*sigh*

...another late night for Allen!! I was so looking forward to him being home tonight...for the kids to get some quality time...but ooooh noooo...one of the douchebags that work for him had to go and stab someone in the face and was appearing in court...AGAIN...this time though his court appearance wasn't until late in the day...and then took 2 hours to finish...Allen is still not home...it's almost time to start baths...the house looks like a tornado (although I mopped the kitchen floor), and laundry is...big surprise here...backed up...I need a housekeeper...or else I need to quit and stay home full time...we'll see come January...maybe 2009 will bring me to a better place...it's not that I mind working...but 3ish in the afternoon has always been the "difficult" time of day for me...where I feel sluggish and have a hard time keeping on task...top that off with the fact that I've been up since 4am..and just got off work...and yeah...I park my butt on the couch and often snooze...ugh...I need motivation..any ideas out there readers??

Chief Petty Officer Bowman

It's over...and I couldn't be more proud!!

The picture quality is not the best...I couldn't find my camera and it was either leave and be without camera or find camera and be late....I chose to be on time...so this is from my phone...

Please note AJ is not feeling well and was such a trooper to peacefully sit through it...he does not look happy in the picture...

He sleeps...

...finally!!!

Where did my baby go?!?!

Connor - days old.

Connor - days ago.

I'm so totally bummed out!! Connor who is 17.5 months old...has pulled out the stops with development lately!! He's got a mouth full of teeth...it feels like there's a new one almost everyday (I know I'm exaggerating but really it feels that way)...he listens to what you say and can follow directions fairly well (when he's cooperating)...he can wash his own hair...yes..my not even 18 month old child can put shampoo in his hands....lather it all over his head...and dumps the bucket over his head to rinse...all by himself...he tells me when he's poopy...he can communicate most of his needs...for example he'll take you by the hand and lead you somewhere..or he'll run ahead of you then look at you like he wants you to follow him...he knows the color blue and can say "blue"...he has too many words to list...but there's new ones every day...and the kicker...he can get out of his crib...AND...open his bedroom door. Yep...I woke up this afternoon after a quick cat nap while the kids were napping and Connor was in my face...you're probably thinking it was one of the other two...nope...they were both sound asleep...he did it all by himself...without injury thank God..tonight is a different story...he's OK...but he did fall out of his crib after I put him to bed...tomorrow the crib will be coming down...I need a toddler bed...Lori is looking into a friend of hers that may have one available...but if not...he'll be sleeping in a mattress on the floor...goodbye crib...it makes me teary to think that he could be my last baby and he's already outgrown the crib...he's my baby...really though...he's a toddler trapped in a body of a baby...well OK..he looks like a toddler too..and I know he's close to really being thought of as a toddler...but he's my baby...my baby boy...they grow up quickly...too quickly...

I'm feeling festive...

So I know...it's a bit early for feeling festive over the holidays...but it really is my favorite time of the year....with back to school being a very close second (cue "it's the most wonderful time of the year" music now)....it's almost fall...well here it can still feel like a muggy summer day most days...but I've got that itch...I want to watch my holiday movies...I want to decorate...I'm craving the cooler weather comfort foods...I want to go buy my kids cute sweaters...with matching toques (for those non-Canadians reading toques are winter hats)...I'm totally into it right now...I know where I will put my REAL Christmas tree when we put it up...and can't wait to light my holiday scented candles all over the house...

I'm really excited now because I have more of a reason to do a Turkey dinner this year for the Canadian Thanksgiving than just wanting to do one. Jenn and Julie are making plans to drive all the way down south to visit me. I'm going to pull out all the stops to make them the most FABULOUS dinner!! With a turkey and all the fixings...I hope they bring their loose pants with them...haha...I'm really looking forward to it...time spent with them is never dull...and never a let down...the only issue is recouping my stomach muscles afterwards...because we tend to laugh MOST of the time...if not all of it...I hope there are no disagreements on who gets the Dora bed...or who gets the fairy bed....hrmm...

I wonder when apple picking season begins...I really want to go this year...I was disappointed that I didn't go last year, it's my goal to go this year. I want to test my abilities with making homemade applesauce...and my gosh...I know my kids could go through a bushle in a matter of minutes if they had the chance to...so having lots of fresh yummy apples around will be great...

it's a beautiful day today...I love when it's cool enough for no AC and the windows open...letting the house air out...ok..I'm getting overwhelmed with that "festive" feeling again...gotta go make dinner...

Hurricanes, stew, friendships and more...

So Hanna was absolutely nothing!! I feel like a fool worrying (even though I tried to hide how worried I really was)...I guess because I have never experienced anything mother nature can throw at you aside from a blizzard or two...I just don't know what to expect...so I always seem to expect the worse...we're watching Ike now...here's a little prayer it passes us by...



Yesterday I made slow cooker beef stew with dumplings...it was pretty good if I do say so myself...it was the perfect day for it...rainy and windy...it was good comfort food!! The best part about it is that I got to share it with friends. I owe my right arm to Nanette after this weekend...she was a huge saving grace for me...she stayed here at my house all weekend...watched my kids while I worked...I couldn't have asked for a bigger favour...it was what a true friend would do...Katherine and Emma get along so well...if only to be a fly on the wall while the two of them are talking...even being ancient to them..I'm sure I'd learn something...Connor...he's a bully...he takes on kids that he knows wont fight back...poor Allison...kept losing her sippy, soother, and sucker...he'd just walk right up and take it...she'd cry...and he'd give it back...but it was almost as if he liked pushing her buttons to get a reaction from her.



Miss Ali comes back tomorrow morning. Emma is going to be so excited to see her I'm sure. One day this past week she woke up and was crying because she couldn't find Miss Ali...I felt bad for her...and sad for me cause she wasn't excited I was home...until I pointed out she should be...

So Emma asked to do her fairy puzzle tonight...she says to me "Mommy can I do my puzzle? I want to exercise my brain"...seriously...I need to find the money to put her in private school...it scares me to death to think she's wasting away at home...not using that incredibly intelligent brain of hers...



Lori is sick...poor thing!! I feel bad...I wish there was more I could do...if I wasn't working tomorrow I'm sure I'd head over there and take care of those little beauties!!