Today was a good day. That's not to say that I have a lot of bad days or that this one was especially exciting in any major way, but it was good and that's the best one can hope for.
Devan started the new semester at his new high school and seems to like it. So far; so good. {Recurring theme in this post? Yep, I think so}
We even had a really decent heart to heart on the way home. All the way home! It was nice. I've been missing that kid he used to be and I think he's been missing the Mom he pushed away. I know he didn't mean to or want to...and he's growing past all that so we'll just keep rolling with the punches and rebuilding and redefining our relationship.
But it truly makes makes my heart so happy, you don't even know. : )
Anyways, that came later in the day...after dropping off the boys at school a string of great things happened...
I talked with my Gramma Dubord for 74 solid minutes on the phone without one interruption!
(Zaiden was at school, Talia was busy painting pictures. Sweet!)
I had a beautiful bouquet of flowers delivered from my cousin for no real reason whatsoever, and aside from the confusion that ensued because the flower shop mixed up my card with some poor elderly lady's (who just lost her husband!) it really did pick me up and brighten my week. Thank you, Baby Germ!
I received 45 heart-shaped paper doilies (in pink, red and white) from my Lesley in the mail!
We plan on doing great things with them. Doily slash "Love Is" Valentines Day banner, anyone?
I conquered 7 loads of laundry. And yes, they are all washed, dried, folded and put away.
Well, mostly put away. : P
Talia not only asked me to "turn up the hip hop" on the way to pick up the boys, she also knew almost every single word to "Killing Me Softly"; Fugee style.
High fives to that, little miss girlfriend! You can be my co-pilot any day.
Then came the whole Devan conversation. He's always been very smart. Now that he's adding maturity to the mix it blows my mind!
"Oh, the places you'll go!" -Dr. Seuss
Zaiden read a whole entire library book to me all by himself! Yay!
He hardly stumbled on any words. Raising a reader ROCKS! But no, Zaiden, Daddy and I won't be having another baby so that you can read to him/her. Sorry BooBear.
Next was a pretty non-disgusting cleaning of the ensuite jet tub, which in itself is cause for a "good day" on it's own. Glass of wine, latest book and hot, bubbly jet tub, I will be seeing you later (wink, wink)
A positive outcome for a situation that my bestest has had on her plate recently has just reached me in form of a text message.
Firm but friendly. When and then, my friend. And hugs to you all!
Last, but not least was a bbm message from my honey saying that he will be home tonight, not tomorrow night as expected. Stuff like that makes me clap my hands in glee whilst doing a happy little jig. I dislike when he's on the road. I loathe it during the winter. L-o-a-t-h-e i-t.
Safe travels home, my BigSexy. If I time it right my bubble bath and your arrival home may just jive together perfectly. ; )
Plus the kids will be soooooo excited when they wake up to see Daddy!
Life is pretty great, today was good. Real good.
Hoping that your's was full of real goodness, too! And now I'm off to finish putting away that darn laundry.
PS: the title of this post was what the senders of the flowers intended for the elderly lady wrote on the card. Thank you Wade & Cathelijne (whoever you are) for unintentionally sharing one of the prettiest quotes I've ever heard.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Bring me two piña coladas, one for each hand!
I booked a trip to Mexico with my honey, my best friend and her honey (slash other best friend) last night! Yay! Just as I intended (with a little coercing from Lesley. Twist my drunken, rubber arm!)
70 days away and counting. We will each have a few days alone with our significant others but the majority will be spent in purely inebriated, hilarious, heartfelt happiness. We need the break, we've had a couple of roller coaster years and Zal and I have never been away together anywhere alone! They need the break, they've had a lot on their plates, too. Bottom line? We all deserve it.
Not everyone in this world is lucky enough to have their best friend totally jive with their spouse. We jive all four ways! That may sound kinkier than a three way but it really isn't (unless you count Lesley's bribing Zal to agree to the trip with a hot bikini wax for his hot banana hammock region) ; )
We were fortunate enough to spend a few days with Lesley, Curtis and their boys at their family cabin last August. Lesley and I erred on the side of safety with only committing to a few days, in fear that it may be "too much". Turns out everyone feels that it "wasn't enough".
How happy can that make our hearts? For real.
Only one family member was missing for that holiday, without a doubt he's grown up and extracted his head from his ass far enough to know that he won't be missing out next time. He was missed and Lesley helped me through the really rough parts...she was the best choice of God Mother for Devan that I could have ever picked. God forbid anything ever happen to me and I have to leave this world behind, I know without a doubt that she will beak in his ear, nag him into shape and be his biggest life cheerleader ever. She'd do it for all my kids but she holds an extra special place for Dev in her heart. She's never stopped believing that he will end up being the great person he is intended to be. And he's taken good solid strides towards that this year.
PS: She's almost always right, but I don't tell her that too often!
Don't get me wrong, I love my kids to the moon and back but raising teenagers and twenty-something year olds sucks. It really does. Why? Because its hard. And they do horrifying stuff. Or they do absolutely nothing at all! They screw things up to the utmost furthest extent all the while knowing so much damn better. We can't fix things for them, make their choices or hold their hands every hour of every day...but we'd like to. Because we love the living daylights outta them. They'll all find their way...roots & wings. Hopefully both my older boys discover their's before we have to go into Round 2 with their younger siblings.
To quote Doug and The Slugs, I'll be taking it day by day by day by day...until then rewarding ourselves for a job well done in Puerto Vallarta with some juicy, boozy cocktails in hand is a really brilliant idea. Ole!
Seeing as Zal and I like to do things ass backwards sometimes just for shits & giggles perhaps I should insert a small prayer in here, as well...
Our Father, who art in Heaven (and the Canadian passport employees in the Saskatoon office); please deliver our applications not into evil, but into our ever-grateful (albeit nervous) hands sooner rather than later so we can actually make the trip. But lead us not into temptation while we're there! Amen.
70 days away and counting. We will each have a few days alone with our significant others but the majority will be spent in purely inebriated, hilarious, heartfelt happiness. We need the break, we've had a couple of roller coaster years and Zal and I have never been away together anywhere alone! They need the break, they've had a lot on their plates, too. Bottom line? We all deserve it.
Not everyone in this world is lucky enough to have their best friend totally jive with their spouse. We jive all four ways! That may sound kinkier than a three way but it really isn't (unless you count Lesley's bribing Zal to agree to the trip with a hot bikini wax for his hot banana hammock region) ; )
We were fortunate enough to spend a few days with Lesley, Curtis and their boys at their family cabin last August. Lesley and I erred on the side of safety with only committing to a few days, in fear that it may be "too much". Turns out everyone feels that it "wasn't enough".
How happy can that make our hearts? For real.
Only one family member was missing for that holiday, without a doubt he's grown up and extracted his head from his ass far enough to know that he won't be missing out next time. He was missed and Lesley helped me through the really rough parts...she was the best choice of God Mother for Devan that I could have ever picked. God forbid anything ever happen to me and I have to leave this world behind, I know without a doubt that she will beak in his ear, nag him into shape and be his biggest life cheerleader ever. She'd do it for all my kids but she holds an extra special place for Dev in her heart. She's never stopped believing that he will end up being the great person he is intended to be. And he's taken good solid strides towards that this year.
PS: She's almost always right, but I don't tell her that too often!
Don't get me wrong, I love my kids to the moon and back but raising teenagers and twenty-something year olds sucks. It really does. Why? Because its hard. And they do horrifying stuff. Or they do absolutely nothing at all! They screw things up to the utmost furthest extent all the while knowing so much damn better. We can't fix things for them, make their choices or hold their hands every hour of every day...but we'd like to. Because we love the living daylights outta them. They'll all find their way...roots & wings. Hopefully both my older boys discover their's before we have to go into Round 2 with their younger siblings.
To quote Doug and The Slugs, I'll be taking it day by day by day by day...until then rewarding ourselves for a job well done in Puerto Vallarta with some juicy, boozy cocktails in hand is a really brilliant idea. Ole!
Seeing as Zal and I like to do things ass backwards sometimes just for shits & giggles perhaps I should insert a small prayer in here, as well...
Our Father, who art in Heaven (and the Canadian passport employees in the Saskatoon office); please deliver our applications not into evil, but into our ever-grateful (albeit nervous) hands sooner rather than later so we can actually make the trip. But lead us not into temptation while we're there! Amen.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Oh happy day!
When you actually like your new driver's licence picture better than the old one?
Happy dance!!!
And it's a good thing because this one doesn't expire until January 2018.
Wishing you a happy day, too.
: )
Happy dance!!!
And it's a good thing because this one doesn't expire until January 2018.
Wishing you a happy day, too.
: )
Friday, January 18, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
the x4 that ilovemore....
Just working out the bugs, getting used to this new format and bombarding you with pics of my four smart, gorgeous, funny, caring, completely loveable brats!
Have a happy day. : )
Have a happy day. : )
Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble...
Little Miss Lala just doin' her thing, in MY tub!
Such a girly-girl.
Such a girly-girl.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Intentions that were intended for the previous post! Grrrrrrr!
***read the post "Setting My Intentions" directly below for this post to make any sense...I had some technical difficulties***
: S
Ummmmmm, PS: Excuse me blogspot.com...bugs and glitches and not allowing me to move around freely and finish my posts is very, very uncool. Now, where was I?
Oh yes, my intentions for 2013.
*Getting healthy* And I don't mean just losing weight and trying to look a certain way. I will never again look or weigh the same as I did in my 20's or early 30's and it no longer bothers me. I am in the very last year of my 30's and all I really wish to have a healthier outlook on life in general. The whole meal deal. It all goes hand in hand, really. I intend to cut out the junk, be it unhealthy foods, habits, or relationships. Anything that isn't useful, beautiful or makes me happy is going, going...gone. Life is too short for crap. I'm going to treat myself better, Zal better, and my family and friends better.
On an actual health related note here, I started eating one whole healthy salad as a meal each day (healthy meaning not just chicken or egg salad, the ones I love the most smothered in all that creamy, delicious calorie filled mayonnaise. *sighhhh*) Anyways, yesterday we all kind of slept in and low and behold I missed breakfast (very bad, mucho unhealthy, I know...but I'm just not a breakfast person unless it's a bacon-fest brunch at 11ish or beyond!) so I come home for a quick lunch and as matter of (recent) habit make myself a salad. No big deal, right? Good for you, Celeste. Ummm, nope. I do not recommend eating only a salad and a cup of tea the day of a tooth extraction. Not wise at all. I am starving here, people! I can't wait until the stitches heal and I can chow down on a steak. Oh, and a salad, of course.
*Organization* By this I am referring mostly to stuff in the house. And garage. And storage space under the deck. So. Much. Stuff. We've only been here a year and we purged and downsized before we moved. Where the hell did all this STUFF come from?! I guess I should include my ten million
pictures into this whole organization business, too, now that I think of it.
*Less swearing* My Gramma Glasser always says that swearing is for people that have nothing more intelligent to say. Enough said. I'm trying, Gramma. I really am, unless it's totally called for. Or funny. But my intention is to replace those nasty swear words with hilarious made up non-swear words. If you have any that I should add to my repertoire, please pass them on.
*Blog* My goal is to blog more often, honestly and without shame. I love to write. I love to read. I need to express and get out of my own head every now and then. That and Lesley pretty much bugs me to do it, like, every week! But she's right. I've been asked more than a few times, "why don't you write in your blog anymore" and "what happened to your blog site?". Looking back it's pretty evident that I only really posted pictures and short updates as a precursor to Facebook. Although I consider myself to be very socially interactive on Facebook, I have been missing the feeling you get when you write...and write and write. I am so long winded sometimes! But that is ok. This is an avenue in which I can be and you can chose whether to read it or not. It doesn't hurt my feelings either way.
*Marriage* What...Really? Finally? Actually??. Yes, yes and yesser. Zal and I have been together for 9-ish years now (sorry, but it's hard to pinpoint an actual anniversary date when you don't have an actual anniversary!) We've done it all pretty much ass backwards but we're both at a time and place where we feel that this is the year. It's undecided on the where, when and how just yet. We don't want a huge, formal affair. We've thought of eloping but I know that would disappoint not only our kids but a few of our family members and good friends, as well. We'll figure what's right for us. And then we'll let you all know. ; )
Ok, I think that's about it, give or take. Thanx to my amazing, wonderful, caring and hippy-dippy-hokey-pokey Mom for planting the idea of intentions in my head. My Mom has many "Jacolen-isms" that I'm sure I will share eventually. And right as Lesley, Jill and Cheryl read this I know, without a doubt that they will be laughing out loud and thinking fondly about a few of them...bless their journeys.
: S
Ummmmmm, PS: Excuse me blogspot.com...bugs and glitches and not allowing me to move around freely and finish my posts is very, very uncool. Now, where was I?
Oh yes, my intentions for 2013.
*Getting healthy* And I don't mean just losing weight and trying to look a certain way. I will never again look or weigh the same as I did in my 20's or early 30's and it no longer bothers me. I am in the very last year of my 30's and all I really wish to have a healthier outlook on life in general. The whole meal deal. It all goes hand in hand, really. I intend to cut out the junk, be it unhealthy foods, habits, or relationships. Anything that isn't useful, beautiful or makes me happy is going, going...gone. Life is too short for crap. I'm going to treat myself better, Zal better, and my family and friends better.
On an actual health related note here, I started eating one whole healthy salad as a meal each day (healthy meaning not just chicken or egg salad, the ones I love the most smothered in all that creamy, delicious calorie filled mayonnaise. *sighhhh*) Anyways, yesterday we all kind of slept in and low and behold I missed breakfast (very bad, mucho unhealthy, I know...but I'm just not a breakfast person unless it's a bacon-fest brunch at 11ish or beyond!) so I come home for a quick lunch and as matter of (recent) habit make myself a salad. No big deal, right? Good for you, Celeste. Ummm, nope. I do not recommend eating only a salad and a cup of tea the day of a tooth extraction. Not wise at all. I am starving here, people! I can't wait until the stitches heal and I can chow down on a steak. Oh, and a salad, of course.
*Organization* By this I am referring mostly to stuff in the house. And garage. And storage space under the deck. So. Much. Stuff. We've only been here a year and we purged and downsized before we moved. Where the hell did all this STUFF come from?! I guess I should include my ten million
pictures into this whole organization business, too, now that I think of it.
*Less swearing* My Gramma Glasser always says that swearing is for people that have nothing more intelligent to say. Enough said. I'm trying, Gramma. I really am, unless it's totally called for. Or funny. But my intention is to replace those nasty swear words with hilarious made up non-swear words. If you have any that I should add to my repertoire, please pass them on.
*Blog* My goal is to blog more often, honestly and without shame. I love to write. I love to read. I need to express and get out of my own head every now and then. That and Lesley pretty much bugs me to do it, like, every week! But she's right. I've been asked more than a few times, "why don't you write in your blog anymore" and "what happened to your blog site?". Looking back it's pretty evident that I only really posted pictures and short updates as a precursor to Facebook. Although I consider myself to be very socially interactive on Facebook, I have been missing the feeling you get when you write...and write and write. I am so long winded sometimes! But that is ok. This is an avenue in which I can be and you can chose whether to read it or not. It doesn't hurt my feelings either way.
*Marriage* What...Really? Finally? Actually??. Yes, yes and yesser. Zal and I have been together for 9-ish years now (sorry, but it's hard to pinpoint an actual anniversary date when you don't have an actual anniversary!) We've done it all pretty much ass backwards but we're both at a time and place where we feel that this is the year. It's undecided on the where, when and how just yet. We don't want a huge, formal affair. We've thought of eloping but I know that would disappoint not only our kids but a few of our family members and good friends, as well. We'll figure what's right for us. And then we'll let you all know. ; )
Ok, I think that's about it, give or take. Thanx to my amazing, wonderful, caring and hippy-dippy-hokey-pokey Mom for planting the idea of intentions in my head. My Mom has many "Jacolen-isms" that I'm sure I will share eventually. And right as Lesley, Jill and Cheryl read this I know, without a doubt that they will be laughing out loud and thinking fondly about a few of them...bless their journeys.
Setting my intentions...
Intentions...
Happy New Year everyone! I've been thinking a lot about hopes, changes and resolutions for 2013...I think my Mom has the best outlook on all those sorts of things. She doesn't make resolutions, nor do I. I've done the "lose weight" and "quit smoking" resolutions and all that jazz. I always fail. I think it's just too much to be resolute in setting goals. I would rather intend for what I want, as my Mom has taught me through the years. It might sound hippy-dippy-hokey-pokey to some but I really gotta say that it's worked for me lately.
The whole mess with title slash ownership of the old house? Jumped right over that hurdle with positive intentions and a little bit of paperwork, running around and frustration on my part but it's done and DONE! And here we are, one year into living in our new home sweet home which leads me to...
Having my entire family living under the same roof of our new home? Yep, that happened. It's been "far from being perfect, but who's life is? I like it just the way it is...speed bumps and all. My babies are where they are meant to be.
Devan focusing and catching up in school? I'm very proud to report that he's back on track and looking forward to starting the new semester at a "regular" high school in a few weeks. We knew he had it in him, he just needed that positive support and a little push in the right direction. He was blessed to have his teachers at Opening Doors Program, Lisa and Mike, fall into his life whether he knows it yet or not. But I'm pretty sure he does.
Getting out of a job that was driving me bonkers? Well, I had intended for things to work out a little bit differently there but c'est la vie! I missed so much precious time with Zaiden and Talia when they were little that although I have my days where I question my capabilities as a full-time, stay at home Mom (not to mention sanity!) I know that come next Fall I will be back to the grind refreshed and ever so thankful for right NOW. Getting my kids to and from school, being home with little Miss Lala every second day, having the opportunity to volunteer, attend field trips, be home without guilt (or judgement) when they are sick is absolutely priceless. I love it.
Anyways, back to my intentions for 2013. And I have quite a few of them so here they are in no particular order.
*Conquer my fear of the dentist* I actually jumped right in and started that yesterday with a new doctor. I can't say that I loved it but I certainly didn't hate it. It helps to walk into an office where you can almost literally FEEL the positive energy. Plus, I was booked for X-rays and a first meeting at 9am, they were able to get me in for a cleaning at 10am and back in for an extraction at 2pm. I really dig when efficiency and a little good luck work together like that. I told them I wanted to go full throttle so I'm happy to report that I have appointments booked into mid February already. Yay me!
*Communication* I intend for healthier, better, more frequent communication with my friends and family. Facebook is super fantastic for helping us to keep in touch with those that are far away and God knows I love me some Facebook. And Instagram. And Pinterest. And texting. Lol! But I'd like to improve on the old fashioned form of communicating, too...phone calls to my Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, unexpected happy mail to my friends and cousins, things like that. Saying "I love you" and "I miss you" and "I appreciate you" because you just never know when the chance to say it might be (God forbid!) taken away. Most of all I'd like my immediate family to learn to communicate a little bit better, a little bit softer and a lot more often. My baby birds will all eventually fly away and I don't want anything left unsaid or any regrets.
*Travel!* Zal and I have never vacationed without kids. Ever. This is the year to do it. I am working
on plans to get away to Mexico with my best friend, my other best friend and HER other best friend (make sense, Lesley?) We need it and we deserve it. The next vacation will be a family one, because it's necessary and because I'm sure the guilt of leaving kids behind may just eat Zal up whole. Lol.
*Better sleep habits* I'm a night owl. Always have been, hopefully won't always be. Zal is completely right in saying that I need to learn to shut down at night. All technology should come to a halt and I really should get back into the habit of reading myself to sleep. The problem is, I usually see the hours when the kids are asleep as "me time" until the clock starts hitting 1, 2, 3am. Then I regret it and try to get to sleep as fast I can so that I can salvage any hope of getting at least a few hours in. Every. Damn. Time. I'm working on it.
*Less hairspray* Yet another one of Zal's pet peeves. He loathes the stuff. I wish I had the type of hair that never needed it but alas, I sure as heck don't. It really is nasty stuff. It smells, it's sticky and the mess it leaves in our new ensuite is pretty gross. It's like dust mixed with gooey tackiness and it covers everything. I will TRY to wean myself off it. Or at least cut back???
on plans to get away to Mexico with my best friend, my other best friend and HER other best friend (make sense, Lesley?) We need it and we deserve it. The next vacation will be a family one, because it's necessary and because I'm sure the guilt of leaving kids behind may just eat Zal up whole. Lol.
*Better sleep habits* I'm a night owl. Always have been, hopefully won't always be. Zal is completely right in saying that I need to learn to shut down at night. All technology should come to a halt and I really should get back into the habit of reading myself to sleep. The problem is, I usually see the hours when the kids are asleep as "me time" until the clock starts hitting 1, 2, 3am. Then I regret it and try to get to sleep as fast I can so that I can salvage any hope of getting at least a few hours in. Every. Damn. Time. I'm working on it.
*Less hairspray* Yet another one of Zal's pet peeves. He loathes the stuff. I wish I had the type of hair that never needed it but alas, I sure as heck don't. It really is nasty stuff. It smells, it's sticky and the mess it leaves in our new ensuite is pretty gross. It's like dust mixed with gooey tackiness and it covers everything. I will TRY to wean myself off it. Or at least cut back???
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