ho ho meh.

Please tell me I am not the only Grinch that took down the tree on the 27th.
I'd have done it sooner if I could have.

ho ho doh!

So guess who drove to Lethbridge on Monday to visit with her sister and exchange Christmas gifts... And guess who forgot to bring them and drove to Lethbridge again today only to realize that she had brought all but one and will still have to mail it and have it arrive late anyway.

Merry Christmas!

the phone call

My phone rang at 8am this morning and I thought that was kinda strange. Most of my friends know that we're early risers and it okay to call, but we don't usually chat this early - so I felt a little nervous as I answered.

Me: "Hello?"

Them: "Hello ma'am, my name is _____ and I'm calling from Solo/Bell Mobility to offer you a free cell phone. Can I ask who you're internet provider is?"

Me: (who has always operated on a very polite level with telemarketers, but never gives out any information. EVER. is distracted by the early hour and what has free cell phones and internet service have to do with one another?!?) "Um, ______"

Them: "Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah" (I tune out at this point because this particular company has been calling once a week for about a year and THEY always hang up on ME when I explain that I'm already a Bell customer with a contract and I'm not interested in a second cellphone.)

Them con't: "Blah, blah, can I ask how much you pay with your current cellphone?"

Me: "You know, I'm not interested. I'm already a Bell customer with a contract."

Them: "But ..."

Me: "Are you aware that it is only 8am in my time zone?"

Them: "I'm sorry for the inconvenience," (they're not - this part is still sounding scripted), "but is there a more convenient time for me to call back?"

Me: "Your company has called me every week for the past year with this same offer and I keep asking you to take me off your call list - I'm not interested."

Them: "Oh, no, not us"

Me: "I'm not interested - take me off your call list" (I'm pretty patient about getting around my requisit 3 "no"s, but I'm starting to get ticked.)

Them: "Ma'am, are you telling me you are not interested in saving lots of money by...."

Me: "I am not interested ... I love spending lots and lots of money!" Click - call ended.

*It should be noted that I've abbreviated much of the sales pitch (you're welcome).

This is the first time I've ever really hung up on a telemarket and it felt so liberating! But I think I may have reached some sort of breaking point in my busy week - I know my children were a little frightened by my maniacal laughter as I ran out of the room.

time change

I'm sure we all have our own personal lists of pros and cons when it comes to THOSE times of year (personally I'm a fall daylight savings kinda girl). I don't want to be a whiner, but - It kinda messes with my nap schedule. Just sayin'.

meh

Something has happened to my motivation lately - best guess, it moved out because my life is too monotonous. Mostly, though, I just can't figure out what to make for dinner - the easy stand-byes are really some of my favorite comfort meals, just a little... lackluster. (I know you're dying to know, so here it is - my stand-byes are Tuna Sauce on Toast or Biscuits, Tomato Soup and Popcorn, Ham Sandwiches or Chick'n Stuff Casserole.) So what are your stand-byes when you've forgotten to plan or just plain feel... meh?

"Mom, he stole my power!"

Does anyone else think that it's ridiculous that I spend the majority of my parenting minutes referee-ing disputes about imaginary items? Five minutes ago I gave Josh a lecture about sharing pretend treats and then redistributed a cache of pretend weapons into pretend backpacks. Don't even get me started on how many times a day I have to confiscate everyone's "power" until behavior improves.

P.S. just as I was about to hit "publish post" I heard Josh tormenting Taylor in the play room yelling "I spit out your jelly beans. Pthaaaat." Just to be clear - there are no jelly beans in our house. Someone save me from my life!

in which I link - again

I've spent an awful lot of time lately wondering where my summer went. It seems I hermit-ed it away waiting for the the warm weather. In fact, I've almost whined away my favorite season! It took this post to remind me that I don't even like summer! I live for Autumn. Hello again beloved!

We All Married the Wrong Person - made you look, didn't it? I like that this post emphasizes the importance of commitment.

I needed this reminder. Thanks Rhonda.

Here's another gooder. Sometimes a kick in the pants comes in such unexpected places.

catalog living

I can't get enough of this site. It's "about" reads as follows: "A look into the exciting lives of the people who live in your catalogs." Seriously... I think "Elaine" and I are destined to be besties.

what the what!?!

Today I made a shocking discovery...

People of the world please turn to your calendars and note the following...

Today is the 15th of August.

I know, I know. I didn't see it coming either. Do you know what this means? It means, ahem, that it is now time to stop procrastinating your summer to-do list.

Okay, maybe I'm over-reacting a little...

...you can probably fit in one more week of procrastination.

an apology to my sister

I read this in today's Calgary Herald.

Woman walking dog in Victoria chased by deer

The article went on to describe how Barb Sharp, a 65-year old retiree, and her 11-month-old terrier-cross, Norton, were chased through her neighborhood. The doe "reared on it's hind legs, snorting and scratching the ground before it charged". "It was terrifying. This one was out to get me," reported Sharp who was fortunately rescued by a neighbor passing in their van. Frighteningly, this attack is reminiscent of another that took place a few weeks ago in Saanich.

So, I'm sorry Julie, for all the mocking I've done. Apparently your fears are totally grounded in reality.

new 'do

Warning: blurry, unflattering photos contained below.

So, I got a haircut... finally.

vacay...

...or not. What do you call it when you spend a week and a half sitting around your grandparents-in-law's house watching tv? Anyway, I took these pics of the kids hanging out at the park across the back alley - man, that park was a lifesaver.
ps - Don't you love how I've omitted all of the hair-pulling, gravel-throwing, stick-poking pictures. It gives the impression that my children are capable of playing nicely together for more than 2 minutes without alternating trips in to tattle, cry or generally trying to make eachother as miserable as possible.

in which I link: man-up edition

So I'm a girl. I live with 3 individuals of the male persuasion. Even our fishies are boys. It goes without saying that life around here can be a little crazy and, um, well... smelly. (You: "I wish it had gone without saying, but you don't seem to know when to shut up!" - sorry, sometimes I can't control my movie quoting urges). Anyways... I came across some interesting resources for all things testosterone. Enjoy.

I'm planning on spending some quality time with this blog in the near future. I just feel so understood.

guynameddave and his 100 Things Challenge intrigue me.

Love, love, love this list. I own and have enjoyed a number of these books. "Hatchet" anyone?

Another list of boy books and it's blog that I need to peruse thoroughly.

And because it's a little draining being surrounded in manliness - a little reminder.

a song

According to the song Josh is singing, he loves me for the following reasons:

1) I give him hugs and kisses
2) I make him supper everyday
3) I give him breakfast
and 4) I kick bad-guy butt.

Ya, that's right bad-guys. Watch yourself.

in which I link

There's a couple of blogs I read regularly that do weekly links to other interesting blogs. I thought maybe if I did one I won't always be starting conversations with "I was reading this blog the other day...."

A pastor's wife's view on Respecting Your Husband

I really enjoyed this list the first time around, so here's the review of 50 Ways to Streamline Your Life

Freakin' adorable menu planning craft

A secret I desperately wanted to keep to myself so that you all would admire my "skillz"

maybe I'm doing something right

You know those cute posts everybody does where they ask their kids questions and we all get a glimpse into how much they apparently love cleaning and what-not. Ya, I tried it with Josh - we got 3 questions in before I called it quits, because, well, read it for yourself...

Me: What's mommy's favorite thing?

Josh: I don't know

Me: Well, what do I love the most?

Josh: Me.

Me: Okay, right, but what else do I like?

Josh: You just love me. That's all.


This little discussion reveals 3 fundamental truths about yours truly.
1) My self-absorbedness is hereditary
2) I have no hobbies
and
3) I've done a pretty good job of ensuring my kids know they rank above dishes, laundry, dirty toilets and all of my other favorite activies. Hey, what more could a kid need?

one week - a retraction

So, only because there are friends with whom I am only in touch via blog posts and because I opened the subject a while back - I'm putting this post out there so I can move on. Y'know with all those cute stories and witty observations you all love so much. Here it is...

No new Crosby baby in September. I went in for a regular appointment last week and we couldn't find a heartbeat (we had heard it the appointment previous), subsequent hours in the ER and two ultrasounds later I learned that the baby had stopped developing only days earlier. No obvious reason, just one of those things.


Mostly, we're okay. Sad, but okay. I can see God's hand in the experience - so much so in the timing; my mom was here when I found out, Trevor started a unusually long weekend off the next day, and I had an amazing nurse during the difficult hours at the hospital.

So that's it, that's all. You can ask me about it if you want - I probably won't cry on you, in fact, really like to talk about my little guy. I think maybe it helped that I knew of so many women who had lost pregnancies, so that I was able to be accepting of our loss. But mostly it was because I know I have a loving Heavenly Father who always does what's best for me - even if I don't understand why, or it feels like the worst thing in the world.

"I know in whom I have trusted. My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consumming of my flesh. " [2 Nephi 4: 19-21]

happy weekend!

Okay, maybe not YOUR weekend, but my weekend starts today and I'm pretty pumped. Yesterday, Trevor worked his last of 8 days of 11 hour shifts and today is the first of his 4 days off before going back to work. Last night we celebrated with snacks and a Gilligan's Island mini-marathon ... Josh's pick. (Mini-marathon because we were all in bed by 9 pm - 5 am mornings do that to you.) Josh and Trevor had a sleepover in a giant blanket-bed on the basement floor - perfect because separating the kids meant I got to sleep through the whole night and Taylor didn't get up until 6. Three cheers for sleeping in! I could go on, but I'm trying to spare you all the uncharitable feelings of intense jealousy. Three Saturdays in a row AND warm weather?!? How lucky can one girl get!

Jealous much?

Go check out my sister's post. 'Nuff said.

now this is what I call a quality post

A while ago a friend tagged me to do a list of 10 honest things about myself. I really can't manage that deep of a thought right now, so I thought I'd count down a list of things that may or may not be true about yours truly - you can try and figure it out!

1. I spent a night on Whyte Ave (in Edmonton) hanging out with a preacher/musical busker and some squatters. I even slept on the sidewalk

2. I cut the umbilical cord at the birth of my second child. I would recommend it to anyone.

3. I saw Queen Elizabeth in person when she toured my elementary school. If you believe a picture I drew about it - we shared an ice cream cone and she is much smaller in person that pictures would indicate.

4. Robert Munsch visited my elementary school and read our classes a bunch of his books. This fact gets more interesting as I get older and read them to my children.

5. I made it to the 2nd round of auditions in the first season of Canadian Idol. I had to withdraw from consideration due to a family emergency - it's okay, I didn't have a shot anyway.

6. I was on the wrestling team in high school. Please refrain from picturing me in a singlet.

7. I've never broken a bone or had a cavity. I am clearly an exceedingly healthy individual.

8. I am currently gestating my 3rd child. Isn't it true that married women of a particular age are always the subject of speculation in this regard?

Okay, I was gonna try for 10, but 8 will have to do ya. Check the comments for a list of true and false answers.

good and not-so-good

I really like playing imaginary games with my kids if it requires them to call me "master" or "your majesty". I am not so found of the ones where I play the part of "ugly step-sister", "granny" or "witch".

Sears and Roebuck

When we were little, my younger sister had a lot of dolls and bears with odd names. Co-op and Leopard are the ones I remember. I've always wondered what in her life made her so creative with names. (Her kids ended up with Carter and Hayley - pretty anti-climactic if you think about it.)
Apparently, whatever developmental glitch causes this happened in my home too - Josh currently has an imaginary bunny friend named Costco.