Free to Be You and Me

I used to LOVE watching these at school. When the teacher had had enough of us, she'd pop one of these in the push-top VCR. Anyone else have fond memories of this? I think that "When We Grow Up" is kinda ironic, considering who the male singer is :)

I think Parents are People is my favorite...or maybe Dudly Pippin which should be followed by It's alright to Cry...but they are all good.


THEME SONG

IT'S ALRIGHT TO CRY


WHEN WE GROW UP


WILLIAM'S DOLL


BOY MEETS GIRL

PARENTS ARE PEOPLE



DUDLEY PIPPEN


YOU WERE ONCE A BABY

Amazing...

I've been complaining a lot lately because lots of stupid little things have happened to me lately. But yesterday I got to do something so fun and amazing that it made all those inconveniences seem petty.

I have a new friend who is very far along in her pregnancy and had no one to be with her for the birth of her baby. Another friend Heidi and I now have the privilege of being there when the baby is born. So we've been helping her get ready, planning a shower for her, and helping her get to and from her appointments. Yesterday, at 36 weeks along in her pregnancy she had another ultrasound because she hadn't had a lot of medical care earlier on in the pregnancy and they had some additional checks on the baby to do. She'd been dying to know the sex of the baby. They weren't able to tell her whether the baby was a girl or boy at her 20 week ultrasound -- but yesterday, with all three of us (plus Heidi's 6 month old) in the room, they told us the baby is going to be a girl! It is fun to make this "it" into a "she" :) We got to see her little feet, hands, fully developed heart, liver, bladder and best of all -- we got a glimpse of what she will look like. Neither Heidi or I had ultrasounds that far along in our pregnancy so we didn't get to see those details before our kids were born. This little girl has pouty lips! I can't wait to kiss them. It just makes me all the more excited to meet her in six weeks or less!!!

TGIF!!!

I have no idea what is happening this week but man am I glad the week is over!! This week I have dealt with lice on Asher, a bladder infection for Rory, I've locked my keys in the car at the library, I've run out of gas on The Linc. I've been late for picking up my kids and I've forgotten eye doctor appointments. I'm a lunatic this week. I can't keep my eyes open and I can't keep things straight. All I have to say is TGIF -- and hopefully, after a weekend...i can get myself in order again.

Good News/Bad News

The bad news first right? Okay -- when the lice issue began in the house, my stress level went WAY up. I fell off the dieting wagon. I'll be starting fresh starting tomorrow. I hope that by next Wednesday I'll at least be back to the same 11.2 lbs loss.

Good news? Some of my very best best friends welcomed their second child into the world with quite the bang this morning at 5:20 am! It was an unplanned home-birth attended by two giant paramedics (6'6" and 6'7") while Lee-Anne spoke to her (in-transit) midwife on the phone. Elijah Bradley Dryfhout, , 7 lbs 10 oz, and his parents and proud big sis Zoe, are all happy and healthy. We're so thrilled that he's here!! I saw him tonight and he's, of course, just adorable.

Itchy All Over

Last night we discovered that Asher had lice. Ewwww. So home we went to de-louse our children. First thing we did was apply the medication. During the 10 minutes it takes to work, we stripped all the beds and started the washer. I also washed all hats, mitts and coats. We eventually vacuumed every fabric surface -- including couches, chairs, mattresses, pillows, curtains and carpets. We had to pick a gazillion nits from Asher's hair -- strand by strand. It took 4 hours. I'm not joking. He was begging to go to bed -- and his scalp was red and sore. Poor kid. But poor mommy. I have the worst stiff neck now! The good news is, it seems like this little louse didn't spread. Rory didn't have anything to speak of -- and Chris and I didn't have anything. The daycare kids are all clean. But I'd like to say this has been a disturbing experience. Rory's been in school three years -- and not once has she had a note home about lice. Asher on the other hand, goes to nursery school 2 half days a week and comes home with it. Great. I'd also like to say that my son's nits was no where near as numerous as the picture above. However, I had no idea what they looked like before, so I thought some of you might be curious :)

Some other news. I was up 0.6 lbs last week (week 5). But this past week (week 6) I was down 3.2! However, last night, after the lice incident, I gorged on Hallowe'en candy. We'll see how week 7 turns out :)

Those Who Can, Teach.

As some of you may know, I am in the process of applying to Teacher's Colleges. Actually, just two of them. My first choice (really, my only choice) is Brock University. It has many bonuses for me, convenience being the biggest as the Hamilton Satillite Campus is about two blocks away. Laurier is my second choice, as it is the next closest to home -- though it is significantly further than even the St. Catherine's campus of Brock. So I think it was last week that I mailed off my very complex, very time-consuming Brock application. I poured over it for about two months -- writing and rewriting my responses and experience blurbs -- making sure I hadn't forgotten any of the many, many pieces of paperwork needing to be ordered and sent. These applications mean a lot to me. I actually can remember wanting to be a teacher in grade 1. And honestly, I don't think I really ever truly saw myself doing anything else. The truth is, as much as I have enjoyed my children and others for the last 6 years, I have really lacked structure, accountability, intellectual challenge, use of my expensive education...and many other things that I really do need. Being home with my own children has been a pleasure that I will not regret. I will have seen them both well on their way into primary school, spent time with them in various early childhood programs, done many extra curricular activities ... just been there for them. But now, for both their sake and mine, I need to do this. As I sent off my application to Brock, I had a moment of fear...like...what if I don't get in?? So that's the biggest thing. I'm afraid of where I'll be if I don't. But I really do believe I have a good chance. So I must go and get to work on the lame (or not so lame) 500 word essay that Laurier requires on the topic stated above. I'm not good with ambiguity. So if you have any ideas, please spare me the torture by sending them my way!

I Got New Glasses

What do you think???

Hallowe'en is FUN! -- and aren't my kids cute???

Aurora as a princess cat



For boys and girls club there was "Western Night". Asher's cowboy costume was only retired for last night's dragon.



I finally got one of them standing together and slightly still!!!



Sibling sillies!




Asher The Friendly Dragon



Aurora the Kitty sittin' pretty!



Rrrrrrraaaouuuuwwwwww!!!!!