Happy New Year

So 2011 is almost over. It was a year of fun nd friends , adventures and activity, not without it's bumps in the road, but those were overshadowed by the good,

Adam's trip to Egypt soon turned into a trip to China instead. Cassandra and I got to discover Paris without the girls on our whirl wind vacation of 5 days, and Michaela jetted off to London on her 18th birthday. We found ourselves a new home that fit us all, Davidson started sk in French immersion and Erin entered into gr. 8 with a new maturity I had not seen in her before.

I didn't get my permanent job...YET..but I am waiting in hopeful anticipation and finding the silver lining in the clouds of the life of an occasional teacher!

This year I am going to read more, I am going to be more organized, I am going to be more attentive to my children, work on my marraige and the thing I am most excited about is starting my own Happiness Project!

So happy new year, may God bless everyone out there, and may you all find your happiness and peace in 2012.

Holiday Happenings

Yesterday we had a beautiful fresh blanket of snow to wake up to. It was terrific! The little boys played outside while Daddy shoveled and snow blowed the driveway for 2 hours! Then he took the little boys to Grandma's to help with her driveway, I in the meantime, cleaned the house, did some dishes, laundry, read more of War Horse, I am determined to read it before I see the movie and then, best of all, I had a game of Scrabble with Kathleen and Diane! I lost, but it was a great game, lots of fun...although since her car accident, there has been no red wine or guacamole with our games:( We are planning a sleep over scrabble night, then we will be able to partake in the red wine, seems to help us play a little better;)
Today, I am going to take a walk and deliver Erin's flyers, since she is on "vacation" at the Hilton! Then I have a few errands to run and was thinking I might go over to Michaels to find some sort of neat novelty items to use for Adam's birthday. He wants a board game themed party, a fondue meal with his friends and just time to hang out. He even asked if I would leave the house so him and his friends can have the house to themselves...typical teen talk I assume.
We haven't heard from Michaela in a few days, last time we talked was on Christmas day. I am sure things are back to business as usual as they prepare for the New Years Eve Celebrations in London! 2011 has been a good year, all in all, Adam went to China, I went to Paris, Michaela went to London, with all that international travel and gearing up to next summer's European vacation...life is good!
Oh yes, one more stop today with the little boys, to the conservatory for some pictures with the Poinsettas!
Have a wonderful day

3055- One of Michaela's favourites

This picture was sketched by Michaela, her inspiration was this song.

Seasons greetings

So as I have been reading on Facebook and as I drive around the city, people everywhere have been taking down Christmas ! It amazes me and saddens me that these people seem to think that this season is all about one day, the day of the gifts and nothing more! My favorite part about Christmas is sitting up late at night or early in the morning with no light in the room other than that of the tree. The beauty of the tree and the season is something I have a hard time putting away. Was i look around at my snowflakes, my random wooden Christmas signs and the colors and sentiments of the decorations, it seems such a shame to put it all away for another year. I'm not sure when I am taking down Christmas, the way I see it, Adams birthday is January 10, a day or two before is good, and then the tree will be up for Epiphany.

The day after

So, boxing day, up at 6:45, not to shop but because a little ump kin attacked my head to wake me up cuz she was hungry! So taking advantage of the quiet in the house enjoying coffee and reading up on how to properly use this iPad of mine! I was totally spoiled this yeas...an iPad, a case a new lense for the dslr camera, my perfume, some favorite scented lotions from body shop a beautiful mug from Adam with chocolate and The Happiness Project desk calendar, it was a surprising day, didn't think I had been that good this year!
We had a wonderful dinner and gift exchaange on the farm christmas eve, a great Christmas morning, skated in the afternoon with the little boys, and another fabulous turkey dinner with grandma Rita and auntie Debbie , followed by a visit with uncle Donald, Tessa and Tyler. We played games, built race tracks and played on various electronic devices, a fun filled holiday!
Today, a bit of shopping with Erin and friends and off to see we bought a zoo!

This Christmas

“This year, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgigve an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.”
― Howard W. Hunter

Twas the week before Christmas

And all through the house, there were socks and toys
and a mess from the boys.

There were gifts to be wrapped and put under the tree,
Santa even got a few for me:)

There is baking to do, cookies and cakes,
and little things yet to make.

The stockings are hung and awaiting the night,
when Santa will fill them, I hope he gets it right.

Was it the chocolate for Adam, and the candy for Erin,
oh dear, and what the heck was that elf wearin?

Me in my pj's and Dave in his shorts,
getting ready to figure out gifts of all sorts.

video games, books, and a movie or two,
made me remember I had a few things left to do.

So wrap another box
organize the cats and the socks,
tidy the house for the night
and await for the light
of the moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
until Santa is off and ready to go.

On pumpkin and sunshine, Adam and Erin, Davidson, Zacchaeus
I don't think they are hearin...
Santa has come and he has left you some things,
merry Christmas to all, lets go see what this brings.

Trees, Trains and little boys

Well, the real tree is up, with the help of Elmer and Elsie Elf, the train and the Christmas village are around it, it looks wonderful. The tree is doing very well, tucked away in its corner, we've been feeding it a super saturated sugar solution to help it maintain its needles. Apparently real trees are the way to go this year, they leave the smallest footprint as apposed to artificial. I was thinking of buying a new one this year, but don't think I will now. I forgot how much fun it was to go cut down a real tree, the hunt, the family time and the fresh air.

Davidson and Zacchaeus are happy to see their train again, it only comes out at christmas, but gives them so much enjoyment. If i figure out how to post a video I will add them singing to the music of the train.

Today is Friday, I am off, going to clean some more, throw out and purge and maybe take a drive to the dump. I also have a stop at the shelter house planned for blankets we don't need or use. Milk bags to the religious book store, a lady picks them up there and crochets sleeping mats for the people in africa. Erin has to deliver flyers and then we have company from out of town, tina and the girls are in for the weekend. I have gifts to wrap, baking to do and homework..it never ends.

2011-12-14

Click here to view these pictures larger

Exhausted.

i am very tired, think I might turn in early, although looking at the time, it is 11:50 right now! So much for that thought.

Worked today at a 7/8 school, read the few last chapters of the Hunger Games, oddly disturbing book, but now I am a bit hooked, think I'll read the set, in my spare time of course.

Need to get homework done, think I am going to go to the university on Thursday night and work there from 5-10. That should be well worth the time.

I got a 5 day gig for next week! woo hoo, the week before Christmas holidays...that should be fun..

The real tree is finally in the house, however, haver realized, I have no lights for it...so Dave is out at Walmart getting lights, I'll decorate it tomorrow.

At my pathfinders meeting tonight, my secret santa bought me a tim's card..I love it! and when the little girl that I was secret santa got her helium ballon, chocolate and candy, she was ecstatic...it was so great to see how happy those three little simple very easy to get gifts, made her.

Good night.

My Creations

Popsickle stick snowflakes in colours to match decors of Dawn, Linda and mom. Goldent angels, finally, after 2 years in the closet they have colour, their wings will come soon.

DeBruyne Tree Hunt 2011

Well, we cut down our first real tree in years. I have not had one in over 20 years, so it was due! We headed out to the farm on a glorious sunny wintery day. It was a beautiful balmy December afternoon. My dad told us a few great spots to go to, we ended up trudging up to Derosie's, a field on a hill that my Dad owns, but calls it by the previous owners name! On top of the hill stand a cabin we used to snowmobile to as kids, have a little fire and some refreshments inside and just warm up a bit before we headed out again for more fun. Not far from the cabin stands a White Pine, thought to be one of the oldest in the area,if not in Ontario. It was big when my Dad was a kid, and now..well it towers over everything and stands majestic in the field. I had a Christmas vacation moment, as I hadn't been to see the tree in many year...I heard the songs of angels..and silence all at the same time as I gazed upon it, in its wintery wonderland.
Thank goodness there has not been alot of snowfall, we trudged from tree to tree along the forest line, but then I looked into the distance across the field and saw a nice bunch of trees just over the knoll...so away we went...Dave spoted a nice Balsam and proceeded the prep to cut it down, before long it was on the ground, it didnt look as tall as it ended up being...but fit nicely on the sled to be pulled over the hills and back down to the van. When we arrived home, and stood it up outside beside the garage...well, lets just say we'll have to chop it down to size..lol, nonetheless as we were walking back on top of that hill, and in wanderment looked around, there is ahill just past the revine and creek that has some beauiful smaller little trees that will do awesome next year... Until then enjoy the pictures of our day.

how does one blog properly?

So I'm thinking, I've been doing very well with keeping up on posts, but I want to add music and other things, but I have no clue! I figured out how to change the background and I know how to add my own pictures, but how do I make my blog beautiful like others I have seen? How do I make it unique and inviting? If you have suggestions let me know. I would like to play with this more...part of my procrastination mode...funny thing, I first started this blog when I was doing a different AQ course, and it was very successful in helping me fall behind, and has worked again, so apparently my blog is about anything and every

6:30 am skype wake up call

Woke up to an email from Michaela...do you wanna skype? So I woke up, grabbed a coffee and away I went. It was nice to have quiet in the house and be able to talk to her alone for a while. her big news...She went to the Premiere of Sherlock Holmes, not for the movie, but to see who she might get a glimpse of, maybe an autograph and a few pics...well don't you know, she met her favourite Stephen Fry...then Robert Downey Jr. and to her greatest surprise..Jude Law! She had such a great time. She stood in the rain for 9 hours for Stephen Fry to kiss her hand and call her darling!

I turned down a call today so I could go and tape the kids play "How much/little we know" written by their director. Came home with 3 more kids than I own..fed them all, tidied the house, helped Erin do the 2nd flyer route for the last time and now we are ready for the first public performance. Hopefully the adults get the jokes a little more than the kids did from the schools.

It is bitter cold today, I love winter, but not necessarily the cold..need to get out when I am dressed warmer, or at least when it actually is warmer.

That's it for today, its Friday evening...I think wine might be in order tonight.

Production week and Homework

It is production week for the kids, they have such a good time performing for the classes that come in. Everyday they return with a new story of who did what and how the classes reacted. Yesterday I took the little boys in the afternoon to go and see it. They thought is was funny, Zacchaeus liked copying Emma's lines, but he didnt know who Adam and Erin were because of their costumes! It is a cute play, written by their director with the help of the cast in creating their own characters, this is our 3rd year doing it, makes for a long busy fall, we'll see what happens next year.

I woke up this morning, not feeling so bad about myself as I did yesterday, and think I will give a full day focused on homework. I enjoy the reading, but honestly having to post 12 quotes and comments from each weeks readings, and having to read and comment on 5 others posts is just annoying me to no end. It is the thing stopping me from getting the work done. Just need to get over that hurdle..and get back into it...besides the course ends next week and I have 5 weeks to catch up on.

Tonight is the Chrismas potluck for the local Girl Guide leaders and "others", I say others, because they are the elderly women of our local area who just seem to want to keep things running their way. The only reason I go, sad to say, is so that they can't say I didnt go, and to limit the amount of "talk" that can be done about me, isnt that just sad.

On Tuesday night with my 18 girls, ages 12-15, we went to a seniors long term care facility and sang on each of the 5 floors. I have to tell you, the girls enjoyed singing and the reactions, as much as the elderly folks did! One lady even asked if she could sing for us and she sang us a lovely French Christmas song. It was beautiful and when we all clapped for her, she lit up the room. When we were done and we talked about things to do in the new year, the girls asked if we could spend more time with the seniors...of course we can! We will plan a games day for a Saturday, probably at Jasper were a wonderful lady named Eddie lives. we met her last year, age 94 she recounted tales of her time in girl guides as a leader, and she encouraged the girls to keep going and to become leaders, I think she inspired us all, so we'll go visit her and her friends.

Homework time, all is calm and bright in my house, fairly tidy, Zacchaeus is the only one home today, cars and trucks can amuse him while I work.

Hope everyone has a great thursday...16 days and 15 hours to the big day...homework needs to get done so I can finish shopping and start baking.

package delivered

Hey Trish, message for you....package picked up and delivered, and what a gorgeous colour that poinsetta was...amazing.

took the little boys out the greenhouse/craft center. Had a wonderful time on the drive looking at all the lights, and the little boys were so good at the greenhouse! They loved all the trees and ornaments, the snowmen and elves..

It was a great excuse to take a drive out there, and reminded me that we need to take an afternoon to go to the conservatory for some pictures...that will be next week.

Winter Song

http://vimeo.com/4291488

Tis the season...

Well, worked yesterday, but honestly, did not enjoy a single moment of it! Looked around the lunchroom and saw all the young people with lto's and all the young people with permanent jobs and started to wonder...is this really where I want to be? I don't walk the walk, talk the talk, or dress the dress...so do I actually belong there? One might say I should not complain, a days wage for supply is quite healthy, but is it enough to sustain?

People around me lately have been driving me crazy, the hustle and bustle of life and of course the "course" and the lack of time or motivation to actually work on it.

This is the time of year that everyone should find some sort of peace or happy place in their existence, but today I just feel like if I found a little cabin in the woods, and could be there in complete solitary confinment, then I would be in my happy place.

Lets hope the sun is shining today, and the air is warmer, even just a little so that I can go out and find some time to rejuvinate.

Tuesday 6:00 am

Well, got a full day call today, and get to go to one of my favourite schools and work across the hall from my other PIC who got into this mess with me 7 years ago! She has an lto there, so will be nice to be able to catch up face to face instead of via board email.

had a successful mission yesterday in locating and purchasing the leappad..woo hoo and have Davidson's ipod being replaced by apple...a good day for sure.

Its cold here today so hoping beyond hope that there is no outdoor duty today..hmmm, maybe if I'm lukcy it is a music day with double prep..wouldnt that be awesome...

Carolling with Pathfinders tonight at a long term care home, Glee is on tonight, starring Chewbacca..yeah!

looks like it might be a good day:)

The Spirit of Christmas

Is alive and well! I have accomplished my mission...the man in the red suit can deliver....hahaha, funny enough, it was a man in a red t-shirt! hahaha, will explain later;)

iPODs and children, a turkey and homework

WEll, last night in an attempt to be efficient and get all the laundry done on the weekend...I grabbed everyone's last bit of clothing as the little boys hopped into the tub, threw everything into the washer and continued on. In the hunt later to locate Davidson's iPOD...apparently he has become accustomed to putting things in his pocket..and yes, you guessed it,,,it is a very clean, non-functional iPOD. I sat it in a bag or rice for the night to see if it would help, but no luck. RIP iPOD, you've had a busy year...yes, it lasted one year. But lets face it, most people only last 1 year with each electronic before the upgrade, so guess he'll be upgrading. Let's see now, at age 3 1st iPOD, 4, 2nd iPOD, and now age 5, 3rd iPOD.

Erin and Adam are off to their dress rehearsal for Eleanor Drury Children's Theatre. It is producation week, which means they are off school for the week and performing for over 1000 Thunder Bay school children. Usually I go for the whole week, but this year, I've learned to say NO and have let others take their turn. They will do fine without me. Althought I feel somewhat odd about not being there.

My friend's got a free turkey at the superstore on the weekend, and donated it to us as their family doesn't eat turkey, so we will have it for dinner tonight.

Today is a homework day, need to catch up on 5 weeks of posts, reading and assignments. I will be glad when this course is done. I still have popsicle stick snowflakes to make,

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas.

So, I took my ceramic Christmas village out of the Christmas tote and set it up on the back of michaela's piano...although they don't really fit that well. But the little boys were quite happy to see them out. the stockings are hung by the chimeny with care..and Sunshine has found out that she can climb up the chimney..don't ask!

Had a great afternoon supplying... had a good chat with a teacher I've known for a while, talked about the good, the bad and the ugly...

Yesterday had the chance to catch up with an old friend...and yes, like she said..its been years since we talked, but we picked up like we left off yesterday...those are the ties that bind...is all I can think, we've been through thick and thin...partners in crime as we used to say! Glad to have her back.

She has inspired me to keep going and keep living...and not to get down, especially this time of y

Smart move

So, out delivering flyers with erin...I dropped my keys in the snow..thought I locked them in the van...Dave lost both other sets last winter...had to call CAA to break into my van, only to discover the keys were not there...found them in a snow bank...decided that two flyer routes is one too many..so dropped down to one for next week. Swimming is down to one week left for the little boys, 60 cases of chocolate bars in my garage waiting to be sold and one deposit ready for the bank for the travel group. not a very productive day...just a day. I love my course I am taking, but unfortunately procrastination and children get the better of me, and so now I sit 4 weeks behind on posts..but hey, I have posted 3 days in one week on my blog after an 11 month absence...so things are looking up! thanks Trish..for the inspiration, and for reentering my life and picking up where we left off...my partner in crime to the end!

kids and jobs

So erin got a job...delivering flyers..however, the two routes get delivered to our house, and someone (me) needs to put them together, and then she is supposed to deliver them. Now we all know, this never happens...she will do some on her own, but you can be good and sure she is going to be wanting me to drive her to the route that is furthest away...a whole 5 mins around the corner...to help her..and she will want me to help her. So I know it was my idea for her to get the job in the first place to make spending money for her trip to europe..but honestly..should I be doing the majority of the work? I have no answer.