and today...

Tonight I've been busy building ads and trying to be creative.. and not dwelling on all the work stuff...
I've had Dumb and Dumber on in the background and I completely forgot parts of the movie... it is still pretty funny :) (Look at the fun bags on that hose hound... ah - what a film...)

And what I really liked about this movie was the soundtrack - still have the disk and still like all the songs.

Not much to share tonight - I'm tired and going to read - but before I run off here is a photo of the guys from this weekend. Stylin' it up - as always :)

monday

Well, well, well.... it is year end and I'm busy making sure we've spent all our money for this year. Fun.

This weekend I was a monkey again as I climbed up and cleaned up the other apple tree. The other tree is pretty pathetic though - not nearly as full as the one I loaded pictures earlier last week. Still fun though. This weekend I'm going to try and not think about work and actually enjoy time at home... I've got this weekend at home and then the next weekend (April 11) I'll be heading away for two weeks. Six days of leisure and eight of training.

We went to Nazko on Sunday - my mom treated the guys to a Saturday matinee (How to Train your Dragon) and then took them home for the night - so they were pretty exhausted by the time I showed up. We played outside for a while and then when we went in Kyle started to get into a bit of snit - a little too much clean air and not enough napping and he was an unhappy camper. We got in the car to head home and within 30 seconds he was fast asleep - then Michael gabbed me up for about 20 minutes and then he was out. We arrive at Sylvia's which is nearly the half way point and Kyle wakes up and says - gees you drove fast to get us here - I can't believe it - I suggest that he slept and that is why it seemed fast - nope - not a chance - apparently he was awake the whole time.. I confess that I did (do) drive fast but.. not that fast... (ok - it was fast - but seriously - it still took 40 minutes)

And speaking of campers... we met up with one of my staff on Saturday morning and he started to tell her about the afternoon plans for the movie...

"Yep, we watched stuff on mom's computer about the dragon movie to get ready for the movie, we were watching the camper."

Luckily my staff member put a play on words together... "Do you mean.. trailer?"

"Right, right, movie trailer."

This made me think about why we call it a trailer... and the answer is that 'back in the day' the new films were shown at the end of a double feature and so they "trailed" the film... and the name just stuck. A little FYI on this blog... how about that... :)

And with that - I'm off to read, or play cards or do something...
Love to you - hugs, kisses and... wait, one more hug for the road :)

chocolates for sale

Well it is fundraising time and Kyle's school is selling chocolate almonds, chocolate mints and chocolate caramels... we have a box in my office that is slowly being bought up and then we plan to go out and about this weekend to sell some more... Kyle is pretty keen to go and sell them to our neighbours - of course we won't be doing that since some of our neighbours are selling drugs and pimping others out - lovely! It seems that with spring we also got to have our moronic drug dealers. There was a special meeting at the college tonight about the drug problems in our community, but I didn't get a sitter and will likely get the full bill of what happened tomorrow from others. Solution: I think we should start putting up signs in the neighbourhood that just say things like 'i heart people who honk late at night and early in the morning to get their drugs from our neighbours - yes we know, but the cops don't care', and 'legalize drugs so my property value can go up' and (pointed at their house) 'hey, a-hole, we see what you are doing, we aren't as stupid as you are' and '50 cars visiting daily + lack of police doing a gd'n thing = drug house going full tilt'

So if you happen to want to buy chocolates from Kyle and need them shipped to you let me know and we can work something out :)

And so good night - I need to workout tonight - or try to - something is wrong with the joint that attaches my big toe to my foot and it freakin' hurts... someone told me that it might be a bunion - to which I said 'bless you' cause what the hell is that... and then my brain went... 'april, 'member grandma use to get those, remember her feet' and then I wanted to cry. So then my foot hurt and I was crying (on the inside). Whine, whine, whine.

Alright - hugs, smooches and extra love to you... and you... and you!

hema-what-a

4pm, the playground

It is race on the slide, running - ever faster to get down the slide first... what's that... the slide has a bar installed that is just over three feet tall to allow kids the chance to launch themselves down the slide... except in this occasion it is a kid stopper. Imagine Michael given'er and running, full tilt, into said bar. Now he has a toonie size hematoma in the middle of his forehead. Apparently he smashed into and his forehead immediately ballooned.

Michael described it tonight as smushy - awesome! It is totally disgusting and smushy...

it gets better... lol

So I said I would share. Here I am with Ms Jenny McCarthy - working out to another aerobics evening... good grief... I will say that I retested on the Wii after my workout and am now younger than my actual age, which is something new - I've been testing quite a bit older - so progress... progress...

what's that...

Wild Ape located in Quesnel - climbing apple trees and disturbing the peace, if you attempt to engage with the creature please do so after coffee time or with fruit in hand

f-bomb

Alright - so a little bit of politics - I don't know if anyone is watching this stuff or not but what I found funny in the press right now is Biden. He is the vice president of the USA and yesterday in front of an open mic he told Obama - this is a big f*#$ing deal... as they were announcing the health law... what's funny is that Biden has done this a few times - he once asked a man in a wheelchair to stand up and then talked about the Prime Minister of Ireland's dead mom - rest her soul - only to say - wait a sec, I don't even know what I'm talking about and asks the PM if his mom was alive - which she was not and then he made a joke out of it... Biden reminds me of Bush... blasting off his mouth and saying things that are nonsensical... I'm hoping for Biden-isms - just like Bush's strategery - that was my favourite one.. still is...

what's that...

Well I was going to post some funny photos tonight but for some reason blogger isn't loading my photos properly.
My apologies to you - my beautiful fantastic readers :)

We had a good night of running, chasing geese, getting shoes stuck in mud, faces being kicked and balancing on the teeter tauters (sp???) - And now that the house is quiet I think I'll do some laundry and read a document.. hooray - good times.

I did not bake today - we had turkey wraps for dinner - ok the guys had that with cheese... I had a lame egg white omelette which, seriously, should not be called an omelette - it is snot, plain and simple, snot with a capital 'S' and some turkey and salsa... I know - what the hell kind of lame dinner is that.. well it beat more salad - snot versus salad and snot won... sad, sad, sad.

And now off to write and with any luck I'll come back to blogger in a few hours and the problem will be corrected and you will get to see some new photos... :)

oh good times

So today included tree climbing (wicked - completely my favourite job), muffin baking (rhubarb, pear - don't laugh they actually taste good and are good for you... amazing... whole grains, no fat...), and then freakin' Jenny McCarthy. That's right - my family got me Jenny McCarthy's Wii program for Christmas. I know... it's the end of March but I just haven't tried it. I've been using the Wii Fit and the running/joggin/etc so I didn't think I needed it, but I'm on a bit of a kick right now and I'm trying all kinds of things out.

Jenny's program is crazy - it is definitely worth it - get use to her telling you that you are doing it wrong (it can't just be me... lol) - it is terrible to see yourself on screen - well - it is for me... plus I wasn't wearing the right clothes so between seeing too much skin, to too much gonch because my pants kept falling down... well it was laughs for all... but it was a good workout and I'll do it again.

Anyhow - I'm going to keep it short tonight - I'm tired and have a busy day tomorrow.
Best wishes for the week ahead. Maybe I'll photograph the silliness that is me working out with Ms McCarthy... minus the gonch shots... ha... two hugs plus a smooch :)

weekend

Well congratulations, everyone, for getting through another week. This has been a weird week - with trying to be away but not really getting away.. and then coming back for two short days where I can't seem to get everything I want finished... but I'm getting there...

I'm coming down with another cold, this one feels different than the last one. I have those weird scratchy feeling in my throat - and my ears have been bugging me on and off again...

I don't really have anything dramatic or fun to share tonight... I'm tired and heading to bed...

What I really wanted to get on her to say was more of a wish out to you... that you have a safe and happy weekend and that my hugs and smooches are also available for your pleasure - take as many as you need - the supply will never run out. With any luck I'll take some great photos this weekend and have lots more to share and not be boring and pathetic like this post :)

alright... a couple of pics...

A great glove save by the Italian sledgehockey goalie - it was a great game.


Kyle holding up a crab shell he found at Stanley Park.


Michael enjoying the beach.

A couple of beautiful yahoos :)

more updates - ok - well not really...

Well we made it home and I'll post pictures... I'm just being lame at the moment and not feeling great, but it will pass.

Dinner tonight - because I know you want to know... well it was a pea shoot and herb lettuce salad with halibut and avocado. Oh and some gailan - think of some beautiful asparagus running into some gorgeous broccoli...

Asparagus sits silently in the corner... ah, but she can see someone coming in, who is it, who? Ah, it is none other than the gorgeous broccoli. She remains still and pretends to pay attention to the conversation at her table, but she is unable to keep her eyes off of him. What is his gardener feeding him to make him look so good?

Broccoli sees the beautiful Asparagus in the corner and makes his way in her direction. This is his chance, finally they can speak. Oh, but the damned Eggplant is making her way over, no, no, no. Fudge. "Hello Eggie." And so a conversation ensues.

What could Broccoli see in Eggplant, thinks Asparagus, what... what on earth.. wait, he is... he is... "hooray" screams the inside voice.

"Hello Asparagus"
"Hello Broccoli"

And these two beautiful vegetables get together and drink some water. They talk about their love of the sun and how much Farmer John does for them and how it is such a wonderful evening.

"The stars are so amazing, I love this time of year."
"Broccoli, did you see that shooting star? You should make a wish."
"Asparagus, I don't need to make any wishes, I have everything I want in this very moment."
"Oh Broccoli."
"Oh Asparagus."

And so Asparagus and Broccoli fall in love, and get it on and we get Gailan. Stem of an asparagus, but sweeter; leaves like those on broccoli, but super edible and then little heads - just like broccoli...

What are pea shoots... aahhhhh - well they are the young top leaves and tips of vines on a pea plant. They have a sweet taste to them, and they are super good for you. Two cups have considerable amounts of Vitamins A, B-6, C, E, and K, folate, thiamin and riboflavin. Where can you get pea shoots? Well I bought a bag from T&T in Richmond - Chinese Supermarket - you can get a giant bag of them for $5 - the only down side is that you need to consume it quickly as they don't last all that long... but they are pretty yummy and good way to mix up the salad show...

And because I'm an ultra geek - I'm going to show you what they look like... because I'm sure you care...

quick update

1. Jaw still super painful - can't open mouth wide enough and any kind of angular biting is absolute torture.
2. Sledge hockey was exciting and good to watch - I would recommend it to anyone to go and check out.
3. Stanley Park was beautiful yesterday - we walked the beach and played at the playground - lovely - as always... though the kids were less than impressed that we "took the long way" to go around the park...
4. Sadly haven't had any great sushi on this trip - yes, I've had sushi - but not fantastic sushi... not even close.
5. Went for a great run yesterday along the Richmond waterfront...
6. I love the sound of rain - LOVE IT! I know all the Vancouverites and Lower Mainlanders get less than impressed with it but I can't get enough - not great to run in - but listening to it as it falls and hits a million things - I just love it.

And there is your quick update. :)
More smooches, extra hugs...

tomorrow...

First, my jaw is brutal right now.. I couldn't even put a spoon in my mouth this morning... it sucks - it is painful - boohoo...

Tonight I had to put some extra hours in at the office because I'm heading out of town for a few days - and I'm actually taking a break... well as much of a break as I can... yes, I'm taking my blackberry -but it is more for emergencies as we've actually had two in the last few days...

Kid front... well Kyle is mad and has had two crying outbursts about us going away tomorrow... there is an assembly tomorrow and they are doing some kind of draw for a gift prize for a fundraiser the school has been doing for Haiti - so he is mad that he won't get to be there - so mad that tonight he hid behind a door and cried... pretty uncharacteristic of him... hopefully it isn't a sign of him getting sick with something. He did turn things around later in the evening.. plus we went to our fav restaurant (Granville's West) and he had poutine and we gabbed about the trip - he also read me the newspaper and I LOVE THAT... anyone who will read me the newspaper is in my good books! Michael is as awesome as ever - still loving Michael Jackson...

*The sound of door closing, as Kyle exits the car and runs off to the playground*

"Mom..."

Yes - what dear...

"It's time for Michael Jackson."

Who?

"Moooommmmm, Michael Jackson... you know."

Oh....ok....

*I turn it on...*

"Mom, can you turn it up?"

-----------

Now, with any luck, I'll have photos loaded tomorrow night and lots more over the next few days :)
Hugs and smooches my loves!

eeeeewwwhhhhh

Light sabers flashing... pod racing... scary weird creatures...

"mom, I can't watch, they're kissing.. eeewwwhhhh" (then they cover their heads with pillows...)

boys :)

dinner

Tonight was salad night here... the guys had fish sticks (that's right the meal of champions) - I'm really enjoying the herb salad bag from Save-On right now. I know... it is sallllllaaaadddd... blbblllllaaahhhhhh... booooorrrriiinnnnggggg.... but it is good. What works for me... well this salad, an avocado, a half of a red pepper, and some chicken... oh plus a few pecans and a few cranberries - I tried dried cherries on my salad a few days ago and really like that too - those dried cherries are wicked good - it is like having the great taste of a cherry pie without the millions of calories from the crust... yes - it isn't a pie... and I LOVE PIE... but it works in a pinch since I don't typically have pie in the house.

What of the pesnol in the back situation... well I wrote a note in Kyle's book this morning - I wrote that I was disappointed with the situation and I didn't understand how the other kid writing Kyle a note justified any of what happened - I received a reply in his book tonight - that Kyle was a part of the incident (yes, I caught that - the pesnol was in his back), they were both pretending it was a light saber. A phone call was also made to the other boy's parents. Well... a freakin phone call was made - wow... I bet she left an equally lame phone message for the other kids parents that didn't explain anything. I just remember being read the riot act in elementary school over very small things. I did my time in the principals office - not that often - but I did get called in there... why April, why would you get called in there... well I will give you two examples...

1) I got caught throwing a snowball - I was in grade 1 or 2 - and a pile of us all got detentions for being morons - our principal screamed and yelled about the stupidity of throwing snowballs - we had to write lines and sit in silence - I attribute my crappy throwing arm to this situation - many can vouch for my crappy throwing arm - I make it look like I'm going to throw it really nice and smooth and then I tend to release at the wrong time and off the ball goes straight up in the air... (Jen - why isn't there detention any more - or is that an oddity at our school...??)

2) In grade 4 we had a sub - the sub couldn't hear very well and a few of us mean kids started to hum - except that she couldn't hear the humming - the humming sounded like whistling in her hearing aids... she made the mistake of asking who was whistling and then it was on because of course you could hide who was humming - and so a few took turns humming... now what should have happened in this situation - well the principal came in and figured out which of us morons was being stupid and took us into the hall... oh - finger pointing, we were bad kids.. etc.... and then something happened - he made no threat - later he told us how he wanted us to carry on because he didn't like the sub and didn't want her to come back to the school... ahhhhh... so then what happened - well the class walked out after lunch - we actually picked up all our stuff and walked out into the middle of the field - we left her behind - and the principal did nothing - absolutely nothing - and the sub left and the principal got what we wanted and we began to learn lessons about how adults operate... yes - this situation is sad - but it is completely true. What of redemption - how did the fates turn this back on me... well I was a sub - for one semester at a high school - no - they didn't hum at me - no, I was put through FAR FAR worse... freakin' kids...

it gets better... ha

Alright - so I post the previous post and then I'm talking to Kyle and then he says the note is here.... and here you go... I'm sharing...

"I em sore kyle for poking you in the back with my pesnol I hop you or ok. I thik it hrs a lot to get pokt by a pesnol on the back :( from the jerk that poked you in the back" (alright so I added the last part... but that is the freakin' apology note...)

So here is what I'm going to do - tonight I am going to write out multiple notes of apology and then commit random acts of hurt and then give a note immediately following - I'm sure that I will be fine because apparently that is enough...

I know - I know - what the hell can I do about this... issues - well 1) what was the teacher doing that this scene got out of control 2) what was kyle doing - why did he think it was ok to be in a sword fight with pencils while he should have been paying attention in class and 3) kyle says that he asked for a timeout from the kid because he wanted to get back to work - so a cease fire was issued and then once kyle got back to work the kid stabbed him in the back - so is the other kid a) stupid b) malicious c) stupid

ah.... see they skip all of this in the parenting books - they talk about the joy of sex, the joy of being pregnant (ha), the joy of seeing your wee little baby and holding them and ... oops we forgot the section on a kid stabbing your kid in the back...

a photo and...

First here is a photo from our trip to Nazko yesterday...



And then... what else.. well Kyle got stabbed with a pencil today... in the freakin' back. How is that for education...
What happened... well I got this rather pathetic voice mail noting that he had been stabbed while he wasn't doing his work in class. So am I getting this right... if he'd been paying attention he wouldn't have been stabbed - really - freakin' really - ARE YOU SURE? You might want to leave better voice mails for parents! Apparently, they were in class and doing work when Kyle and another boy started playing "swords" with pencils and somehow this scene turned into Kyle getting it in his spine - no kidding - it is red and looks sore. Kyle brushed off the whole scene. He was more worried that I'd be pissed at him for playing in class because the teacher called.

Now what... well part of me hates his school because what the freakin' hell is that - um... this is Ms... fill in blank teacher that can't spell - I'm your son's teacher ... (because apparently I'm too stupid to remember who my son's teacher is... even though we've had a few run-ins with her... ) during class today your son was playing with another boy and he was stabbed - I'm sure you'll see the mark in his back - the other student has written an apology note... - alright - so let's bust out the angry parent - the angry parent in me wants to know what the hell kind of punishment that is - wow - a freakin' note... a FREAKIN' note - how about I cram a pencil in your back and see how things go - if I stabbed someone I work with a pencil in the back I wouldn't get off with a note - in fact I'd probably get a pencil in the eye or much much worse... what kind of values are we teaching our kids - alright Kyle - little Johnny wrote down that he is sorry he STABBED YOU IN THE BACK - I'm sure he means it... now run along and play... um - SERIOUSLY! Are we afraid to punish - is that the state of affairs now? Suggestions...
(Jen - please comment - I would love to hear your thoughts on this...)

Ah, another fine day in parenting... and Michael - what of him... well same old - "Mom, can I have some chocolate..." - no... "Please" - no, Michael - "please..... plllleeeaaaassseeeee" - no... sorry dude - chocolate can't be every meal...

flowers - for you, of course

saturday

Well this morning I was going to go to work... I didn't... I went for a run instead.

Here I am running across the bridge (you can see our old walking bridge in the background). I did 9.4 km this morning - I was only going to do a 5 km run and then just as I was getting to km 5 I felt like going further - so I told the guys I'd meet them at the rec centre. My knees are not super pleased with me right now... and I had some not so pleasant shin splints earlier - but oh well - I love it - then this afternoon we all went and played hockey in a court near the house - it was great! I just felt alive! I miss hockey sooooo much! I'm hoping we can add hockey in more often... shockingly I didn't take my camera to hockey - so I'll have to load photos from our next experience :)

return

The night talker came back last night.. and coincidentally my husband had two great episodes where he tried to scare the crap out of me again... I got woken up twice to two different issues - first time was to ask me what was up in the corner of the room - and then he woke up and asked me about a race... I'm so use to this madness that now I just tell him to go back to sleep and stop talking to me... with Michael he just blurted out that the voice was back last night but today he added... this time he added that he thinks it might be his bakugan... now this makes a little more sense as the bakugan characters talk to their masters - and some of them only talk to their masters and they talk quietly... so that helped take some of the fear out of all of this... but we will see how this goes...

Happy Saturday - I'm gonna go for a run.

good grief...

This morning I decided to go outside the box and wear a dress. That's right, ladies and gentleman, I put on this cute little dress. Felt like summer - plus 12 today in Q-town - so why not. So I get the guys ready for school, everything is great - I'm feeling good, looking pretty good - ready for the day... and then I get to Kyle's school and someone sees us getting out of the car... now I've barely had a chance to get out of the car and I'm just starting to adjust because of course this dress has crept up a bit... when I get this person pointing at me - motioning to pull my dress down - now - my ass wasn't hanging out - nor was my gonch - but this was enough to make me go home and change.... so yes, lesson learned, buy static guard and apply it to clingy dresses....

Maybe I'll try again with the dress next week...


Signs of spring in the Cariboo....

remember poltergeist....

When I was just about 13 I went to a birthday party where we watched poltergeist - that is a scary movie - to this day I have flashes of this film... the pork chop scene, the freakin' tree... the tv... LORD! And then... and then I had kids...

"Mom.... (long and drawn out...)"

What, hun.. what do you need....

"Mom, someone was sitting on my bed last night."

What...

"They were talking to me."

*And now... you have my full freakin' attention...*

Babe, what did they say to you?

"I don't know Mom."

Well if they come again, come and get me... ok...

"Ok, mom."

Yep - this terrified me... until I remembered who I'm married to...
"Psssstttt... April, wake up... there is someone in the house."
(I hear this - while I'm totally and completely asleep... but this comment awakens me like nothing else... - this would be a good fire alarm for me..)
"April - someone is in the house."
What... what... WHAT
"snoring... snoring... snoring"

That's right friends - my husband sleep talks - or rather sleep scares - as after these kinds of conversations he returns to sleep while I go through the whole house looking... searching.. just in case... - so weird stuff at night seems to run in this family - Kyle the sleep walker who talks while walking and scares the crap out of me and Michael the one with a sleep friend...

a first for me...

Well tonight we lay our fighting fish 'sushi' also known as 'sush' to rest. As we stood around the toilet bowl sending our little fish on his way to fish heaven Kyle began to sing. That's right my friends, he broke out into song... now what would you sing at a funeral... Irish Blessing (my favorite hymn), Wind beneath my wings, I'll fly away, Angel - not in our house - Kyle bust out into O Canada. We all sang - Michael too - and off sushi went. At the end of the song Kyle, bless his heart, started to cry a little. I think that could possibly be the next Tim Hortons commercial - us all singing O Canada and then pan to me having coffee the next day re-telling the heart felt story... and then I could roll up the rim and win a crappy toyota.

So there is another day in the life in our house... never a dull moment.