing skull and hands, three spider webbed trees, bones all over the place, the front door is covered in webs and caution tape and spiders, and the piece de resistance is the giant blow up spider in the front yard. It's pretty awesome! Too bad we hardly get any kids trick-or-treating.
Oh well, more candy for Mama lol. I'm hoping to be able to get a couple more blog posts up before reading week is over (provided I have anything to talk about that is), but for now it's research essays on an ethical issue in nursing practice for me! Yippee... ;)

Sorry

Wow! It's been forever since I've last blogged. It's been crazy busy around here, but I think things are finally starting to get back to normal.
I've started school, midterms are actually next week, so I'm studying like crazy! It's going really well, the program is hard, but not too hard. I start my first placement next month at a retirement home in town. I'm looking forward to it, it'll be nice to get out of the class and actually provide nursing care to real people.Mister M is in grade 1. He's still in french immersion, and still loves school! His morning teacher isn't my cup of tea but luckily his afternoon teacher is great. He'll also get some valuable life lessons on working with people he doesn't like. Which is always good. He's started an art class at the local art school (not the one at the YMCA this one is more involved, less for little kids). He goes to his second class Saturday and he's going to be working with clay, which he's excited for!D-Man is in full time daycare, and it was super rough at the start. It took him almost three whole weeks before he wouldn't cry for the entire day. It was so bad that the lady said that she wasn't sure if she could handle him anymore, but luckily he's accepted that he needs to go there, and that Mama will always be back for him. So now it's actually nice for him to go, he gets to play with other kids and learn about sharing and not being the spoiled baby of the house.Halloween is coming up! We're excited, I'm taking both boys out this year, Mister M is dressing up as a vampire, and D-Man is dressing up as Yoda. Value Village is awesome for costumes, they get in so many new ones a year that it's hard to pick just one to be!Last weekend was thanksgiving, I hosted this year, made all the food for the entire family. 3 roasted chickens, squash soup, cheddar and bacon mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, stuffing and 5 pies! Hardly anything was left over.Fall is my favourite time of year, it's cool but not cold, the air is fresh, the leaves are beautiful. We went for our annual walk through the woods last weekend, snake hunting. Both boys had a blast. D-Man even walked the whole way himself. They explored, got dirty and found 10 snakes and 1 salamander. My dad came along with us, and helped Mister M hold the snakes and the salamander so that I didn't have too lol.
Hopefully now that we're back on track I'll be able to keep up with this blog a bit more, and I hope that it won't be another month before I'm able to post next!

Niagara Falls Trip 2011

So the boys and I just got back from our annual vacation to Niagara Falls (the Canadian side). We had a blast!Last year I actually put myself into labour with D-Man while we were there. This year I carried him around on the outside instead.We did a lot of fun things! Ripley's Believe it Or Not, a fun Maze that Mister M was amazing at getting through, the Skywheel, and the Rainforest Cafe.We found a pretty garden and went for a walk in it.
I think it was one of the boys favourite things. They could run/crawl around to their hearts content. D-Man explored everywhere and got a girlfriend and Mister M made some new friends and played tag with some puppies!We stayed at the same hotel as last year. The Comfort Inn on Clifton Hill. Its not fancy but its affordable, clean the staff are super friendly and they have a nice pool! For two nights including fees and taxes it came to $200 3which is way less than I paid for our Toronto mini vacation). Each night and morning we went for a swim! The boys love it. Mister M would live in the water if I'd let him.We took GO Transit to get there and back, which is a nice way to travel! I only have to pay for myself (kids 5 and under are free) and since its mostly by train D-Man can be down and playing instead of strapped into a car seat. The buses are nice too. Especially since I planned our travel time around Nap time, D-Man slept on both bus rides there and back! The GO bus from Burlington to Niagara Falls was even a double Decker bus. Mister M was thrilled! Its about a 5 hour trip one way from home to Niagara Falls, but worth it for sure!That pretty much wraps up our summer this year, we might have one or two more Toronto day trips, but I've got a two day CPR/First aid course this week, my drivers test on the 1st and D-Man needs his 12 month checkup and needles on the 31st, so we're pretty busy. Hopefully I'll pass my test and be able to drive us everywhere! Keep your fingers crossed for me :)

August Recap Part Four

So I've finally been to Ottawa.
I've never been before and was always curious. My family and I (most of it at least, my mom and one of my sisters didn't come) all went to Ottawa on the 20th to see the Caravaggio Exhibit at the National Gallery of Canada.Anyone who knows me in real life knows why this is such a big deal, but lets just say he's a painter whos very near and dear to our hearts.
We had a wonderful time, lunch and Mambo, where we ate outside and the rain was nice enough to hold off until we had just finished before it poored down on us.The boys had lots of fun running around outside under the giant spider sculpture with their Papa (my dad)The paintings themselves were amazing to behold. Mister M got a headset that explained each one, and we spend a long time learning about them. He kept impressing people, because he'd stand there and really listen and look and enjoy. D-Man liked the headset too... but just for the buttons lol.The paintings were so inspiring that Mister M even drew a picture.And yes it's hung on the wall of the National Gallery of Canada...who would expect less from my talented boy!It was a long busy day but we had a blast! We'll make sure to go back and explore Ottawa again soon!

August Recap part Three

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My baby is 1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!D-Man celebrated his first birthday on August 19th. We had quite the birthday weekend too!On the 19th we went to Toronto for his 1st Birthday Pictures. I'm still waiting to see them all but the ones in the sneak peek are wonderful!Then we had his party on the 21st.He was spoiled rotten, toys, books, more toys you name it, he got so much that he was overwhelmed and didn't even notice most of the stuff until the next day!The party turned out just the way I wanted it! Everyone came, everyone had enough food, and everyone had a good time! What more can you ask for?Even D-Man, who is usually pretty cranky in the evenings had a good time!
Well.... for the most part at least...He may not have the conventional family, he doesn't have a dad. But it makes me so happy to know that he is surrounded by people who love him. My friends and family are the best people in the world, and he's lucky enough to get to grow up surrounded by love and stability!For his cake I didn't want to do something plain and boring, he's a funky kid and needed something funky. So I went with cake pops and cupcakes. I think they turned out pretty well... they got devoured which is all any baker can ask for!All in all it was a wonderful day with some wonderful people.
Happy First Birthday D-Man, Mama and Mister M love you with all their hearts♥♥♥♥