All Hallows Eve

OK, more about the move, house, etc, etc, will be posted for sure. But in the mean time the real topic at hand is Halloween!

I love Halloween. I've had some great Halloween's as a kid, and as an adult. It's mostly about the dressing up. The past few years have been pretty quiet, just with the staying at home and the passing out candy. But I'll still take any chance I can get to put on a wig and some black lipstick. Even it it meant riding the bus full of boring suits and sticking out a bit at work. I'll take it!

I'm a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to my costumes. Although I've been known to be creative, I mostly prefer dressing in some black, spooky yet mysterious/sexy/but in a goth kind of way/not slutty outfit. I'm sure that says something fundamental about my phyche??

So last year was the first year I actually had children to share the joys of Halloween. Unfortunately they were in bed practically before any Trick or Treaters rang our bell, and we had no parties to attend, so it was basically a bust. Tomorrow will be our first official outing as Trick or Treaters. More updates to follow. In the meantime, here is last year's Halloween tribute!

We're Here

2nd night in the new house...more work...exhausted...back soon!

In Parting

Dear Internet,
I fear we will soon be parted. I feel this because in a moment of optimism I requested that you be moved to the new house. And here we are still at the old house.
I fear that I will be sad and lonely and uninformed without you.
*sigh*
I miss you already.

twomittens

20 Months

This has been a busy month for the boys. It seems now more than ever that they are exploring everthing around them. They leave no stone unturned.

*I will add photos in a bit*

If something is up, it must come down. If it is closed, it must be opened. If something is full, it must be emptied. The Bug managed to through all the clothes out of a drawer, fill it with toys, then stand in it to reach the top of the dresser. Too clever for his own good.
They are tall enough to reach the top of the countertops, but not tall enough to see what is on it. This leads to a lot of grabbing of whatever they can reach and pulling it down, just to see what happens. If it is quiet, they must make noise. If it is out of reach, it must be reached.
If you have a bib on at dinnertime, The Bee must take it off. And while he's at it, this shirt is getting in the way too.
They are constantly in motion.

Things we are still working on:
The screaminess of McScreamy. Both of them. A few WORDS would go a long way here. Let's work on that.
Listening to Mommy. 'Come here' does not mean run away, run away, chase me, chase me.

It is also possible that they have never been more delightful and entertaining. They love to laugh and play games. They are more and more little people, and less and less little babies.

Things you can't see in photos:
The Bug has the silkiest, coolest cheek you could ever kiss. I can never resist putting my cheek up against his.
The Bee has the deepest heartiest laugh. It is impossible not to laugh when you hear him. The best kind of contagious.
The way they toddle and waddle when they run. Or try to jump. Hilarious.
The Bee has a very thoughtful and kind side, which seems unlikely for a boy his age. If his brother is unhappy he will often try to comfort him with a toy, or try to come to his aid. He also loves books.
The Bug is especially into legos at the moment. Not the regular smaller ones, but the medium size ones. He is fascinated by trying to put them together and take them apart again. He also likes stacking and arranging things.

Unfortunately they are both fascinated with our spice cupboard at the moment. The other day I followed a trail of garam masala from the kitchen to the living room, and all over The Bee. It still smells faintly of spices. I guess there are worse smells!

It will be interesting to see what the next month and all its changes will bring.

Backyardigans

If we just squeeze under this gate...maybe through the trees...we'd be free!!!

Disclaimer

Well folks, we are getting down to the nitty gritty. It looks like we will actually be moving into our new house next week. Now for that to happen successfully a lot of stars, planets, and appliances have to perfectly align.
I am telling you this in case we are incommunicato at any point in the next week or two. Phones have to be switched, cables and modems and internet connections have to be shut off in one house and started up in another. A new house without any previous connections or hook-ups or special wirings. I am hoping for the best. But not really expecting it.

By next week this time we should be up to our eyeballs in half packed and unpacked boxes!
We are very excited about moving into our lovely, no longer peach, many bedrooms and bathrooms, new home. I just might get an inch of space to myself once in a while. And the kids have plenty of time to get jobs before college comes along!!

We stopped by the house on the weekend and honestly, I kept losing the kids. They have a seemingless endless supply of doors and cabinets to get into and hide in and slam. The Bug was hiding under the sink and The Bee was in the closet in the entry. And I can't see them both at the same time!

So we're excited and stressed and happy and anxious. The ever tightening knot in my stomach says so.
If you have any happy moving vibes, please send them our way. We're going to need them!

Gobble Gobble

With everything going on at the moment we decided not to go out of town for Thanksgiving. CH is trying to finish up some projects at the new house. I wanted to do something in the spirit of the great turkey, but not really feeling up to the full day or more of preparation.

CH however, in all his charmingness, volunteered to cook a turkey. I have never cooked one myself, but he has (I have witnessed this), and was very confident.
So between landscaping and deck building and church going we managed to pull off a pretty mean feast.
The turkey was fantastic (came with stuffing). I made cranberry sauce from scratch (if my uncle Norm can do it, why can't I?). We had potatoes, white and sweet, carrots, gherkins, gravy, and pie. Sweet, sweet pie with fresh whipped, one million calorie cream. Delightful!

This year I am thankfull for a Charming Husband who cooks. And builds stuff and is adorable.

I am thankful for two wee boys who are yummy enough to eat covered in cranberry sauce. The same two boys who, I am thankful went to bed without any fuss after one of them had a major meltdown because he would not nap in the afternoon, and the other who threw all of his yummy dinner on the floor and ate cheerios and cheese instead.

I am thankful for a sweet friend who is brave enough to come over for dinner to a house where children scream and break stuff and throw food on the floor. Food tastes better with friends.

It looks like bibs taste better with friends too...and cranberry sauce.


And lastly today, I am thankful for my dishwasher. Although a house elf would be nice too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Old School

We have a new toy at our house.
By 'we' I don't mean me.
Or the kids.
Charming Husband has a new skateboard.
He spent much of his youth (misguided??) on a skateboard. He's old school. I don't really know what new school is, but I'm sure it's all fangly and shiny and not nearly as bitchin' as old school. And when you're a kid, it must be cool to have a dad who's a skater. Until you're old enough that it's totally not cool anymore.
Or you're too young to appreciate cool.
But The Bug and The Bee appreciate wheels. And a groovy lid.
The future Lords of Dogtown?

Motherhood

I think this photo sums it up pretty well...

It is barely 9am, and I am so very tired. So tired.
Why are my kids never tired??

Djembe

Charming husband has been spending a lot of time over at the new house lately and so between that and work, I feel like I'm spending about a million hours a day with the kids.

Not that they aren't lovely and adorable, but in order to keep my sanity, or any semblence of it, I'm trying to get out of the house when I can.

So I finally did it!
I took a short introductory class at One World Drum Co. Just enough to get a taste of what it's like, but I like! I thought I would, but I guess there is always the fear that you will be really terrible or something. Or the sad realization that you really have no rhythm white girl. But I think I kept up ok with the 12yr old girls and the teenage boy who were all better than the rest of the adults.
There is something very soulful and joyous about a roomful of people beating rhythms on a drum. It is all very heady and African.

Better late than never...my career as an African hand drummer has finally begun!!

p.s. The 'D' is silent. One of the valuable things I learned...Djembe

Kardia

Can you die of a broken heart?

Thanks to the lovliness and generosity of Ms. Yojo (who has been volunteering her butt off), I attended the screening of Kardia as part of the Calgary International Film Festival. What fun!

Kardia is a beautiful Canadian made film.
The premise of the story itself is intriguing. The main subject is the human heart. The main character Hope has spent her life working with the physical properties of the heart (generally post mortem), while contemplating the mystical, symbolic and emotional aspects and how they are all entertwined. She poses the question, Can you die of a broken heart?

Another fascinating premise, is the idea that while the brain is the main intelligence center of the body, the rest of the body also holds intellligence and memory. It is not merely flesh at the mercy of brain impulses. The history of your life is carried with you, in your blood and tissues.

The writer and director, Su Rynard was in attendance at the screening and did a Q&A after the film. It was fascinating to hear about the film from such a personal point of view from the creative process, to her personal influences and the film making process.

There is a lot more to the story and movie itself. If you are interested in seeing it in Calgary, send an email (mail@theuptown.com) to the Uptown to encourage them to bring the movie to the theater. Support Canadian artists!

House...what House?

Since a few of you are inquiring, here is a brief update on the house.

Our most recent possession date is um...right now. The cleaner was there on Thursday to do the final clean. Unfortunately, there is still some painting and a few other final details to attend to. So yes, another short delay.
We're so very close, but it seems that dates seem to come and go and there's no real accountability. It's painful. But on the bright side, it really is VERY close to being done. Then the stress of actually moving can begin!