Alas, the return of the perpetually sick

dear readers,

 my excuses for my absence are as follows :

• the common cold
• Christmas busyness
• the really serious flu that's going around (did you know like 5 people have died from it? CRAZY!)
• the stomach bug (I will never eat french fries again)
• my dog ate my homework

That last one isn't true, but I really did spend the better part of the last month sick, which was not, as my little sisters would say, totally sic. I thought seriously about uploading something little even from my phone, but my laziness got the better of me. Then I made a new years resolution to myself (btw, B and I were both asleep before midnight because we are THAT cool) that I would post once ever two weeks. So here I am.

Truthfully, I was creeping facebook and ended up on a link to a different website for making blogs, then I started feeling really guilty for this blog halfway through making a new one. Feeling guilty for a blog, that's how exciting my life has been.

Anyways, here is a little update:

Santa Clause was great to us this year, putting us a whole lot closer to our trip to Italy next January, and Mrs.Clause was really good to Toby,  a brand new bed and a bone that lasted him almost a whole month (thanks go out to momsicle for that one).  Christmas came late for Miss Moto (as in this week), but I think she knows it was worth the wait, an awesome new cat tree!

The boys were obviously spoiled too! In a good way of course! The house seems full of trains now! After only a week away from R he was suddenly saying a buzzillion new words. He attempts to say "Jessie" now when prompted, which is less exciting than all the other amazing things he can now do. Like eat anything all by himself, and he can sign and say "More Please", which is crazy adorable. Although when hes saying "Up Please" and I can't pick him up I feel really bad. 
He has also taken to tantrums. He flops his whole body forwards and cries face first into the ground. I feel like this may make me a bad nanny, but at times I find it hilarious (when I get past how frustrating it is) and I may or may not take pictures of it. He has also realized that D gets pretty much all the attention there is to be given ( mostly because he demands it), and has decided this is not acceptable. So much fun.

On the other side of the ring, D is making incredible progress as well. Manners manners manners, he is getting so much better at using them. And time-outs come less often, and with a whole lot less fuss. After the first few days of getting back into our routine, he was like a little angel! But his sharing skills leave something to be desired.
 Today he was playing with cars on the floor and R picked up B's bear, to which he responded to using his most babylike voice to say "I wannnnttt myyy bearrrrr" (with a huge fake sad face)
I said " Your brother has the bear right now because you weren't playing with it, why don't you play with your cars?"
B got up, walked over to the toy box and held up a car and defiantly said " I play with R's car now, we share."
I know it sounds cute, but you could see he was just pushing me, to see if that would make me give him back his bear. I smiled sweetly and said sure.
He was grumpy for a bit after that.

Next week we adventure to the Museum of Civilization (which also includes what I'm told is a children's museum). Look forward to that update, I'm sure it will be a whole lot more exciting.

A $50 Christmas

This year I have taken on a challenge. Mostly because with school and our trip next year I don't really have more  than that to spend. I was inspired by my love of Pintrest, and after finding tons of things I thought would be fun to make, I thought "Why not actually make it?".
My challenge is "$50 or under". This means lots of homemade gifts, and hopefully a family photo of all 4 of us if I can find my little camera (if you have seen it btw please let me know!).

So there also may be a few very pretty IOU's also because it's a lot more work than I had thought. And also I need to get a cord for my swing machine  because in our move apparently I lost it (if you haven't noticed, I misplace things a lot).

Here are a few examples of my hard work (I'm not worried about the receivers seeing them because they are  the employers and a two year old)

Elmo looks a lot like he is on drug but they are all a work in progress still.

The babies were, as per usual, ridiculously adorable the week. Exceptions of that being poor D's backslide in toilet training, stemming from R's recently growing ability to communicate effectively. I learned this week that not only is potty training crazy hard, but without very immediate results is very discouraging as a caregiver. I left work nearly in tears  more then once this week. But alas, a little progess left me with a little bit of a lift of the spirits by the end of the week.
Listening to a one year old cry for two hours, with nothing, not singing or tv or playing or drinking or eating or anything at all cheering him up, is very discouraging. Makes you feel very crappy about about yourself.

Some day I might write a very bad novel.
Sorry about the lack of enthusiasm today readers, aside from being exhausted, my house is probably haunted.

Happy  December 1st!

Melmo! Apppsauuusseee!!

It was a week of talking for this nanny this week! R is just starting to talk. And I honestly had no idea how adorable it was going to be, or how quickly and spontaneously it would happen. When I started he had the basic "dada" and "anana" and the occasional "mama". This has now grown to "ckocks" (socks), "cucks" (trucks) "caaaarrrk" (car), "meeemoooo" or "melllmooomelmo!" (Elmo), and most impressively "Apppsause" (applesauce).

He loves talking, not that D is taking to that much. This 2 year old is used to being the only one able to communicate, and I can feel the beginnings of the "terrible twos" coming on. Smashing his fists against the table, I ask him " What are you doing buddy?" and I get what resembles a demon stare. His chin is tilted down almost touching his chest, his eyes looking up at the scariest angle at me. It is really quite terrifying. "Are you trying to make Jessie sad or mad?" and still banging on the table he smiles and nods his head. "Is that a nice thing to do?" and suddenly he stops, shakes his head and his face is suddenly frowning.

Other memorable turn of events this week, he has started peeing his pants a little and saying "oh well thats okay". Don't get me wrong. At 26 months he was fully potty trained, which took at total of 3 days, and he hasn't worn a diaper since, not even to bed. He is very smart. But when he peed on me, as he was getting dressed one morning. No that is not okay.

Also Braden turned 21 this week!! So a very happy birthday to my wonderful amazing partner in crime and life! He is now old enough to drink anywhere in the world!! Oh how I love him.

the first gift , for the boss

If you don't already know, this years christmas theme is " Under $50 Altogether", and mostly completely homemade. If you have any requests do not hesitate to make a request. Only a month and a half to go!!!

Home again Home again Jiggity Jig

Long time no see blog readers. Of whom there may be very few, but I decided to go back to writing because I know I have at least one reader, my beautiful little sister Maggie. So for her, and the others who randomly happen upon my page.

Now that we have safely arrived home (yay!), moved into our apartment (perfect), and started our lives here in Ottawa there are not many travel stories to share. But fear not! Being a nanny for 2 of the most adorable boys I have ever met leaves me with many many many stories.

The boys are 2 (D) and 1 (R), and very handsome. D is speaking in almost full sentences, can count up to 13, can sing more songs than I can count including the abc's. We are about to start working on recognizing the ABC's. R is at all times either laughing or crying. Mostly laughing. Say the word stinky. HAHAHAHAHA. Put a stuffed animal on your head. HAHAHAHA. Tries going into his tent with guitar and can't get it in on the first try, and you have nonstop crying for 5 minutes. It is both the best and most exhausting job I have ever had.

Being a first time nanny, I have a new found respect for every mother, stepmom, and childcare giver in the world. It is not always an easy job. Not that I thought it would be. But we have fun finger painting, making crafts, and going on trips to the library.


Badadada badadada It's Elmo's World!

Yesterday I Cried

I have made it back from Vancouver Island! A little bit crazier, but other than that fully intact. And Although this is unrelated to the actual move itself, seeing as this is my blog, and the only people other than me who read it are nosey bystanders on facebook, creeping me without me knowing (which by the way I'm okay with because it's something I do quite often), or close friends and family who want to or feel obligated to read because they love me, I feel as though I can drift away from writing about the trip for a moment and tell you all about why I cried yesterday.

Yesterday I cried. I cried because for the first time in as long I can remember I came to the realization that after years of chaos, I have finally become the person I want to be. A person I am proud to be.

 Dear past teachers ( Ms. Legacy, Mrs. Stroud, & Mrs. Campbell among many others), Thank-You for being there for me, never giving up on me, having faith in who I was when I didn't even know. I am a truly blessed person, having had the amount of amazing teachers in my life that I did. Without the teachers I had, I'm not sure how I would have graduated high school. I often feel guilty at the fact that I graduated because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have if I hadn't had them. I think what Im coming to realize is that they knew who I was, not as a student, but as a person. And they seen potential I did not fully grasp that I had. High School (& Elementary) is not an easy place for many, if anyone. And I don't think teachers ever fully get the appreciation that they deserve. I have to actively fight the urge to hug some of my teachers and tell them I love them and appreciate them every time I see them. 
  
There are a lot of people who have been there for me, I am an extraordinarily lucky person to have so many people in my life who love me as much as they do. And I really do truly love them all.  

Knight Inlet, Sword and Shield not required

SAILCONE LODGE, Knight Inlet, BC

Way back in April, Braden and I went on a trip to a fishing lodge further north, between Vancouver Island and the mainland. Braden is working at an awesome restaurant called the Mad Chef Cafe, and there works the amazing Keeley. Keeley's boyfriend Cam grew up at, and worked at, Sailcone Lodge, which offers Fishing Trips and Wildlife Tours. They extended an incredible invitation to spend the weekend there with them, before the season started. Can you say experience of a lifetime? Obviously we said Heck to the yeah.

We spent a Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in paradise. The lodge itself was beautiful. From the yard to the view to the house itself. Literally everything was beautiful. Im having trouble putting into words how awesome it was. So here are some pictures 

Cam worked hard pulling up the prawn traps :)

My first touch of the sunfish. Which is much like a starfish I believe. If you pull its leg off, not only will it grow a new one but the leg will grow into a new sunstar (what I called them) if enough of its core was pulled out

Prawn anyone? They heads are like little darts. Seriously. Not what I expected them to look like.

The view literally looks like a default screensaver that comes with a computer. This is from in the boat pulling out of the Dock

Bouys for the traps

The Amazing Keeley!!

SEALIONS! Lazy fat adorable hilarious and they bark. Animals dont get much better than this

KER-SPLASH!

Telegraph Cove

Sealion Skeleton

He just let his feather blow in the wind.

They waddle when the walk, it really is hilarious

I tried to throw him a prawn head, it just scared him away.

Literally my only catch of the weekend

More sealions

The view of the front yard.

View to the left of the lodge

Bohemoth Wolf

I may or may not be writing a little little something. Definitely still in the very early staged of development. But here is a little piece of what may or may not exist.

"In the distance the church bells rung out the sound that signified midnight. Suddenly a slashing sound, which was followed immediately by what resembled rattling chains and a resounding howl. What seemed to be a canter followed by a WHACK and a small whimper. Again the sound of a canter could be heard, followed by a WHACK and a small whimper. And Again the sound of canter echoed off the walls and it was ended with a WHACK and another whimper. The fourth time however it was and eruption of almost a gallop and a deafening blast. It was as if the room below had just experienced an enormous crash of \thunder. It ricocheted throughout the castle, making it feel as though the castle itself was collapsing. The low echo of an angry snarl could only just be heard as the sound of thunder crashing slowly faded off. The clamour of chains clattering across each concrete step up the curve of the massive stairwell that led directly to the room that Milo sat in could be heard. As the clatter came to a halt Milo looked up, in the doorway he could see only a set of piercing eyes staring at him and he could now hear the vicious snarl from the darkness. Suddenly a titanic growling broke out in the room. The sound of it echoed around the room and it became the only sound that could be heard. It had become so that being able to tell whether it was the growl itself or only its echo ceased to exist. Very slowly, what may have seemed like hours, it tapered off  until all that could be heard was the flickering of the flames in Milo’s fire."