Move Over Richie Cunningham

My 8yo son has started directing movies. He places all the neighbourhood kids, tells them their lines, describes the special effects required for the shot and calls "Action".

I love watching their imaginative play. And my son is so descriptive and creative.
If he keeps this up maybe I will get my million dollars. All he needs is a camera.

If I had a Million Dollars

Every once in a while I like to imagine what we would do if we won the lottery. I am sure most people think about this. I start of course with the practical, max out our RRSPs, pay off our mortgage, buy a new van... Then there is the long list of home improvements, new roof (which we have to get this year even if we don't win the 6/49) new windows, garage door, renovate the kitchen, the upstairs batroom... Maybe even build a second floor and put in a fireplace but, when I start thinking about what I would really want in a house I realize if we had the money, we wouldn't be living in this house. I'd want one with more land, more privacy, maybe by the water and definitely we'd want it to be big enough to entertain our ever growing extended family. The question then becomes where would this dream house be? I mean with our millions we could decide to move to somewhere warm or live in the mountains or... That's about as far as I get before I realize, I don't want things to change that much. I like our life here. I like living close to my husband's family and I like that our lives are pretty simple. I don't know how much I'd want my life to change even if I had a million dollars. I guess we would give a lot of it away, and share the rest with family and keep our life like it is. Just a little less stress about paying for the roof and the van, that's what I'd like. I'd take a million dollars though. Iguess I'd have to actually buy a lottery ticker first hun? What about you? Would your life change completely? I just love the Bare Naked Ladies. They're so Canadian Eh?

If I Had A Million Dollars by Barenaked Ladies If I had a million dollars (If I had a million dollars) I'd buy you a house (I would buy you a house) If I had a million dollars (If I had a million dollars) I'd buy you furniture for your house (Maybe a nice chesterfield or an ottoman) And if I had a million dollars (If I had a million dollars) Well, I'd buy you a K-Car (A nice Reliant automobile) If I had a million dollars I'd buy your love If I had a million dollars I'd build a tree fort in our yard If I had million dollars You could help, it wouldn't be that hard If I had million dollars Maybe we could put like a little tiny fridge in there somewhere You know, we could just go up there and hang out Like open the fridge and stuff There would already be laid out foods for us Like little pre-wrapped sausages and things They have pre-wrapped sausages but they don't have pre-wrapped bacon Well, can you blame 'em Uh, yeah If I had a million dollars (If I had a million dollars) Well, I'd buy you a fur coat (But not a real fur coat that's cruel) And if I had a million dollars (If I had a million dollars) Well, I'd buy you an exotic pet (Like a llama or an emu) And if I had a million dollars (If I had a a million dollars) Well, I'd buy you John Merrick's remains (All them crazy elephant bones) And If I had a million dollars I'd buy your love If I had a million dollars We wouldn't have to walk to the store If I had a million dollars Now, we'd take a limousine 'cause it costs more If I had a million dollars We wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner But we would eat Kraft Dinner Of course we would, we’d just eat more And buy really expensive ketchups with it That’s right, all the fanciest ke... dijon ketchups! Mmmmmm, Mmmm-Hmmm If I had a million dollars (If I had a million dollars) Well, I'd buy you a green dress (But not a real green dress, that's cruel) And if I had a million dollars (If I had a million dollars) Well, I'd buy you some art (A Picasso or a Garfunkel) If I had a million dollars (If I had a million dollars) Well, I'd buy you a monkey (Haven't you always wanted a monkey) If I had a million dollars I’d buy your love If I had a million dollars I'd be rich

My son IS Batman

Whenever my son is afraid, he is Batman.

Example: "There's monster out side, I Batman"

We finally taught him to say his own name. Before he would say everybody else's name but if you asked him what his name is, he'd say "Me". As soon as he learned his own name though, he decided to change it. Now when people ask "What is your name?" He says "I Batman"

How old is he? Two (his age) or eight (his brothers age) or tweight (to cover all the bases) .

He is ready to "go out pactice baseball" all the time. Even when it's raining "IT"S WARM OUTSIDE" he yells and then continues his mantra "I ready go out pactice BASEBAAAALLLL!"

And go out he does. He figured put how to open the front door on his own, so I started locking it. This morning when I was putting laundry from the washer into the dryer my neighbor from across the street call down to me. Apparently he has figured out the lock and he went over to her house to show her his ball. Tonight my husband will be installing a chain way.up.high on our front door. Before my neighbor's call child welfare because my babies are playing in the middle of the road.

Aaaahhhh. It's all good. He's such a cutie. Such a cute little Batman.

I'm no soccer mom

I was never big on sports, especially team sports. This may sound silly but, I think I was too polite for competitive team sports. I was always the smallest kid in my grade but, my biggest worry was hurting someone else. My most hated gym classes were floor hockey, broom ball and field hockey. Something about whacking at a hard ball with an even harder stick while in close proximity to other people made me dread these games. I was the one apologizing after I whacked a player from the opposing team in the shin. Oh, and I have no coordination. Throwing, catching I was never very good at that.

I worry that my kids will take after me. I don't want them to be the last picked for teams in gym. I want them to enjoy a game of ball hockey in the street or shoot hoops at the end of the driveway like the neighbor's kids. Unfortunately for my son, growing up in the suburbs of Montreal means all his friends spend three quarters of the year playing hockey. With 5 kids we do not have the time or the money to commit to the sport. The other part of the year is dedicated to soccer but, my son who is on the small side missed a couple of seasons and I fear now he is hopelessly unskilled where all the other kids have got all the moves.

So this summer my son decided to try baseball. Little did I know they start baseball at 5 so now my son is about 3 years behind and he has my knack for catching the ball. I can only cringe and look through the fingers of the hand that covers my eyes as the ball hits him in the nose. He has a huge glove all he has to do is move it in front of his face. There were no baseball moms there only baseball dad's with their own well worn gloves practicing with their sons. And me. Because my son's dad is a jock. A football MVP. Off playing rugby in Vermont while I take the boy tp baseball practice.

Yes, my husband plays rugby and my oldest daughter has started playing too. And my husband wants to take her along to his practices. Where the women on the girls rugby team are much older than her. And they will practice with her and be friendly to her and include her in their conversations about partying, living on their own, sex, drugs and... uh... NO. I have told my husband that before my baby (of 15 years who is at least 2 inches taller than me) goes to Rugby practice with him, he better remind these women that she is HIS BABY and they better remember that.

My other daughter, she's doing gymnastics. Every Saturday, I drop her off and pick her up 2 hours later. She always says she had a good time. That's all I want.

Soon it will be pool season with swim team, diving, water polo ans synchronized swimming. And rugby Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday which is probably going to be the same days as baseball. Can you believe I actually encourage them to sign up for sports?

Big Family Dinners

I had 25 people over on Sunday and the kids were off on Monday and Tuesday so I am just starting to catch up.

Why do we spend all day cleaning before 15 kids come over and spill juice, jello and crumbs all over. Why do I make the kids clean and organize the playroom when 15 kids are going to come and take everything out?

I've been having large family dinners at our place for years now. I am better organized now than when we first started. Here are some things I should do to make it go smoother:

• Have all the food ready including slicing the meat and making gravy.
• Use paper plates and plastic cups for the kids (they don't care).
• Set the tables before people arrive. After they all start coming in I can't count right and we end up missing someone.
• Buy lots of folding chairs.
• Have a set of 20 dishes and wine glasses.
• Buy lots of wine. Usually we have one family bring wine.
• Use plastic dessert plates.
• Let everybody bring something. Usually they bring dessert and there is always too much dessert... Mmmm leftovers.
• Make veggies and dip and/or cheese and crackers and put it our for the kids before dinner. It's good to fill up on veggies and spoil your dinner.
• Make fruit salad to serve with dessert. Anyone watching their diet will appreciate it and if the kids eat nothing but chips and cookies at least you can feed them some fruit.
• (new this time) Clean under the sofa cushions because when the baby spits up all over the cushions and you have to remove them, everyone is going to see where you store the extra cherrios, toy cars, hair brush, etc...
• I am sure there is more I could do but, I can't think of it now.

It is a lot of work, and this time was more challenging than usual but, I love it. However as the family gets bigger (SIL is expecting again 21 grandkids 6 siblings 6 spouses) We often talk about how we are going to keep doing it. At Christmas we had a big dinner at a church hall. I thought it went very well but, some enjoyed it less. We still do a real sit down dinner. We could switch to a more buffet style but, it wouldn't be the same. We should start sitting the little kids first. I think we have done this in the past.

Any of you have big family get togethers? How do you manage it?

Happy Easter

Yes, Mrs. Grumpy pants is gone. Thank goodness. And don't come back soon.

Today is Good Friday. We went on a walk with our church for the way of the cross. I hope to have time to take the kids to the farm to see the animals before we go to the poor man's supper at our church this evening. I have made leek soup Mmmmm to take for the dinner. I am also trying out the bread maker my sister in law gave us. And we have 30 people coming for dinner on Sunday And I need to have my house clean by then so...

Have a lovely Easter Holiday!

See I'm so much more cheerful now.

Selfish Housewife

Far Beyond Pearls: Selfish Housewives

Are you a selfish housewife? Do you delight in doing for others without expecting anything in return. Do you put your own wants above the needs of others? Do you believe our highest calling is to serve others?

I have been a selfish housewife. Worse than that I've been a selfish mommy. Lately I've been grumpy. I have been begrudgingly doing the bare minimum for my kids. Fortunately the weather has been nice and they've all been enjoying the outdoors so they have not been very demanding. But, I've been short with them. I have not felt very loving towards them (or Dh either)

I have a cold and I haven't been feeling all that great but, that's no excuse. I need to snap out of my funk. I am not writing this to garner sympathy. I do not need more "me-time".

I am writing this as a sort of time capsule. I'm going to seel up my selfish brooding self in this post. I am hoping with a little grace, grumpy me will stay stuck in here and I'll go to bed, get some rest and wake up tomorrow with a renewed vocation. That's vocation as in my vocation as a mother and wife, though a little vacation would be nice too.

So if you think I'm quite nutty for trying to box myself up and post my grumpy ass to the internet, you're probably right. But, I'm hopeful. I'll let you know tomorrow if she (grumpy pants) is gone.

Gone to play golf...

I haven't had much time... I've been working during nap time and in the evening. The rest of the time we've been out enjoying the spring!

Easter Ideas

I'm on a hunt, an Easter hunt, an Easter hunt for ideas.

When my oldest was young, she was an only child for a long time. We went overboard with holidays. We showered her with presents and activities. We even made up little rhyming clues that we hid all around the house. One clue led to another until she found her special Easter basket.

Now with 5 though, we've scaled back some. We hide little foil eggs all over, I decorate the dining room table and each child gets a small basket of summer toy (sand toys, bubbles, sidewalk chalk) This year though I thought it would be nice to get them the Chronicles of Narnia DVD. I think I might ask the 15yo to make up clues for a hunt for the 8 & 6yo.

I know Easter is not Just about chocolate and bunnies it is a religous holiday.
One of my kids favorite Easter events is the poor man's supper at our church and this year my 15yo is in the Passion Play.

My 6yo knows what Easter is all about. My 8yo son was making up a song... "Easter, Easter, Ooohhh, Easter bunny..." and my daughter said "What about the LORD? Easter is the day the LORD is coming back, we should sing about the LORD." She just loooves theLORD and the Gospel music.

So, what special Easter traditions do you have? Any fun activities or ideas you'd like to share? I'm no Martha Stewart I can use all the help I can get.

Woke up on the wrong side of the bed...

...wish I could have stayed there all day!

I did not want to be the chief garbage picker-upper (baby got in the garbage and threw it all over) today. I didn't want to be the poopy changing, dish washing, mess cleaning, laundry lady today. I did not want to be the person all the kids whine at. Why can't kids have a 6th sense. The sense that mommy's going to lose it. It seems that the closer you are to the end of your rope, the more needy they are.

So tonight, when my husband said he would be home late and my 15yo was on a field trip, I decided to take the four littles out to dinner. We picked up the 8yo from Catechism and I drovee across town to show them this huge house that has been lifted right off the ground. There is a big hole under it so they can make a new foundation. The kids thought it was cool. Then we went to Scores (chicken place with big salad bar) called Dh and he was right around the corner, so he joined us for dinner.

Now I'm feeling much better. I really needed to take the kids out and watch them enjoy things for a while. We did no homework and no cleaning up but, we accomplished a lot tonight.

The Smoking Van

Last week, back when there was no SNOW! It was almost spring here. There was sunshine, flowers and kids playing out in the street. The whole neighborhood seemed to emerge from hybernating through the winter. It made me crave ice cream and popsicles or even better, creamsicles. Mmmm creamsicles... Uh what was I talking about? Oh yeah spring. Time to while away the afternoons at the park then come home and throw something on the BBQ for dinner. Until you realize there's no propane. Then spring is the time to drive to three different gas stations trying to buy propane. And while I'm driving around the van starts making a funny noise. Kinda like the brakes aren't completely releasing. Better head home to get Dh to check it out. So I pull up in front of my house and go to remove the tank full of propane from the back of the van and I see the van is SMOKING. Alot. And I'm not the only one to notice. As I said the whole neighborhood is out in front of my house to witness my brakes smoke for more than 15 minutes. You know why this happened? Because earlier that day I received a check in the mail. As soon as money comes in something has to happen to make the money go out.
I took the van in yesterday and $300 later I have ne cylinder something or others.

{sigh}

On Sunday the kids were outside all day. One of the cousins was over and the local kids all congregated at our place. One of the moms from up the street came over and started raking our lawn. I said to my husband, "Our house is That Bad, the neighbors are taking it upon themselves to clean it up so it doesn't negatively affect their propery values" I'm ok with that. Maybe they'll do our roof too. No such luck. ;o)