A Walk with Multiple Benefits!

This afternoon Ethan and I went for a walk in the GORGEOUS sunshine! This walk had so many benefits!

Benefit #1: BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE! I walked in a T-shirt, and finally got some sun on my arms.

Benefit #2: The obvious one, Exercise, seeing that I have done very little lately, I thought it was due time I did SOMETHING.

Benefit #3: On our walk we just HAPPENED to come across a garage sale. Now i'm not usually the garage sale type, i always feel weird going into someone garage buy their stuff that they have deemed junk. Anyways this garage sale had SO many kids toys and kids clothing (which conveinently was in Ethan's size). So i had to buy a few things. Very cute! I was very happy I decided to go for a walk today.

Benefit #4: I have now found the best convienience store for candy and other delicious treats. I had to buy something (which i know negates my entire walk) but I couldn't walk out empty handed, so I drank my slush, had a few candies and made my way home.

So now Ethan is supposed to be ready for a nap, he's not really but he is going down whether he wants to or not. I am trying a new 'meatloaf' recipe. I've never had meatloaf, and at the moment I have to say that ground beef makes me want to hurl. But Kelly seemed interested so we will see. I will have to make something eles for myself.

A Wonderful Day

Since Monday I have been babysitting and the weather has been far from wonderful, so i've been stuck in the house for most of the day. Today it was just me and Ethan (Kelly's first da of his new job) so I was determine to get out of the house.

First we went to HomeSense. I have recently discovered this place and I LOVE it, I rarely buy anything but I love to get ideas for kids rooms! Anyways this HomeSense just happens to be attached to the Winners so we went shopping! We found the CUTEST gift for Ethan's little friend who turns 1 in May. It sure if fun shopping for girls!

We got back in the car and went to Michael's. Again, i never buy much here but I love to look. Mostly I like to look at the $1.50 items. I usually buy cards so I always have a stock when they are needed!

We ended at the mall. We were both very hungry so we went to the vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown that I had been craving. It was delicious. Ethan was so well behaved. After lucnh we did some more shopping and Ethan FELL ASLEEP IN HIS STROLLER. This never happens, so I was trying to be as quiet as possible.

I am on the lookout for a maternity bathing suit and dress for my sisters grad. I found NEITHER. and i'm not sure how great i'm going to feel in a bathing suit this summer, more like a freaking whale. Anyways what I have discovered is how much i dislike the salepeople in both maternity stores. They are so pushy, they don't leave you alone. Seroiusly they follow you around and then stand at the change room door to ask "how are you doing" "Can i get you another size" OVER AND OVER AND OVER. So I was prepared this time, very little eye contact, very short in answering the questions they asked. I think they got the point. "Leave that grump alone".

We went into Old Navy. This place is very hit-or-miss for me. Today I found a few things, I'm ready for summer now, if only the beautiful weather would come back!

By this time Ethan was READY to go home. So we bopped in the car, drove home and here we are. It was a very great day. Ethan has been playing so nicely all by himself for the last hour (again this doesn't happen often either).

We are going to make dinner, tonight I have three shows all in a row that I can't miss, so mostly likely will be a 'couch' night!

I've added a picture from our house, we drove by yesterday. It is all dry-walled inside. Not sure what the next step is buy we can't wait!

A Walk a Day to Keep the Crazies Away

So lately I have been ultra grumpy, for no particular reason, just grumpy. Anything could set me off. For example, to Canada Poster really got on my nerves, almost had to yell.

Anyways so what I've decided is that everyday I need to get out of the house and go for a WALK. Doesn't matter how far or for how long. I just need to get out of the house. I have been so sick lately and when i'm babysitting I usually stay inside for most of the day (although we do walk to the park).

So rain or shine, wind or snow (which is in the forecast for this week). Once i'm done babysitting (around 4). Me, Kelly and Ethan are going to buckle down and go for a walk. Hopefully this will also help in keeping my weight down, since i Have had NO motivation what-so-ever to go to the gym lately. In fact I can safely say I might be completely sick of the gym.

Today it is super windy, but not rainy. We will head out around 4 and be back for dinner at 5, and have Ethan asleep by 7.

Swap Meet

This morning was the day of the big "Little Monster Swap Meet". It started at 11. Virginia, Maureen and I had plans to meet there around 9:30. (You might think we are crazy but don't forget this is the biggest Swap meet in ALL of Alberta). So I picked up the Tim Hortons and arrive with Maureen. Virginia was already sitting there and had already got the scoop on all of the good stuff.

The wait didn't seem like an hour an a half. Maureen had Nolan and he was so wonderful, slept the whole wait. Had that have been Ethan, wouldn't have gone so well. SINCE we were the first in line we got FREE addmission to the next swap meet! SCORE!

We all took turns peeking through the windows and going upstairs to check out the goods (TWO INDOOR soccer fields full). I was on a mission for a playpen. I spotted two right away. One for $125 and one for $25 bucks.

We were first in and I headed right for the playpen, paid my money and told her i'd pick it up later. It was all so very overwhelming. I was sweating, had to take my jacket off. I found one lady who had the cutest clothes so I filled up on some very cute clothes for when Ethan is older. (not too much older though).

I've learned a few tricks for the next swap meet. I found a few things I liked but didn't get, I thought I would come back to them. Well you CAN'T do that. Everything I 'came back for' was GONE. I should have just bought them right away.

So my first swap meet was a success, I can't wait for the next one when I will know the sex of the next baby. That could be trouble. I think eventually I'm going to sell all my things there. People will buy anything if they think they are getting a deal.

Earth Day

Yesterday was Earth day, we celebrated by watching Oprah.

I like to think that our family is fairly 'Earth Friendly'. We recycle everything we possibly can. We are constantly filling blue bags full of recycling and we take our bottles back. But those things are so easily done. It actaully drives me crazy (and Kelly more so) when I see cardboard and other recylable material in the dumpster. (infact Kelly has gone so far as writing a letter to the paper about people not recycling).

I think our family could probably improve (and when I say our family I mostly mean me). Kelly is constantly nagging me to 'turn out the lights'. As I sit here right now I notice that i have all three lights on in the house. Definately unecessary. I also have extremely long showers which I could probably decrease, it is just so nice and warm. I like to have a warm place. I hate going to places and being cold. So those are all things I could work on.

We don't idle our car, however, when it is -40 outside we do. I'm not going to go and get into a freezing cold car and sit in it, with a baby while it warms up.... brrrrr.

One thing I would really like to start doing (as soon as we get a house with a yard) is starting a compost. My parents just started doing this last year and it will reduce our waste even further. So I definately look forward to doing that!

Another HUGE footprint on the earth that Ethan and I both share is our obsessive flying. Ethan has been on 21 flights in his short life, we are constantly flying back and forth from here to Courtenay. This year will be a new year, I have already decided that we won't be flying home for Christmas. My mom has already booked an extended trip for the summer, so unless we get stircrazy and find a good seat sale we won't be flying as much!

New Addition

A picture of our new little baby, due on November 7, 2010. This is the reason behind my constant sickness. I am 12 weeks. His/Her arms and legs were flapping all around, everything looked good!

I'm sorry for complaining...

This blog post will be compiled of a few letters to people/things that have been driving me bonkers for the last 12 hours.

Dear Yappy Dog at 11:00pm,
SHUT YOUR YAPPY MOUTH
Yours Truly,
Leslie

Dear mom lady across the hall,
I understand, sometimes it is tough to be a mom, exhausting, stressful etc. And I agree that the 'cry it out' method is very effective, HOWEVER, when your baby SCREAMS like someone is killing him/her for an hour and a half, they are NOT going to fall asleep, something eles is going on. If you haven't noticed already the walls in this building are quite thin, it is a beautiful day outside, rather than let your hooligan children ride bikes and run up and down the halls of our floor, take them outside!!! Thanks for waking up me, and both the babies.
Yours Truly,
Leslie

Dear Elevator Manufacturer,
Do you really think it is smart to put the "Push for Help' button right at a childs level? ummmm, probably not. That is right, one of the kids pressed it, the phone rang, and we ran.
Yours Truly,
Leslie

Dear Train People,
How about we co-ordinate one large 'train-run'. Oh i don't know, say around 5:00pm. Do all of your 'training' at once, be loud for a good hour and then shhhhhhh the rest of the time.
Yours Truly,
Leslie

Dear Telus,
I would really appreicate my TV back, since we are paying for it. I'm tierd of spending my life on the phone with you jut to be hung up on. Just get our dang TV working!
Yours Truly,
Leslie

Dear Canucks,
Please try winning.
Yours Truly,
Leslie

Finally,

Deaer My head,
Why do you tourment me so, How am I supposed to do anything when you around throbbing so. Please stop. Otherwise, I will not be able to do any more physical activity, which will inturn lead to a weight gain, I will have to abandon everything I do for the bed and hire a nanny to watch my own son.
Yours Truly,
Leslie


Sorry for all the complaining, have to get it all out.

Trains...

Trains

I Love trains, for some reason I am fancinated by them. I always secretly hope that when we drive across the tracks there will be a train coming so that we have to stop and wait for it. (Kelly does not ever hope for a train to be coming).

Anyways when Kelly told me we were going to be living in an apartment that was RIGHT on the train tracks, you can only imgaine my excitment.

Our deck looks onto the train tracks, the train goes by probably 2-3 times an hour. HOW exciting.... WELL wrong! The tracks are probably 20 meters from our deck, when the train goes by it is SO freaking loud, and these things go everyday, all day!

Luckily Ethan is a very sound sleeper and can sleep through almost anything, I however, get woken up everytime one zooms by, the faster they go the more the apartment shakes. Our place actaully rumbles!

So for the time being, im going to say I dislike trains, when we move into the house, away from the tracks I think my love for trains will return!

Crazy Week

This past week has been a crazy one for the Roger's family!

We got home so late on Tuesday night, Wednesday we had a doctors appointment bright and early. Ethan's one year exam. Doctor said he is doing great, he is in the 75th Percentile for weight and 25th percentile for height. Typical Rogers, just like his daddy!

On Wednesday we also got the call saying that we have SOLD the condo and we had to be out in TWO weeks. So that meant a frantic search for a decent place to live for a couple months until the house is finished. The first place we looked at was DODGY (to say the least). But it was the only place we could find so I was preparing myself to live in the Ghettttttoooo.. Luckily on a drive around the town we found a great new place that lets us rent month-to-month. So it is perfect.... AND get this, it is on the railway track! I love trains!!

Kelly's family arrived on Thurdsay night. His Dad, Lilian and Aunt Gwenda all came out for a week. They all stay with Kelly's cousin who lives out here. Perfect timing as they are great movers!

On Friday we went out to Kelly's cousins for dinner, my sister, Jake and Charlie (their new kitten) arrived later on that night. Here for Ethan's big birthday party. So it was a cramped little condo, four people, one baby and two cats. But it was cozy and fun!

Saturday, the day of the big Construction Party. I'd say it was a success, Ethan of course was spoilt and all the kidlets had a hoot! That night we went for dinner to Chilis with Jake and Claire.

Sunday, not too much, lots of packing, until the evening when I expereince the ULTIMATE migraine. I was awake all night, throwing up, suffering with THROBBING pain. Luckily Kelly's family was here, in the morning, (when I was still awake) I got Kelly to call his dad to come over. So it was wonderful, Greg came over at 7 and woke up with Ethan so I could TRY to get some sleep. I only slept until about 10:30. I was supposed to have the day with Michelle (who was only here for a short period of time) but I could hardly walk. So I missed her.

Unfortunately I had to walk enough to the bank to get all the money and secure out place at the new condo building. So once i had the keys the moving began! Gregn, Lil, Roger, Gwenda and Kelly moved everything except the beds and the TV. (The power wasn't going to be on until Thursday and the cable not until Saturday... I can't miss my shows).

Monday was the West Edmonton Mall, I bought nothing but still nice to be out and about. I was starting to feel sick by the end of the day, had to come home and relaaaax.....

Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday, all a blur, time is just flying by. We moving all the rest of our junk tonight and tomorrow and we hope to be out of this place by saturday afternoon (hopefully Telus actaully comes tomorrow)...

PHEW.... Hopefully May will be a slower month, June is busy again already!!!

Flying with Children

Last night Ethan got on the plane for the 20th time! I'm always nervous about how Ethan is going to be on the plane. I've experienced it all, screaming, happy, not so happy.... Last night we were flying right at bed time and didn't land until 11:20 pm.

I was fully stocked, huge bottles of milk, toys, crackers and cheerios. On the flight over to Calgary Ethan was good, I think that an hour is about his max because he was ready to get off when we got there, he was getting fussy and I was out of moves to keep him quiet! Thankfully on the flight over to Edmonton Ethan fell asleep before we took off and didn't wake up until I stood up to get off.

I have had some really bad expereiences, On the flight home over Christmas Ethan screamed the entire way and there was NOTHING I could do to soothe him. I get all hot an bothered when it is my child screaming, because I know that I'm rolling my eyes when someone eles child is crying.

My best advise for flying with children....
-Fly as much as possible before your child is 6 months. For the first six months Ethan slept everytime for the entire flight. It is great! I could still watch the TV's. Once he reached 8 months he was a little more hot and bothered when we flew. He wanted to be up and moving around!
-IF at all possible fly with someone. I think Kelly has only flown with me on one trip (when Ethan was two weeks). It would be so nice to have someone to help you move all of your junk in and out of the plane, help entertain etc.
-Be prepared with an over abundance of food, toys and entertainment... Last night I think Ethan drank a whole jug of milk, the toys I brought got boring quickly, he was much more interested in the seatbelt and the puke bag. But it never hurts!

Ethan is free until he is TWO on the planes so we will try to take full advantage of that, it will be much more costly when we have to pay for an entire seat for him! It is always an adventure and we always have a story to tell after we fly!

April Fools Day

Thursday was April Fools Day, usually I don't partake in this day. No one plays jokes on me and I don't play jokes on them. This year was the same, kind of just an everyday, average day. I didn't realize that I had actaully fallen for an April Fools Joke until two days later.

I was reading an article on MSN.ca about how Canada had just bought half of Hawaii. I thought this was great! For one we were going to have a beautiful tropical island to call our own and because well it is just fun to take something from the Americans.

The next day I kept watching the news to hear more about it, i check the news website I usually read and nothing. Later than night I mentioned it to Kelly and he said "NO way". And I said "No i read an article". The article was really well written and very convincing. So I guess i'm pretty gullible.

It wasn't until I realized what day I had read the article on, and the fact that I heard nothing about it since did I realize that it was an April Fools Day joke and I was conned into believeing it!

It would be cool though!! Don't you think?

West Coast Bound

Today Ethan and I are leaving for the West Coast for a jammed packed weekend of birthday and Easter celebrations. We are going for only four days, it is going to fly by. We arrive this afternoon at 1:30, my mom and dad will pick us up, my sister flies in at 3 so rather than go home we are going to putter around Comox, go and pick up Ethan's birthday cake. My grandparents are coming down from Victoria for the evening and we are going to have our Turkey dinner.

Tomorrow is a big day, we are having Ethan's first birthday party. We don't have a theme for this one, but lots of his little friends are coming, hopefully he has a good time. On Sunday we are heading to Campbell River for a visit with Ethan's grandma Teresa and then another birthday party for Ethan with his Rogers family.

Monday is my mom's birthday and my parents 30th wedding anniversary. We are going to head up the mountain and go skiing. My dad has arranged a sleigh that you can pull behind you on your skiis for Ethan. I think it will be a blast. And Tuesday is already home time!

The flights i'm a little nervous about, Ethan is older now and doesn't like sitting for more than an hour straight, Last flight home he definately cried for most of the journey. This trip i'm going to be prepared. Bottles, snacks, food. Our flight home doesn't get into Edmonton until 11:30 pm. That will be a tough one.....

Although i'm super excited to get back to the island and visit, i'm really sad to have to leave Kelly here. We don't get time together and to not have him with us this weekend and knowing he is here by himself is upsetting. Ethan and I have left him a large amount of Easter chocolate and we will talk every night, still not the same. We wish Daddy was coming!