Christmas Eve

So today we finally decided to try out the shuffleboard on our side yard. It worked pretty well once we got the corn meal sprinkled down. We played on the front yard and had some photo sessions in front of the Christmas tree.

(And yes, Sydney is wearing a summer top as it's about 76 degrees here today!!) Despite the weather, we are trying our best to get into the spirit of things...

Men of Ginger

Well this year we finally had a nice new kitchen in which to make the men of ginger. There was enough room on the counters for the cookie sheets, the cooling racks and a rolling dough spot. Then there's the convection oven which means that I was able to stack the pans and still have them cook evenly! Last year I could only bake 6 at a time!!

So, we ended up with 107 men this year, plus a few other shapes for the kids to decorate. We gave most of them away as Xmas gifts but we still have a few lingering about. It took all weekend, but it's a labour of love you see.

Here are some pics of our favorite custom ones...

Madison's Art

Madison recently got her art hung in a restaurant. She was so excited and proud of herself as were we. It's a program at her Elementary School called Hands On Art. Parent volunteers attend a workshop led by a particular artist and then come into the classroom to teach it to the children. The kids then produce a piece of artwork in the style of that artist.

Santa Photo 2007

I didn't want to be in the photo, but I could tell as soon as we neared Santa's village that Sydney was not going to have anything to do with it. At least we got a smile out of her...

My Splurge

I earned some money from my graphic design work, and spent it all on this and some shelves for the kids toys. Little did I know that by the following week I'd need that money for groceries! At least I can gaze hungrily at my new coat/shoe thingy...
The cushion is on back order.

Girls Brushing Their Teeth - The Video

The Girls

Just thought I would upload some new pics of the girls since there isn't much going on in the house. Grouted the tile, but now have to put some kind of sealant on it, then caulk around the edges, then put up the under cabinet wood to hide the lighting. Plus baseboards and window trim.

Still sorting the odd box here and there and trying to pick out window coverings. I'm surprised by how long I'm able to stand the vinyl shower curtains. But you do what you gotta do right?

Tuesday, November 13th

I really need some help here. I am totally overwhelmed and depleted by this kid. Madison never went through the "terrible twos". She was really nasty at 3 (and now again at 6 - maybe it's a 3 year cycle?), but it wasn't the same kind of mischief that a 2-year old gets into. Maddie never wondered what was in every kitchen, hallway, and bathroom closet in the whole house like Sydney does. Madison was always pretty mellow and I hate to say the word - - obedient! Sydney is in the "no" phase, and copies everything that Maddie does, which at this point is not a good plan.

Today, while she was quiet in her room, which I assumed meant "napping", actually turned out to instead be "getting into major shit". I heard her crying that she had an "owie". I opened the door quickly, wondering what she may have bumped into and what body part needed kissing - a sweet but stupid little fantasy in my head. Instead I found her covered head to toe in Desitin - you know that creamy, white, oily, sticky zinc oxide butt cream? It had gotten in her eyes, which were now red and stinging, and her eyes were the least offensive place I found that fucking cream.

She had climbed onto the change table, emptied all the drawer contents and diapers, found all the creams (and there were several varieties in there), taken off all the lids and smeared them all over the diapers, the carpet, the change table, her toys, the wipes box, her clothes, her face, her hair, etc., etc. There were also several dozen wipes all balled up that she had used to aid in her smear campaign.

I gave her one bath and two shampooings. Kevin later gave her a second bath and third shampooing as we could not get rid of the flock of seagulls hairdo that was induced by the creams.

I know that I should be able to just laugh at little things like this. I know that this is supposed to be the best time in her life and that I am supposed to be so grateful that I can afford to take this time to be at home with her. I know that I am supposed to treasure these "precious moments", blah, blah, blah... BUT WHY DOES THIS JOB HAVE TO SUCK SO BAD???!!

Yes, it's not fatal. Yes, she, her room and it's contents are in fact washable. But god dammit I am SO done with cleaning up messes constantly!!! I cannot keep her in a time out at this age. I cannot lecture her. The only way I found to teach her that what she had done was wrong was to make her help clean it up, yell alot, and not let her watch a movie with Maddie. I don't think any of those things sunk in or made any kind of impact whatsoever.

What am I supposed to do? Install those stupid child locks on every cupboard in the house? B.S.

It wouldn't be so bad if I also didn't have to deal with Madison's daily meltdowns and generally nasty and negative attitude towards pretty much everything. If she is THIS bad at 6, what am I going to do when she is a teen ager? Where did I go wrong? How can I get a handle on this before it escalates? I'm drowning. I'm sinking. I'm starting to give up.

November 10th - Tiling

So today we tackled the backsplash tiling. It was actually quite fun, but our backs are going to be SOOOO sore tomorrow!



I was in charge of the cutting. I love that wet tile saw!

It is looking good - rustic, but modern at the same time. Now we have to let it set for 48 hours, then scrub with a brush to clean the glass and get the mortar out, and then we can do the grout which will be an off-white colour.

I think that the kitchen is ALMOST done now, except for some paint touch-ups, the baseboard/window trim, and the final part of the tiling. But of course, now that we have moved in, we have found many more projects to do.

I just had to throw in a before shot composite at the bottom....

Thursday November 8th

The Scotts left this morning. I have a paying project to work on (yes, my boss called me two days after I moved to tell me about it!). And Kevin fiddled with the phones and now our phone doesn't work, so if anyone at all out there is reading this, and you want to reach me, make it email or cell...