It's BUNCO night! Yeah!

What a long week, and today's not even over yet! Aaron had Monday to Thursday off so he could take Joey out during Spring Break on a few trips. Alex just can't keep up to big brother so he got to stay home with me and the dayhome kids and go to the park.
After much planning and postponing we've finally got our first Bunco night tonight at Christine's house. It's 12 ladies who get together, play a dice game, have a few cocktails and let loose! I'm so looking forward to it, one of the girls can't make it tonight so Heather's going to sub. for her. Should be a good night!
By now people should be getting their Happy Spring cards with the boys picture in it so I can apologize to everyone at once for the ink smearing on the back of the photo. I thought I was being smart stamping on the back instead of writing, after all it was probably close to 70 pictures I had to do, after setting them out for two days to dry I gave up. I guess I won't be trying to take a shortcut like that again!
Now that Aaron's back to work I suppose we'll get back into our routine slowly but surely. Joey starts swimming lessons on Sunday, usually he'd go with Aaron but because he's working I have the pleasure of being seen in a swim suit this weekend. Ugh! I'm not looking forward to that...the things you do for those you love!

Last night's projects

The pinky card is the faux stitching with 2 different background stamps and the second card is made by stamping colored stops all over, then brayering navy over top and lifting off the top layer with a stamp dipped in bleach.

This cute card is the faux embossing using a wheel with versamark and then rollering beside it with a white ink cartridge.

Today was a busy day, we had Connor and Elliot over for a playdate today, I can't believe how much Elliot has grown!  I only had Danny for daycare today so it was a pretty casual day, Aaron and I took the boys to the zoo and have finally completed our home video for our cousins...here's a tip...take some Gravol before watching the Calgary Tower footage...not because of the heights, just the amateur photography although I have to give Aaron credit for trying after all he was with Joseph who can be pretty high maintenance!  Tonight I'm off to another dayhome operator's house to check out her stuff, she's also started up in Stampin' Up and has lots of extras that I'll be trying to deal on.  Like I really need more! I finally bought a 'wedding' stamp set last night, so we're going to marry off some more people soon so I can get my monies' worth. Heather?  Amy? 

Day Two was a success!

This diet is hard to stick to but so far so good.  I went for my gift massage tonight and was a bit leary but it was good.  The massage girl turned out to be one of the girls that worked at the Curves I went to so we caught up during the massage.  It was pretty relaxing I must say, I think I may do it again sometime, I think it was easier to be groped by someone that I knew rather than a stranger.

Aaron and Joey went to the Calgary Tower today to check that out and see the dinosaur display.  Tomorrow all the boys are off to the zoo to see the animals. I've planned a  playdate with Connor and Elliot so it may turn out to be a quiet day still, one of the boys was diagnosed with Fifth's disease today also known as Slapped Cheek Disease because it's typically characterized by rosy red cheeks so he's off until Monday.  Makes for a quiet work week for me!

It's been a very productive Monday

Today is Day One of 'the diet' and I have not cheated yet. Yeah for me! I've gone through a couple rolls of toilet paper I'm sure, good thing I buy the quality TP!
Taxes are done for another year! Hallelujah! Can you hear me singing at the top of my lungs? Brand new front loading washer, here I come...

Does anyone still own a crimper I could borrow?

Now why would I want to do that to myself you may be wondering...or those who know me may not actually be all that surprised by the request.
Well, I've planned my Candles & Cocktails party (partylite party) for April 13th and have decided on an 80s theme. I don't expect all the guests to dress up but I thought maybe I would, after all, I'm the hostess with the mostest! Aaron and the boys are all feeling kind of under the weather so last night I did my research online and have come up with the games and I've got lots of 80s CDs. So there you go, I think I'll probably have to make a trip down to the Value Village boutique and see if they've got one kicking about, I'm sure they probably will, after all that's where mine ended up...
And we're going to give the good ole bean soup diet another go around and see what happens...Joseph and I are starting swimming classes together on Sunday and I'm sure it couldn't hurt to lose a bit more beforehand although I tried on last years swimsuit and it fits pretty good.
We ended up going out for dinner with Auntie Kathryn and maybe soon to be Uncle Jeff Friday night, we went to Jack Astor's and then we seen Inside Man. It was a pretty good night! The boys had a good night with their grandparents too.
Hope you all had a great weekend!
So, what exactly are 80s fashion trends? Is this the era of legwarmers, fishnets, neon colours...what am I getting into? I'm sure it'll be worth a little bit of humility! I'm a MacAulay though, I love being the center of attention just like my Dad, yes you Dad!

First attempt at Video

I'm not too sure what the video is, I'm thinking it's the boys dancing to Crazy Frog.The boys don't exactly dance it's more of drag each other or chase other in a circle in my living room. Although they're getting better at the Madonna dance for the new 80s style dance video with the ABBA bit, I can't think of the title off the top of my head.

Happy Birthday Aaron!

Now here's a guy who likes to have fun!

Aaron, Joseph and Alex on summer holidays last year

Happy Birthday Aaron!  We're planning on going out for dinner tonight without the boys and maybe even catch a movie.  Eventually we will go to the two step classes! Aaron's not that lucky to get out of it, his wife is challenged when it comes to country music so you can imagine the dancing won't be that pretty.

As if my life wasn't busy enough...

I had to join the dayhome registry. It's official, I've been sucked in! So, from Monday - Friday from 10 to 2 I can be found taking care of 6-7 active children and managing phone calls to parents/dayhome providers to help make matches. Aaron's thrilled, not! The two girls that were doing it are both giving up their dayhomes, they've been at it for 13 years and have volunteered to do the registry for the past 10 years so I offered to help out Donna, she'd be like the president of our club, if we had a 'president'. She's got a few changes planned, like bi-annual meetings changing to monthly meetings...good luck! We had 14 out of 240 people show up last night. When I hosted last March I had about 20 ladies, I suppose you don't really want 100 people to show up though, it would be less than standing room only! I guess we'll just wait and see what happens, Aaron suggested that we meet at our Community Hall or the one in Mackenzie Lake. But because the registry is free for all members/people who phone, who's going to pay for hall rental? So much to think about!

Guess who?

So Monica which one of your girls looked like you at six months?...There's more pictures to come but we'll try and skip the ones with the headband...no guarantees though. LOL!

Princess Amy

All hail Princess Amy!

It was a very snowy weekend!

Picture a la Joseph

Joseph looks wasted but it's really just juice shooters!

This is how we spent our Saturday morning.

It's hard to believe that Mom and Dad are only 3 hours North of us, because we drove through a snowstorm Friday night and passed three 8-car pileups within 2 km of each other, and it snowed all weekend...and then we come home to find out that there was no snow in the city over the weekend, our snowman is just about melted away and all that's left is grass! How strange is that? It was a good thing I packed snow gear for the boys to wear, they did enjoy playing in the snow, although it was short lived for Joseph he had a fever on Saturday that pretty much knocked him out. Hope everyone else had a good weekend!

PS There will be more trips down Memory Lane coming soon...Mom and I went through the final box of unsorted photos and I've got some good ones, including Princess Amy!

Hello Auntie Kathryn!

We're off to Edmonton tonight to visit Mom and Dad, and maybe Minard and Christian. Auntie Kathryn's going to try and come visit her boys tomorrow at Mom's.  She seemed pleasantly surprised with Alex's good phone etiquette today! He talks to Nannie and Daddy on the phone at least once a day...must get that from me.

Can you see the resemblance?

Here I am in the eyes of Joseph, although he still signs his name Joey.  He was just so proud of himself you can't help but smile!

Lesley & Michelle's Preschool Adventure!

Oh my gawd! What a night!
It started off way before we even left the house, do we bring Alex and Connor to check out their new preschool or leave them at home so we can fill out paperwork uninterrupted?!? Well we went with option 2 and left the kids with the daddies.
We get there and find out that we were like the only two moms who didn't bring their kids...but we got over it and actually felt sorry for the moms that brought their kids, I think the photocopier took most of the abuse from the anxious little button pushers.
Next comes the checklist for your postdated cheques...$165 for each 11 weeks, three cheques in total, $20 non-refundable registration fee, fine, no big deal, $5 for each police cheque for volunteering...and here's the icing on the cake...THREE CHEQUES FOR $200 EACH WHICH YOU WILL RECEIVE BACK AFTER EACH 11 WEEKS IF YOU MEET YOUR VOLUNTEERING QUOTA! I just about walked out right then and there! I couldn't believe that no one mentioned it on the phone to Michelle or I or the other ladies filling out the forms. But the ladies said it's not much volunteering just 5 hours out of classroom (making playdough, fundraising...) and 6 hours of in classroom (1 morning per month). So, I anxiously/nervously phoned Aaron to get the wink and the nod from him to continue with the registeration. He agreed but was not really excited about being forced to volunteer. It's either he does it on his days off if they coincide with preschool days (as if they will) or I have to renegotiate all of my contracts with the parents that I need one morning off a week to volunteer at preschool...I doubt it will go over that well...especially if Michelle goes back to work and I'm stuck driving Alex to and from preschool. I think that was one of my best selling points as a daycare was that Joey and Danny were dropped off right to my front door so I didn't have to drive/walk to the bus stops...I guess we'll see what happens. I've got until September to figure it out but I'm sure everyone knows me well enough to know I won't be able to let it go until I have it all figured out and crossed off the list!

Some days you just can't win!

This pretty much sums up how my weekend was!  The boys had no interest in going outside to play and proceeded to make messes wherever they went.  By the time I got the upstairs rooms straightened up Alex had shredded two rolls of toilet paper downstairs and once I had the downstairs all tidy I came upstairs to find 'the fort' which is made of all of Joseph's linens, Alex's linens, both of the boys toy boxes as well as the teddy bears from one of Joey's shelves...they were so proud of themselves that it made it hard to give them heck for the mess, but eventually it got cleaned up, thankfully before Aaron came home from work. Needless to say it was an early bedtime so Mommy could have some down time, Aaron went to the Car Show with his friend from work.  It was nice and quiet!!!

A preview of everyone's Happy Spring card

Mackenzie's baptism card, I realize now that the verse is crooked, good thing Mackenzie is only 11 months and won't notice, LOL!

Danny's new baby brother card...only 9 more days to wait...

Aaron's birthday card

I've got  a huge list of cards to make and got a few done last night. If the boys cooperate tomorrow I'm sure I'll be doing more of them and starting on the Easter dayhome projects...chore charts, ID kits (I'm sure I'll have stories to tell about the whole fingerprinting process!), and fridge magnets of the letters of their names. Where do I begin?

Joey's 1st school pictures

When they sent home the picture day announcement they stated that it would be a traditional blue background. I think they lied!  We'll get the smallest package so we can have a keepsake photo and the class picture, can't wait to see that one!

Alright, the blogpoll results are in!

A whopping 50% of all voters (all ten of us) opted for a Home Outfitters registry, followed by 1 vote for Sears, 1 for Candian Tire, 1 for Wal-Mart and only 1 person (was that you Uncle Henry) said No registry, let's buy them a toaster.
But Auntie Brenda had a great suggestion of buying gift cards for Home Depot so April and Henry can outfit their new backyard with all the gear they'll need...or at least put a small dent in the list...
So, there you have it folks...it's all in your hands now...I'm still going to buy them a toaster though! Although Aaron thinks we should give them some cash...but in pesos...the guy does have quite the sense of humour doesn't he?!
When do you move into your new house anyways? If you could email me your new address Uncle Henry it would be appreciated, I'll be sending out my boys Harley pics at the first official sign of Spring...

If I ever find a broken window I know who to blame

Aaron was off today and taught the boys how to whip snowballs at the living room window...way to go Dad! 

Our day in Banff

Here we are going up Sulphur Mountain.

Here is the town of Banff from on top of the mountain.

Heather and Lesley at Lake Minnewanka

Alex and Joseph waiting for lunch to be served

Alex, Aaron and Lesley going down the mountain

Auntie Heather in the gondola

What a fun day we had in Banff!  It was pretty cold in Calgary overnight so the boys couldn't watch a movie on the way up because the video player was too cold but lucky for us the grandparents came to visit last night so the boys stayed up late and kind of dozed on the drive this morning.  By the time we got to Banff it was ready though...Murphy's Law, right? We took the gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain, walked around the observation decks, had lunch then headed back down.  We attempted to walk down Banff Avenue with the boys but they weren't too interested in the shops, except Duck Duck Moose which is a new kids store with some really cool stuff, clothes, toys...and then we took a tour around the area and some lakes that are closeby.  We also made friends with four people that were ice diving at Lake Minnewanka, you can actually see one of them in the background of the picture of Heather and I, they're the little blob in the back dragging their gear.  There was quite a few huge tents set up and we thought it was ice fishing but talked to them while they were unloading their gear and they said they were doing ice diving in the freezing water.  How insane is that? 

The Beck Boys, Harley style

It's pretty obvious that Joseph really enjoys having his picture taken, he'll keep posing for you and usually needs to be bribed to leave, Alex on the other hand needs a little prompting. I managed to get most of my Happy Spring cards put together today so now we'll just be waiting on Spring to come along and then I'll send them out with the boys pictures.

Yeah it's Friday!

Alex is finally getting the hang of not peeing enroute to the toilet!

Here's Canada's Next Top Model....Joseph!

Guess what Nannie? The bouncer fits in the playroom!

Alex is giving a high five although it looks like he was about to hit Danny...

 

We've gone full-tilt today!  We started off with the ball pit this morning then worked our way through tents and tunnels and finally just brought out the big inflatable bouncer!  It barely fits in the playroom, I actually had to take out the couch, chairs and diaper genie to make room but the kids gave it their all for a good 90 minutes at the end of the day.  I'm sure the parents will be thanking me for the early bedtime/sleep in tomorrow morning!

Aaron's working Saturday but we're planning on doing something with Heather on Sunday, originally it was swimming but Aaron's leaning towards Banff instead, we'll pick up the kids some snowshoes head to the Lower Bankhead Trail and let them have at it.  There's an old coal train there that they can check out too.  My kids are happy to do anything outdoors! They're predicting zero/plus one so the weather'll be alright.  I'm not sure why we're getting so many snow storms lately?  Mom actually heard that our spring may be delayed up to 3 months....that's not acceptable!  I'm working on my 'Happy Spring' cards to send out with my boys pictures, I can't wait that long to send them, I was aiming for late March...maybe I should make more wintery cards instead. 

I'll be picking up the boys pictures tomorrow so I'm sure everyone will see the preview soon. 

So, should we give Henry a break and just do gift certificates to Home Depot like Auntie Brenda suggested?  It's a good idea so then they could do the patio stuff like Jen had mentioned or some gardening or maybe start out the swimming pool fund...although I think I'll still have to get them a toaster too!

Post #150...how did I pass you Monica?

I won't do a recap and force people to re-live my awesome shopping deals at Superstore! Ha Ha! I did enjoy Monica's recap though, especially the porn star boobs comment, that was the only thing I really wanted out of the whole pregnancy thing and I got ripped off both times.

We're finally making some awesome potty-training leaps and bounds. We've made a few attempts over the past two months and I think we may actually get it right this time! We only started yesterday but by this afternoon Alex was able to make it to the toilet in time, although we have stripped down to just shirt and underoos to save a few precious seconds.

If I can remember how-to I'll be doing a poll on where the bride and groom to be should be doing their registry. Are you guys with me and Monica on this one? Surprise gifts are nice but really it's nice to get things you actually want...who doesn't like new towels or matching kitchen appliances (toasters/coffee makers though...can't afford new fridge/stove).

As Heather mentioned in a comment somewhere Joey has decided that he's now 'Joseph'. I think it may have been a result of looking at baby Joeye pictures and now Joey wants to be known as Joseph (not baby), it's funny how kids can perceive things. Joseph is starting to recognize everyone's pictures and can get the right names for everyone. I'm trying to pseudo-prepare him for the overwhelming new names/faces to come. Feel free to send us updated pictures of you guys so we can practise some more!