Signed and delivered...

We have cleared the first hurdle! The offer is accepted and Paul will be an employee of Mark's Work Wearhouse. The official date has not been set, but because it's taking the shape of an internal transfer, the official date is dependent on when Canadian Tire is willing to let him go! Ah, so nice to be wanted...
He is working so hard. He's digging into the testing he needs to get done at CT with a vengeance. He's been trying to get quotes on our small bathtub reno. He's constantly packing up extraneous bits and transporting them to storage, when he's at home. He also had a dental appointment today, so after supper he bravely ate a freezie in the hope of numbing his sore mouth.
As for me, I rearranged the living room.
I can't wait for this house to be clean again. I know it always looks the most awry just previous to the moment it begins to look civil again. I'm finding it hard to think past the mess.
Hmm. I'm finding it hard to think, period.
I don't suppose I could go to bed this early, could I?

Nah. That would just be weird. It's the wrong side of midnight.

Ah yes, the kids. The afternoon snack was grapes. Emily decided that she would be a fruit bat, as they eat grapes. Sometime later, when she flapped back upstairs, I asked if she, the fruit bat, had a name yet.
"No," she replied.
"Would you like one?" I asked. She nodded, completely in character.
"How about....," I thought for a while, ".....Juicy?" She nodded again, though this time a tiny bat-like smile curled onto her face.
Later on, I found her trying to sound out her name while trying to type it on their play computer. When Paul got home, she properly introduced herself to him, so there would be no mistaken identity.

On a mischeivous note, I hung a beaded candy cane on Butterscotch's collar tonight. I don't think he noticed but guaranteed when Paul does, he'll roll his eyes and say something like, "Oh Butterscotch, what will we do with her?"

Hee! Small things that entertain me.

Oh man, will it ever end? I have totally lost motivation and perspective, I suppose.
Paul contacted Marks today with a question related to the offer. By the end of today, he still has not signed BUT! we have received a welcome package by courier, he is being scheduled to head out there next week and we are trying to plan a house hunting venture the following weekend.

Sometimes organizing a myriad of details into a cohesive plan can be an interesting and a fun challenge. This? This is monumentally aggravating.

Salad dressing.
I feel like someone is making salad dressing with my life and in order to get the end product EVERYTHING goes in at once and the whole thing is being whizzed around.
I feel dizzy.

The offer is on the table...

The coffee table.
Waiting.
For tomorrow, when Paul will clarify a few things and then SIGN IT!!

Our house is emptier too. We need to move a few more things out of the basement and then I will start to try to make it look prettier. So someone will buy our house.
As I write this, my poor exhausted husband is dozing beside me. He`s staying up to be with me but he`s just pooped. He took two trips to the storage unit tonight. He`s been working so hard at trying to get this house market-ready.
I`m exhausted too. I guess I`ll take us to bed now.
I wish we could just take time and feel the joy and the excitement. To let it bubble over. We`re just too tired.

The Yearly Letter...a year too late

Dec 2007



Dearest family and friends,
Our greetings to you come a little late this year. As I started to gather my thoughts for this letter around mid-November I realized I had to wait. There was something in the offing that just might need to be included in this letter. While waiting, I painted most of the house. It took a lot of work, much help from Paul, and a great deal of patience from the kids, which they were happy to give. For the most part!

Here are some highlights from our year:

Growing Up, Nathan and Emily Style
These two kids are incredibly imaginative. They spend much of their day pretending, attempting to be in costume and in character for as long as possible. Emily really enjoys dressing up and Nathan enjoys draping blankets and propping pillows anywhere he can in order to create his spaceship, ice breaker, castle or whatever. If it resembles a string, he’ll try to tie it to something. They both regarded the arrival of spring with glee, getting out on their bikes almost every day. Nathan’s sense of humour is very wordy, using puns and rhymes. Emily’s sense of humour is a little more physical. If you stare into her eyes for a while, they’ll turn up at the corners just before she scrunches up her face with her hands and sticks out her tongue. She can’t seem to help but to try make us laugh as often as she can. Even as they are filled with laughter, they are always inquisitive, asking questions ranging from the philosophical (Aren’t you glad Santa isn’t real?) to the physical (why do dogs’ tails have bones?) and back to the practical (can I have some of the gingerbread house now?).

Camping

the very cold waters of Georgian Bay at Indian Head Cove, Bruce National Park

The Bruce Peninsula. WOW. It is simply amazing. We kicked off our camping season with a 2day test trip to Laurel Creek Conservation Area, in the middle of Waterloo. That was informative. We noted all items which were forgotten and those which were unnecessary, bought a cartop carrier bag and took off on our 10day vacation, beginning at the Bruce. Oh, you should go! Really, it is a beautiful, unique place. There is truly nowhere else like it on this planet.

We then joined forces with the Beilby family at Awenda Provincial Park and took in the area’s historical sights. I didn’t mention that Nathan is a history buff, did I? One of his highlights of the year was our visit to Discovery Harbour and Ste. Marie-among-the-Hurons.

the only volunteer for this activity at Discovery Harbour, was Emily!

In late August, we shared some food and some splendid camping at the Pinery with the Naus family. Emily was in tears when she realized that this would be the last camping trip of the year. Paul and I felt the same. Nathan was happy to get back to his own bed.

on our way to the beach, Pinery Provincial Park

The Last Half was Harder
The last 5 months have brought some challenges to Paul and I. In early August, my aunt, whom I call Julie Mamie, passed away. I had the opportunity to see her and to say ``goodbye`` a few weeks before. My life was but one that she had touched deeply. The grief, though, was not something I had ever known before and I found it all-consuming for a while.
One day, in late September, we received a phone call from Paul`s mom. Paul`s dad, who lives and works in Southern Mexico, had been in an accident and his leg was broken. He was taken to hospital in Mexico City and Paul`s mom, and some good friends, spent many hours there with him. In early October, the doctors determined that the leg needed to be amputated. Soon after, Dad, and Mom were flown up to Ontario, to North York General, in Toronto. Dad`s recovery was longer and harder than we expected but through much prayerful and practical support from friends and family, he has come very far. He`s now at St. John`s , a rehab hospital in North York. Yahoo!!
On Dec. 23rd, we celebrated! For Dad`s first day pass, we had Christmas dinner together, at a home generously offered to us by a family who were away for the holidays. It was a very refreshing time, resting in the blessing of God`s provision and finding great joy in being together.

What are we waiting for?
We are waiting for a dream to come true!
About 4 years ago, we began talking and dreaming about moving out west. About 2 years ago, you may remember, Nathan and I went to a certain city, called Calgary, to visit friends. And to check it out.
Paul was attempting to transfer to Mark`s Work Wearhouse, a company owned by Canadian Tire, Paul`s current employer, just as the housing prices skyrocketed. Maybe it was a little premature.
About 2 months ago, Paul was contacted regarding a position with Mark`s new supply chain team, headed up by a former director from CT. Just as the housing prices dipped a little! We are in the later stages of negotiations, proceeding with the hope that we may be heading to Calgary in the New Year.
So, after our letters and cards are mailed out, we will continue a frenzied pace. Replacing the Christmas preparations, however, will be readying our house for listing and attempting to find housing in Calgary. If you want to keep up with what is happening, you`ll have to check out my blog http://curlsinmyhair.blogspot.com/ or find me on Facebook!

God Bless you, this Christmas, and into the New Year.
With love,
Paul, Amy, Nathan and Emily

Stop packing?!!?

Is he crazy?
Paul called me this morning and told me to stop packing. He said that the company included packing us up and offsite storage in the relo package. STOP? Can they come tomorrow?
I can't stop! And I hope he was being slightly facetious because there's no way I can stop. We've got to get stuff out of this house and I've got wallpapering (yuck), painting, cleaning (yuck)and staging to get done before we can list. Somewhere in there, the basement carpet will be replaced.
So, I think that we need to keep going. But I do find the thought of someone else packing everything ELSE up extremely exciting! I'll keep my excitement inside, though. I'll let it out when it's time!

By this time tomorrow, we should have something official for Paul to sign. It's THAT CLOSE.
Wow.

Busting

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh. I just can't stand it anymore! I've got to tell someone. I'm way too excited.
It's also way too much work.
It also might not happen.

But it might!

We might be moving to Cal-ga-ry! We might be moving to Cal-ga-ry!
Yahoo! I mean, YEE HAAAAA!
I wonder what I'll look like in a cowboy hat? I wonder what Paul will look like in a cowboy hat?

We're trying to pack most of our stuff up and get it to a storage unit. It's hard work with our two, who want to hang out with us, instead of watch us pack boxes. It's an exercise in faith, too, to pack up a house in hopes of putting it on the market, before all the paperwork is signed, simply because we both agree and feel strongly led by a sense of knowing that is bigger than ourselves.
I'm going to get back to the task at hand: sorting out the play kitchen toys so that they all fit in the bin, with the lid closed.

So excited!

Unpurpled

YAHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My vision has improved. It is no longer clouded by a purple haze caused by the prevalence of a purple hue on our walls. Pics should come soon!

Leify words

We found it. the Word on the Street. We brought home some of those words and discovered Leif Erikson. We took a ride with Matt and Emily from the newly published Canadian Flyer series and have started hanging out with Vikings on the coast of Newfoundland. Oh what fun!
Oh what a relief!
I'm relieved because since I've made a change to how we homeschool, I've been wondering what Nathan would run after intellectually.
But first, a word of explanation. We now unschool. No curriculum and very little "Mommy says you have to learn this right now". It's so much more appropriate to us and so much harder to explain to people. It's based on the premise that children naturally are curious and want to learn. It allows Nathan to ask questions about the things he's really wanting to know and allows us the time to completely answer his questions to his satisfaction. Often, I've found, his quest for knowledge allows for a much more thorough understanding that is often offered at the grade level books. I'm learning to trust Nathan more. And he's beginning to thrive.
Emily and I are still finding our way. She just loves workbooks. I just love blank pieces of paper. We manage.

Watch out! It's an iceberg!

Lovely, isn't it? This iceberg is being lassoed by the marine vessel named "the Breaker", because it breaks and moves and tows icebergs. I couldn't fit the vessel into the picture but it's off to the right.
Nathan has taken over the house. In his room is his play house (a blanket-fort from his bed to the floor and his bed is the attic, our main floor houses the iceberg and marine vessel ( pillows as seen, basket, stool and remote control handset and blankets for the vessel, and the treehouse (another blanket-fort) is in our basement. This reallocation of resources and square footage is occuring while I am trying to pack for camping.
I have recently been informed that he wishes we had more pillows so that he could make a big stack of them. Yikes!!

Nathan and Emily built a treehouse

They shared it with their daddy.

Nathan and Emily really like going on trips and exploring new things. A few weeks ago, they decided to help daddy and Grandma hold up the Big Apple.

Another day, they took mommy and daddy to see the boats at the Welland Canal.
We all liked seeing the ducks and geese in Lake Ontario.
Now Nathan and Emily are staying at home for a few days. They want to learn how to swim better, so they are taking lessons every morning. They have just a few more to do. On Friday, their last day, daddy will come and watch them. That will be fun!

Previously, on the May 24 weekend....

An attempt with the left hand.

They go up, tiddly up UP, they come down, tiddly down DOWN!

The daddy pictured above REALLY wanted to go on the Ferris Wheel and convinced the nervous, yet brave, child to accompany him. They're so cute!

I made a boy necklace for Nathan.

He REALLY likes playing in the sprinkler!

That's all I can do today. What's missing is the trip to the firestation with Nathan and Emily at the wheel. Now, I have to go sort out camping dishes.

Enjoy!

I know, it been a while. But I've had so much fun. We spent so much time outside that Emily is looking brown! They've biked, I've walked. We've played, I've pulled a wagon.

This past Saturday night we spent in Grandma and Grandpa B's backyard, in our tent. Our tent is more spacious than many hotel rooms. It's FANTASTIC!!! So, this Sunday, we head out to do some preliminary camping, for two nights. We're thinking to go to Laurel Creek Conservation Area, right smack in the middle of Waterloo, but, it's beautiful and there'll be lots of bugs to check out!

Tomorrow, we're off to the Welland Canal, to see if we can catch sight of any container ships or other interesting boat making their way through the waterway and to have lunch with G'ma and G'pa B, who are spending a few vacationy days there.

The pictures. Well I keep taking them with every intention of posting them. Must figure out a better system.

Sighgh. I'm enjoying this moment. A rare moment of peace and tranquility.

Oh, what a day. What a month.

I can't believe how full it's been - full of thoughts and growing relationships - and it's felt very restful and rewarding. So after all that, why do I feel so flustered today, like I'm hanging on to the back of a train for dear life as it goes whipping down the track. This train may be going at a leisurely pace but it feels out of control to me. Hmmm. If I follow that metaphor, maybe I should climb INTO the train, sit down and look out the window. Hope I can find a door or open window somewhere.

On with the post.

I made a Quillow

I decided to make a quilt which folds into a pillow as a present for my grandmother.

I'm not sure she'll figure out the intricacies of the transformation, but I'm hoping she's liked it. I took a pic of the p(u)ilt in progress.

Nathan, Ryan, Devin and Evan are great grandsons of my Nanee, who, as seen on her pink hat cake, is 90. Wow.

The lady hiding behind the kid's heads is Paul's mom. She had her hair all done up fancy in curlers, but we decided to take pictures anyway. This shot, though her eye is missing, showcases the Grinning Happy Trio of Silliness, which might have been their motto, if indeed they had thought to have one!

We put up our tent.....

It's really big.........

The rainfly is like a BIG kite if it gets caught in the wind just so........

Son's head meets Daddy's clippers

just catching up....

Back around Easter.....

She looks so smug!

This is the mint chocolate ice cream cake with peppermint brownie. And sprinkles, cuz in our house it's just not birthday cake unless there's sprinkles!

The cake maker: Ana. Notice how good she is, she's scraping the chocolate sauce on the knife back into the container. I, on the other hand, would have scraped it right into my mouth!
Nathan wanted a picture with his monkey. My lovely little boy.

The Caledon Trail

This past Saturday, we took a small jaunt along the Caledon Trail just off of Horseshoe Hill Rd (Dixie Rd, but further north). Of all that we saw, Nathan was most impressed with the moss!
Emily was impressed with her carrier. She wasn't very interested in going on a hike with us. Maybe when the moths, butterflies and leaves come out, she'll be more interested. And if the angle looks weird to you, just think of how much I miss out on, being this short!

We found what we think are raspberry canes. Nathan took this picture.
Emily wanted to take a picture too.

Spring

The lilac bush is budding. haha. The lilac bush is budding. heehee. The lilac bush is budding. Just needed to get this picture up here, to send to a friend on facebook. She's an Amy, she understands.

Good Friday

What a festive day. We just spent some time celbrating Mom Hills and Paul's birthdays - with salmon for dinner and ice cream cake. Wow. Yum.

Hmmm....will have to take some pics....

This has been a wonderful day. One of the first I managed to maintain a Christ-aware mind throughout the whole day. Perhaps this is a sign of things to come, like spring, where my heart is blossoming in its awareness of it Creator and Saviour.

Happy Good Friday. And, thank you, Jesus.

Amy

Thought of the morning - a la Emily

"My body likes sweet stuff....but not kiwi cuz that too sour!

Ha ha. I love her trains of thoughts. She is always thinking. At this point in her sweet musings I had to redirect her attention to finishing breakfast. Otherwise she would have kept on...and on...and on, crinkling her nose and lowering her voice dramatically at every conclusion she came up with.

Another little thinker. I love her.

sometime mid-march, it was Grandma's birthday

First, we took a picture of my hairclip on Emily. She's starting to want to look like Mommy. It's really sweet.
Grandma and Grandpa brought dominoes...and a family tradition continues!

Grandma's cakes!
She really liked this card. It's so nice to make something homemade and have it appreciated. I sometimes feel self-conscious about making our cards, people call so much attention to it. I just have to stick with my little vendetta - inspiring others to choose to make things themselves, rather than relying on the big capitalistic machine to tell them what's worth giving.
Emily marches to a different drummer. We were trying so hard to get a nice snuggly picture of the three. *sigh*

We discovered that I am exactly half the age of my mother. That should make for some fun jokes this year!

This was a really fun day. We learned how simple it is to bless someone unexpectedly. We did a bit of decoration and little bit of cupcakes and a simple lunch, which all helped to make the atmosphere of birthday, but I think what made it such a blessing was the focus of Nathan and Emily as they unselfconsciously declared "Happy Birthday" and showered Mom with their sheer joy that it was her birthday and their excitement at being able to celebrate it with her. I'm learning that it's our reaction to each other that sets the tone. As celebrative as the stuff (decorations, food, planning, programming) may be, it's the outpouring of authentic, uninhibited love that touches meaningfully. All those polite, adult, socially acceptable walls are just that, walls and they hinder our ability to love each other deeply and meaningfully. I hope that I can really learn this lesson - to risk loving people with abandon. I know I have it in me. I see that I actually need to get it out of me.

The windows are open...

wow.

It's so beautiful. The birds are so chatty, the kids are so happy. Folks, I think this is it. The start of spring!

Paul's mom will arrive later tonight. Emily is full of anticipation and confusion - she wanted Gramma to come yesterday, how sweet! Howver, i have a basement full of boxes and stuff that needs to be sorted and put back in the storage area - so I'm glad she wasn't here yesterday! Must go clean,
Amy

He takes it lying down...

Whooooohoooo! Nathan is sick. Yes, I'm excited about that, but cautious at the same time - I don't want him dangerously sick.
But today he's so nice to deal with....in bed, sleepy, calmly speaking, no whining, bossing or demands. Ahhhhhhhhhh.
And Emily is happily playing on her own. I've even read a book already this morning. Now, I'd better tackle something useful - like cleaning out the storage area or reorganizing the computer area or redoing the play area. Or maybe I should do some sewing? Hmmm. I guess I could download the pics from the weekend and post.

Maybe.

*sigh*

It's so peaceful here.