Over the last week there have been many exciting developments. I was asked at the grocery store if I was pregnant, which Chad & I found quite humorous, since I have only 3 weeks to go. But many people have said I am not very big. From the back you can't really tell that I am pregnant at all, so I suppose I don't look as far along as I am, but "Are you pregnant?" I'd have to have something incredibly wrong w/ me to look like this & not be pregnant!
I didn't have to worry about them stopping me from flying b/c I don't really look like I'm in my 9th month. On one of the flights we were seated in the emergency exit row & the stewardess asked if we felt comfortable to perform the duties of the row & we said yes. Then she came back a few minutes later & asked, "wait, are you pregnant?" "Yes," I replied & she said she'd have to re-seat us b/c she hadn't realised that at first & apparently pregnant people aren't allowed to sit in the exit rows.
We did end up buying the house we had looked at. The offer was accepted Saturday night, we set up the mortgage, insurance, got a lawyer & did all the little things we had to do before we left PEI, so we feel good about getting all that done. We didn't have much of a holiday, but it feels really good to not have to worry about any of that. We'll close on Sept 22, so we can move in then.
I saw the Doctor today & he said he's going w/ a due date of Aug 26. Can we just say THIS BABY IS NEVER COMING OUT!!!!" Normally I wouldn't mind. Asher was overdue by a few days, but it was ok b/c I figure the more days he was inside, the more nights I got to sleep through the night before he came out. But this time we have a bit of a deadline. We have to get to PEI by the 19th of Sept, & we want to be in Ontario for the 14th of Sept, meaning we have to leave here by the 8th of Sept. Having Baptism on the 7th, but I'm not especially looking forward to travelling w/ such a small baby. I was hoping for a month to get everything figured out before we had to go.
They've already moved the due date from Aug 10 to the 21st & now to the 26th. Pretty soon I won't have a baby, but a giraffe! (I believe giraffes gestate for about 26 months).
Oh well, I suppose there's nothing I can do about it by worrying or ranting, so we'll just wait until the little one is ready to make it's appearance. I suppose it might be a good time to pack my bag for the hospital & get the baby clothes out as well.
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Thursday, 24 July 2008
I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here
After 2 days of looking at houses (the first day not so good, day 2, much better) I think we MAY have found a house! We have 2 more to look at, but yesterday was not a good day. We looked at about 7 houses & none of them would work for us. There was one that we figured we could live w/ if we had to, but when you are planning on staying in a place for at least 5 years, do you really want to buy a house that you could possibly live in if you HAD to? Doesn't sound great does it?
So, after a morning of bad houses, an afternoon of driving all around & looking for realtor signs & looking up listings online, we found an espresso shop! I was so excited! They even use Torani Syrups (which in my opinion are the best kind). They didn't kick us out even though we stayed 1/2 an hour after they closed, & they were very pleasant.
At dinnertime we crossed the street to check out a Fish & Chips place b/c Chad was interested. I'm not a huge fan of fish, so I wasn't super excited about it, but the owner/chef is a couple from the UK, so we stayed & had some of the best Fish & Chips (Chad) & Chicken & Chips (me) we've had this side of the pond. For dessert I had a hard time choosing b/w the deep fried Mars Bar or the deep fried Jam Sandwich. I finally decided to try the sandwich & it was pretty good. A little odd b/c they use the same batter as the fish & chips, so it was a bit fishy, but overall a good way of finishing off a delicious dinner.
After our meal we headed out w/ the list of houses we had found online & drove around to check out each one since we had discovered that sometimes they look MUCH better online than from the curb. We took our list of 15 houses down to 5.
This morning the realtor took us to 3 more houses he had found (one was on our short list) & we may have found a house we really like, but there are still 2 from our list we want to see first. We're supposed to see 1 tonight & probably the other one tomorrow. We were pretty frustrated after yesterday, so we're really happy that today has gone alot better. I just hope that we make the right decision & get a house that will really work for us for the next 5 or more years!
Either way though, at least we found a great coffee shop & Chippy!
So, after a morning of bad houses, an afternoon of driving all around & looking for realtor signs & looking up listings online, we found an espresso shop! I was so excited! They even use Torani Syrups (which in my opinion are the best kind). They didn't kick us out even though we stayed 1/2 an hour after they closed, & they were very pleasant.
At dinnertime we crossed the street to check out a Fish & Chips place b/c Chad was interested. I'm not a huge fan of fish, so I wasn't super excited about it, but the owner/chef is a couple from the UK, so we stayed & had some of the best Fish & Chips (Chad) & Chicken & Chips (me) we've had this side of the pond. For dessert I had a hard time choosing b/w the deep fried Mars Bar or the deep fried Jam Sandwich. I finally decided to try the sandwich & it was pretty good. A little odd b/c they use the same batter as the fish & chips, so it was a bit fishy, but overall a good way of finishing off a delicious dinner.
After our meal we headed out w/ the list of houses we had found online & drove around to check out each one since we had discovered that sometimes they look MUCH better online than from the curb. We took our list of 15 houses down to 5.
This morning the realtor took us to 3 more houses he had found (one was on our short list) & we may have found a house we really like, but there are still 2 from our list we want to see first. We're supposed to see 1 tonight & probably the other one tomorrow. We were pretty frustrated after yesterday, so we're really happy that today has gone alot better. I just hope that we make the right decision & get a house that will really work for us for the next 5 or more years!
Either way though, at least we found a great coffee shop & Chippy!
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Escape Artist
Tonight Chad was preaching at a church that doesn't have nursery in the evenings, so I stayed home w/ Asher. I put him to bed & went downstairs to see what was on TV. I was listening in on the monitor b/c it's always interesting to hear him talking befre he goes to sleep.
He started by saying "Take the bottom one out & put it on top." over & over (the hand game). Then he was rustling around a bit & I heard him say, "ow." He quite often will say this, but not actually be hurt, so I didn't really think anything of it. Ten I heard a strange thumping sound, but it didn't really come through on the monitor.
Seconds later all was revealed. Asher was standing at the bottom of the stairs, holding Big Dog & looking at me like he was sure he was in trouble (which he was). Apparently Pac & Plays are no longer any match for my 2 year old.
I put him back in bed, told him he wasn't allowed to come out until morning, & went back to the living room. About 5 minutes later I heard some strange noises again, so I went to investigate. I met Asher at the top of the stairs, & man, did he high-tail it when he saw me!
I think (hope) the problem was that the chair was just too close to the P&P so he could reach it to climb out on, but Chad & I are going to be gone to PEI for the next week, so I guess Grandma & Grandpa wil have to keep a close eye on Asher at bedtime! Perhaps it's time we work on getting him into a real bed after all.
He started by saying "Take the bottom one out & put it on top." over & over (the hand game). Then he was rustling around a bit & I heard him say, "ow." He quite often will say this, but not actually be hurt, so I didn't really think anything of it. Ten I heard a strange thumping sound, but it didn't really come through on the monitor.
Seconds later all was revealed. Asher was standing at the bottom of the stairs, holding Big Dog & looking at me like he was sure he was in trouble (which he was). Apparently Pac & Plays are no longer any match for my 2 year old.
I put him back in bed, told him he wasn't allowed to come out until morning, & went back to the living room. About 5 minutes later I heard some strange noises again, so I went to investigate. I met Asher at the top of the stairs, & man, did he high-tail it when he saw me!
I think (hope) the problem was that the chair was just too close to the P&P so he could reach it to climb out on, but Chad & I are going to be gone to PEI for the next week, so I guess Grandma & Grandpa wil have to keep a close eye on Asher at bedtime! Perhaps it's time we work on getting him into a real bed after all.
Thursday, 17 July 2008
NINE Years!
It's hard to believe, but Chad & I have been married nine years today. Neither one of us would have been able to predict what has happened in the last nine years. Chad was going to be a farmer, & I his farmin' wife. He had 3 years of University to finish when we got married, we actually moved out onto the farm after a year of living in town, & life was good. We thought we'd wait until he was finished school before we started having kids b/c it was easier that way & I wasn't allowed to work for the first year & 1/2 b/c of immigration laws.
After he finished his Bachelor's degree, we felt that God was calling us to something different for awhile, but figured we'd still eventually come back to the farm. Chad's interests were in Economics & Philosophy, so we kind of put God to the test & applied to the only 2 schools in the world that had combined Master degree programs, figuring Chad wouldn't make it into them..... He got into both. One at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Netherlands, & the other at the London School of Economics in London, England. After much deliberation, we decided to go to London & spent the next 14 months in England.
Without having many connections over there, we quickly learned to rely on God. We had no place to live after the first 6 weeks, housing was expensive, & I was only able to get a part-time job b/c of the working culture over there. One night after a church service, Chad happened to speak to a visitor from just outside of the city, who was enamoured w/ Canada & they got to chatting about out housing situation. Without even checking w/ his wife, he invited us to come & live w/ them!
We took them up on the offer b/c we didn't really have any other viable options at that time & we quickly became part of their family. They made us feel very welcomed & really showed us God's love during the next year.
At the end of Chad's Master's program we had two options for our future:
1. Chad was offered a PhD position in Logic at King's University College, London, which would basically take 2-3 years & lead to him becoming a professor.
2. We could go back to the farm in Alberta as we had planned.
Neither option really seemed to be what we were supposed to do, so one night, Chad asked God to tell him where we were supposed to go & God laid it on his heart to go into the ministry. Not exactly what we had in mind, but God had really been working in our lives through the family we were living with & made it possible for us to see it as a possibility (but it was still totally out of the blue). At this point we had been married 4 years & Chad had changed his major at least 4 times, so I don't think I really thought he'd end up as a minister. I still figured it would lead to something else, since that seemed to be the pattern.
Now, here we are, married 9 years, expecting our 2nd child next month & Chad's taking his first call as a minister! We figured we'd have 3-4 kids by now, live at the farm/feedlot, & we'd be established in life, but instead we are just starting out! Ten years after Chad's highschool graduation, he's taking his first job w/ benefits!
It has really taught us that you can't foresee the future, only God knows where He's going to take you & you have to trust Him at every turn. That year we spent in England was one of the best we've had b/c it taught us to depend on eachother & rely on God. For the first 6 weeks we were there I earned £198/week, & our rent was £200/week. We were using money we had saved from home in Canada for our food, but the exchange rate was C$2.50 = £1.00, so to conserve our resources we were sharing a can of frank&beans for dinner, or Spaghetti-Os, or a package of Raman Noodles.... Times were lean, but we had the best time walking around together exploring the big city in our cowboy boots & God brought us to a great place b/c we trusted Him.
After he finished his Bachelor's degree, we felt that God was calling us to something different for awhile, but figured we'd still eventually come back to the farm. Chad's interests were in Economics & Philosophy, so we kind of put God to the test & applied to the only 2 schools in the world that had combined Master degree programs, figuring Chad wouldn't make it into them..... He got into both. One at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Netherlands, & the other at the London School of Economics in London, England. After much deliberation, we decided to go to London & spent the next 14 months in England.
Without having many connections over there, we quickly learned to rely on God. We had no place to live after the first 6 weeks, housing was expensive, & I was only able to get a part-time job b/c of the working culture over there. One night after a church service, Chad happened to speak to a visitor from just outside of the city, who was enamoured w/ Canada & they got to chatting about out housing situation. Without even checking w/ his wife, he invited us to come & live w/ them!
We took them up on the offer b/c we didn't really have any other viable options at that time & we quickly became part of their family. They made us feel very welcomed & really showed us God's love during the next year.
At the end of Chad's Master's program we had two options for our future:
1. Chad was offered a PhD position in Logic at King's University College, London, which would basically take 2-3 years & lead to him becoming a professor.
2. We could go back to the farm in Alberta as we had planned.
Neither option really seemed to be what we were supposed to do, so one night, Chad asked God to tell him where we were supposed to go & God laid it on his heart to go into the ministry. Not exactly what we had in mind, but God had really been working in our lives through the family we were living with & made it possible for us to see it as a possibility (but it was still totally out of the blue). At this point we had been married 4 years & Chad had changed his major at least 4 times, so I don't think I really thought he'd end up as a minister. I still figured it would lead to something else, since that seemed to be the pattern.
Now, here we are, married 9 years, expecting our 2nd child next month & Chad's taking his first call as a minister! We figured we'd have 3-4 kids by now, live at the farm/feedlot, & we'd be established in life, but instead we are just starting out! Ten years after Chad's highschool graduation, he's taking his first job w/ benefits!
It has really taught us that you can't foresee the future, only God knows where He's going to take you & you have to trust Him at every turn. That year we spent in England was one of the best we've had b/c it taught us to depend on eachother & rely on God. For the first 6 weeks we were there I earned £198/week, & our rent was £200/week. We were using money we had saved from home in Canada for our food, but the exchange rate was C$2.50 = £1.00, so to conserve our resources we were sharing a can of frank&beans for dinner, or Spaghetti-Os, or a package of Raman Noodles.... Times were lean, but we had the best time walking around together exploring the big city in our cowboy boots & God brought us to a great place b/c we trusted Him.
Online House Shopping
In September we will be moving out to Prince Edward Island. After much deliberation & prayer we accepted the call to go out there. So after the baby is born at the end of August we'll be making preparations to make a very loooong road trip from Alberta to PEI. We must have a masochistic side.
So, in the mean time Chad & I are planning on flying out to PEI next week for a week to go house hunting. We've been in contact w/ a realtor out there who has sent us property info for over 25 homes & we've been trying to narrow that down to about 10 to start looking at when we get there next week. It's quite a difficult proposition. Some of the hosues really sound great & then you start to look through the pictures only to discover that the house was decorated in the 70's complete w/ green, brown, & copper carpeting. The walls were papered w/ rust & brown striped wallpaper w/ floral bouquets. The cupboards are an appealing stained plywood......
Other houses are really hard to figure out b/c you have no layout of the house you are left to a few pictures & your imagination to try to figure out if the kitchen is near the living room or not. Some houses only have a few pictures of the outside & a picture of the kitchen. None of the bedrooms or the rest of the house.
I think we've got our short list now, I hope we find something we really will like while we are there next week. Of course, my main concern is that "Baby X" will wait at leat until August to make it's appearance b/c anything earlier than that & we may have a PEI baby instead of an Albertan! Yikes!
So, in the mean time Chad & I are planning on flying out to PEI next week for a week to go house hunting. We've been in contact w/ a realtor out there who has sent us property info for over 25 homes & we've been trying to narrow that down to about 10 to start looking at when we get there next week. It's quite a difficult proposition. Some of the hosues really sound great & then you start to look through the pictures only to discover that the house was decorated in the 70's complete w/ green, brown, & copper carpeting. The walls were papered w/ rust & brown striped wallpaper w/ floral bouquets. The cupboards are an appealing stained plywood......
Other houses are really hard to figure out b/c you have no layout of the house you are left to a few pictures & your imagination to try to figure out if the kitchen is near the living room or not. Some houses only have a few pictures of the outside & a picture of the kitchen. None of the bedrooms or the rest of the house.
I think we've got our short list now, I hope we find something we really will like while we are there next week. Of course, my main concern is that "Baby X" will wait at leat until August to make it's appearance b/c anything earlier than that & we may have a PEI baby instead of an Albertan! Yikes!
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
An Explanation & An Apology
I really enjoy reading people's blogs. One thing that makes it more enjoyable is regular posts so I remember who the person is & keep up w/ their lives. On that note, I want to apologize to you, dear reader, for my recent lack of posts. Here comes the explanation.....
We recently moved in w/ my in-laws. This in itself, is not a reason to stop blogging.
We have internet (obviously), so I should be able to keep up to date a bit, but the problem is that I am now sharing a computer w/ Chad. This also should not be an issue.
We brought our desk-top computer along as well, but it seems a bit silly to pull all the pieces out of the box to set it up for just a few months, so here I am, trying to vie for a little computer time here & there.
I am no longer blogging during Asher's nap b/c I am tired. Don't get me wrong, I don't really have much to do here, it's like a vacation! I have no cooking to do, I realyly only have to keep our bedroom & washroom tidy, & do our laundry every now & then, but trying to keep a 2 year old entertained in a none kid-proofed, new environment, can be tricky & tiring. Not to mention that I have about 6 weeks left until "Baby X" makes it's appearance into the world & I get NO chance to sleep for the next year (does that sound a bit pessimistic?).
So, hopefully I will be able to keep up w/ blogging, even if it's not everyday anymore. It's not that I don't have anything to blog about. We still have a funny kid, we're going to new & exciting places, I just haven't found the time to get it from my head to the computer.
So, there's my explanation, here's the apology.....
I'm really, really sorry if I'm not writing as regularly as you'd like, I'll try to be better, please, PLEASE don't give up on me!
We recently moved in w/ my in-laws. This in itself, is not a reason to stop blogging.
We have internet (obviously), so I should be able to keep up to date a bit, but the problem is that I am now sharing a computer w/ Chad. This also should not be an issue.
We brought our desk-top computer along as well, but it seems a bit silly to pull all the pieces out of the box to set it up for just a few months, so here I am, trying to vie for a little computer time here & there.
I am no longer blogging during Asher's nap b/c I am tired. Don't get me wrong, I don't really have much to do here, it's like a vacation! I have no cooking to do, I realyly only have to keep our bedroom & washroom tidy, & do our laundry every now & then, but trying to keep a 2 year old entertained in a none kid-proofed, new environment, can be tricky & tiring. Not to mention that I have about 6 weeks left until "Baby X" makes it's appearance into the world & I get NO chance to sleep for the next year (does that sound a bit pessimistic?).
So, hopefully I will be able to keep up w/ blogging, even if it's not everyday anymore. It's not that I don't have anything to blog about. We still have a funny kid, we're going to new & exciting places, I just haven't found the time to get it from my head to the computer.
So, there's my explanation, here's the apology.....
I'm really, really sorry if I'm not writing as regularly as you'd like, I'll try to be better, please, PLEASE don't give up on me!
Monday, 14 July 2008
Splash Park Saturday
Saturday morning we went out to breakfast at Denny's w/ Grandma & Grandpa. Asher gets so excited about Saturday mornings. We tell him it's Saturday & he proclaims "Eat Pancakes!" After that we went to the Farmer's Market w/ Grandma to look at the veggies & get some new potatoes (yum). We met a couple from Burdett where Chad had done his internship 3 years ago & talked to them awhile, then went to the Show & Shine since it was Street Wheeler's weekend. Most the cars were not out b/c they also had 100 ft races going on at the same time, but we didn't want to go see the races, so we just went home shortly thereafter.
After lunch & naptime we decided since it was a nice warm day, to take Asher to the splash park. They have one that is downtown that is basically a fountain that you can run through & it randomly shoots water from all the different holes. Chad decided on the way there that he'd rather go to the one by the pool on the West side, so that's where we went.
It was pretty cold water. Asher & Chad went in & I made sure no one took our stuff. It's a tough job, but someone has to be on towel-watch! The splash park on the West side is a bit for the older kids though, so I think next time we'll probably take Asher to the downtown one instead. There are all kinds of buttons you have to push in order to make the water go on & you get pretty wet in most of the areas. It is pretty nice though to have an option for cooling off in the heat that is free. Sure it might be more fun to swim in the pool, but it's also more expensive!
After lunch & naptime we decided since it was a nice warm day, to take Asher to the splash park. They have one that is downtown that is basically a fountain that you can run through & it randomly shoots water from all the different holes. Chad decided on the way there that he'd rather go to the one by the pool on the West side, so that's where we went.
It was pretty cold water. Asher & Chad went in & I made sure no one took our stuff. It's a tough job, but someone has to be on towel-watch! The splash park on the West side is a bit for the older kids though, so I think next time we'll probably take Asher to the downtown one instead. There are all kinds of buttons you have to push in order to make the water go on & you get pretty wet in most of the areas. It is pretty nice though to have an option for cooling off in the heat that is free. Sure it might be more fun to swim in the pool, but it's also more expensive!
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Updates On Life
Being here at Grandpa & Grandma's house is a new way of life. No cooking, minimal cleaning.... life is good. Time on the computer is fairly rare though, so I haven't had much chance to keep up w/ things.
Here are some pictures from Asher's birthday (yes, he only got 1/2 an ice cream sandwich). Since we were moving a few days after, we didn't do a cake, but I don't think he'll suffer. Grandma is making sure he's getting lots of ice cream here too, so he's getting plenty of sugar. He's showing that he's 2 in the picture as well.
On our trip out here, we stopped for lunch at a rest area & this truck proceeded to get very stuck. It was entertaining for the 30 people or so who took the opportunty to gawk & take photos..... (I hid behind a sign so as not to appear to be one of the many). Notice that the rear driver's side wheel is up on the curb, forcing the trailer to rest on the rear passenger's side tire. He didn't have much hope of getting out of there by himself.
Glad to be back in Alberta!
We are really enjoing spending more time w/ Daddy, & doing all kinds of fun new things!
Saturday, 5 July 2008
100 Posts, 100 Things About Me
Yay! I've finally made it to 100 Posts! As is tradition, here are 100 (hopefully) interesting things about me:
1. I ALWAYS eat candies in pairs, one for each side of my mouth. If I am eating M&M's they can be any colour, but if I am eating different flavoured candies (like Skittles) they have to be the same colour. Chad usually ends up w/ the odd ones.
2. I usually carry in my pocket: 2 Pony Tail Holders, Chapstick, & a small Swiss Army Knife. This has gotten me in trouble in numerous airports. Since I always carry it, I don't think about it until I go through the metal detectors. I have had to "surrender" it & replace it probably 5 times.
3. Speaking of candies, I am addicted to Sour Grape Candies. I used to get them from 7-11 in the
nickel candies, but my local 7-11 doesn't carry them. I found them at Mac's instead & order them by the box..... of 200. Again, I have to eat them in pairs. Sometimes to mix it up, I mix in a few sour Watermelons
4. I DESPISE dusting. When I was growing up I had to dust the house every Saturday, so since I've been married I try not to do it at all costs. Luckily we have moved almost every year since we have been married, so it hasn't gotten too bad, but once Chad gets a job, we'll be living a bit more permanently (I hope), so I'll have to start dusting more frequently.
5. I never envisioned being a pastor's wife. When I met Chad I wanted to be a farmer's wife & he was actually planning on being a farmer, but his career path took quite the detour & we have discovered that farming is not in his future any longer. Oh, & I'm ok w/ that.
6. When I was in highschool, planning my future, I wanted to be an Algebra teacher b/c I really enjoy Algebra. I also figured I could have the summers off & I could be a long-distance trucker. I wanted to get a Peterbilt.
7. In College I nearly failed Calculus & the lesson planning unit.... teaching was not meant to be in my future.... I still like Algebra.
8. When we were first married, we lived on Chad's parents' farm while Chad finished university. I got my chance to drive semi & well, let's just say, trucking was not meant to be part of my future either.
9. I am NOT a good cook. I once reduced some steaks to black ooze & a bone. Actually quite the interesting story....
10. I do however, love to bake. I think it may have something to do w/ me having a tremendous sweet tooth. I like to really enjoy the fruit of my labour. I'd choose a brownie over a steak any day.
11. I once made cards for all the people on my Christmas list. That was the second year we were married & it added up to about 20 people. Our Christmas list has grown considerably since we have moved so much & is nearing 80. I no longer make the cards we send.
12. I still purchase rubber stamps when I find them that are cheap, even though I know I won't use them. Hopefully we have a crafty kid somewhere along the line.
13. Our CDs are all organized by Genre (Christian, Rock, Jazz, Kids), which makes sense to most people, and they are alphabetical.... by the artist's FIRST name. You'll find Aerosmith rubbing shoulders w/ Alanis Morisette, Eminem beside Emma Bunton, Green Day by Gwen Stefani..... Chad understands my system, but he has issues in the music stores now b/c he can't figure out why Nelly Furtado isn't in the "N" Section.
14. I don't scrapbook b/c I am neither patient enough, nor crafty enough. I get my pictures & put them in a photo album. Job Done.
15. My craftiness is expressed in counted cross stitch. I am half way done making a Christmas Stocking for Chad, but haven't really worked on it since Asher was born. I am planning on making one for every member of our family at some point.... hopefully before they move out & get married.
16. Beverage of choice: Soda = Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper, unfortunately you can't get it in Canada, so I settle for regular Dr. Pepper. Though I have seen that Walmart carries Berries & Cream Dr. Pepper.... Not sure why they don't also carry C.V. Dr.P
17. Beverage of choice: Coffee = Creme de Menthe Latte w/ whipped cream (hot) or
Iced Raspberry Latte *(I discovered that there is some chemical reaction when you put whipped cream from a can on an Iced Raspberry Latte that causes it to curdle, so no whip cream please!)
18. I LOVE to put Ketchup on meat of all kids, except ham... that would be wrong. Although Chad thinks it's disrespectful to put it on salmon & pork & lamb...... I also enjoy a good teriyaki sauce from time to time.
19. When I go to a restaurant I usually end up ordering the exact same thing from it every time. For example, at Red Robin I always order the Teriyaki Chicken Burger.... At IHOP, I always order the Stuffed French Toast Combo... You get the idea!
20. I never needed braces (But for a while I thought they might look nice, so I wanted them).
21. I used to wear LOTS of bracelets & anklets. In grade 8/9 I had 20 bracelets, 10 anklets & I knew who/where each one was from.
22. One bracelet was made out of safety pins from Cross-Country race numbers.
21. I ran Cross-Country (it's a sport) in highschool. I was district champion twice, & placed 7th in state once.
22. I have a hard time running to the mailbox now.... I am totally out of shape.
23. A kid on my block once showed me that you can smoke the bottom few inches of ferns. I tried it, it tastes like roasted marshmallows.
24. My friend April & I once got in trouble for having a raspberry fight in my parents' garden. We were supposed to be PICKING them, not THROWING them.
25. In kindergarten I was spanked by the principal.
26. I was spanked b/c a girl who was in grade 8 told me my teeth weren't sharp, so I bit her on the arm.... HARD (she really should have known better).
27. She still gave me the kitten she had promised.... I don't think I would have.
28. I have never owned a dog. The closest I came was when I married Chad. The farm dog liked him best, & eventually grew to tolerate me too.
29. When we moved onto the farm after a year of marriage, the dog peed on our house, Chad's bike, our grill, our lawn chairs (each individual one), & our broom. I think he was marking Chad as his territory.
30. I used to enjoy riding in the grain trucks w/ Chad during harvest on the farm. I'd take crossword puzzles along & if I couldn't figure out the answer I'd get on the radio & ask the hired men. I don't think my father-in-law liked that very much though.
31. Chad's Mum tried to teach me to cook once. She likes to cook by feel, I have to cook w/ specific instructions & measurements. I will never be as good a cook as her.
32. I never had asparagus until after I was married. We went to dinner at a friends' house & I had no idea what it was.
33. I ADORE sautéed asparagus w/ a little garlic & sea salt.
34. I always hated Kohlrabi while growing up, but I have grown to really like that too.
35. One summer, Katie & I spent playing Monopoly & listening to Madonna's "True Blue" cassette. I still think of playing Monopoly on Katie's bunkbed every time I hear one of those songs.
36. Katie & I also watched Top Gun about 100 times that summer.
37. I enjoy getting things organised if I can focus on that & only that until I can finish the job.
38. I believe it has been a blessing that I never got my college degree b/c I would have felt like I needed to get a job in a certain field.
39. I was able to support Chad & I for 7 years while he was in school before we had Asher, so my jobs have been pretty good.
41. I have (mostly) enjoyed every job I've had since we got married.
42. April & Katie & I used to spend HOURS playing w/ Lego at my house. I was a bit of a control freak & if I didn't like what they made, I'd make them take it apart & make something more suitable.
43. Perhaps one of the many things I loved about Chad when we met was that he has 2 HUGE Rubbermaid containers of Lego. He has all the "City" buildings (hospital, Police Station, Fire station, etc).
44. Chad's sisters organized it & put it away. It's all colour coded. Blue, Red, Green, White. I tried once to sort it all out. I think we'll have to have a Youth Group Lego night sometime.
45. When I worked as a Mail Order Manager, I would sometimes retreat to the washroom b/c no one could bother me there. I'd enjoy the peace & quiet for awhile, then go back to work.
46. When I worked as a Switchboard Operator, I became addicted to Ebay & bought many, many CDs from my highschool & college days...... & some board games...... & some books.
47. I cannot use chopsticks
48. I HATE to be the first person in the door of a place I've never been before, be it a restaurant, someone's house, whatever. I'll hold open the door for Chad instead..... He says that looks funny, but that's ok w/ me.
49. I love to swim in the ocean...... if it's warm enough.
50. I enjoy Hawaiian pizza, but always pick the pineapple off. I like the TASTE of them, but not to actually eat them. I usually give them to Asher.
51. I was banned from bringing the game "Encore" to a pastor's wives group I was in b/c I knew more songs than anyone.
52. I really enjoy playing card/board games w/ friends & family.
53. I have not worn make-up in about 5 years.....none.
54. I think I'm too lazy to put it on & take it off.
55. When I was in grade 7 I was finally allowed to wear make-up & went a bit overboard. I looked like a raccoon.
56. Chad & I met the first day of my second year of college (it was his first).
57. We started dating a week later (in September).
58. We got engaged at Christmas.
59. Married in July. We knew each other 10.5 months.
60. We've been married almost 9 years.... We still like eachother. :)
61. We moved to Canada after we got married & Chad was not old enough yet to sponsor me for immigration.
62. I was 20 & Chad was 18 when we married.
63. When I was in highschool, my youth group leader hit me in the head (accidentally) w/ a softball. I got to ride in an ambulance to the hospital for observation. I kept telling them I had to go home & finish my Calculus homework.
64. I enjoy grocery shopping, but I buy too many sweets I don't need..... I'm getting better though.
65. I have not had a hairstyle that I've really liked in the last 7 years or so.... Again, I think I'm too lazy to have to do much w/ it, so I leave it long so I can put it in a pony tail.
66. I cannot stand moths. They always flutter by my face or ears & get stuck in my hair.... it's not pleasant. Chad asks, "What are they going to do to you, get you dusty?" I heard a story once of a lady who kept hearing wind in her ear & went to the Doctor. She had a MOTH in her ear! SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO YOU????
67. I've never broken a bone.
Aren't you fascinated by all this info?
68. I once was hospitalized overnight for being dehydrated, the doctor first thought I was high.
69. My favourite Ice Cream is Ben & Jerry's "One Sweet Whirled" (Inspired by the Dave Matthew's Band). We used to stop by the Ben & Jerry's in Trafalgar Square after eating at Wong Kei's in London & I'd always get a scoop of that w/ "Phish Food" or "Koffe, Koffe, Buzz, Buzz, Buzz." (Unfortunately it's been discontinued, which explains why I haven't been able to find it)
70. I'm pretty sarcastic. I've really had to tone it down, in highschool it was a bit out of control.
71. I'm sorry there aren't graphics to go w/ all my fine points down here, I know it makes it more interesting, but I got tired of uploading them all.... Like I said, I'm sorry.
72. I hate being cold.
73. When the weather is hot, I'm happy.... if I can cool myself off sufficiently.
74. I really like the water.... I think I may have mentioned that before.
75. I used to make lists for everything, but I found that I could never remember things on my own, so I stopped making them.... except for major things, like moving.
76. Chad took away the pen & paper by my bed shortly after we were married b/c I would turn the light on & off all night to add things to my list.
77. I sleep alot better now.
78. Except when I have Hot Feet.
79. I enjoy reading other people's blogs, especially if I know them, but there are also some very funny people I don't know whose blogs I thoroughly enjoy.
80. I enjoy getting together w/ Chad's family as much as my own. I know I'm very fortunate to really like all my in-laws (I just hope they all like me too!)
81. I buy almost all of my family's clothes second-hand (except socks & underwear b/c that's gross).
82. I am VERY out of touch w/ how much new clothes cost.... it ASTOUNDS me that people would spend more than $7 on a T-Shirt.
83. I enjoy being pregnant..... having the kids afterwards???? That's alot of work!
84. I have gastroparesis, which means my stomach takes longer than normal to empty, but I also have a high metabolism, meaning I can eat almost whatever I want w/o gaining weight.... figure that out.
85. When we lived on the farm I let a cat have it's kittens on our couch (on many, many towels) so I could watch. It was fascinating!
86. She wasn't so happy when I put them all outside in the cat-house after that. She kept bringing them back inside every time I opened the door.
87. Since Chad & I were married nearly 9 years ago, we have lived in 3 countries, 2 provinces, 1 state, & 7 houses/apartments, not counting the month here & there when we lived w/ his parents b/w moves.
88. I know all the phone numbers we've had except one.
89. I can easily remember numbers for bank accounts, phone numbers, social security numbers, etc., but sometimes can't remember which one is current.
90. I slept w/ my stuffed dog "Ralph" until we were married. Chad made me choose him or the dog. Ralph moved to the dresser.
91. I took calculus in highschool & passed it only b/c my teacher basically stood over me & told me the answers to the final. I did pass Calculus on my own in college... barely, b/c I had a LOT of tutoring. I don't think I was really applying myself either time.
92. I've never been to public school.
93. When I was growing up, my elderly neighbours had a boxer & since I didn't have a dog & wanted one, they let me walk it whenever my heart desired. She used to pull me on my skateboard up & down the street chasing cars.
94. When I was pregnant w/ Asher I craved breakfast foods all the time & Chad finally put his foot down & stopped taking me to IHOP.
95. In college I had 6 piercings in my ears & am now down to 3. My parents were not very happy about all those "holes," but I told them I'd grow out of it & I did.... less than a year later.
96. My favourite show is "The Office" I like BBC version too, it's a bit dirtier, but quite true to the office life I experienced while working in London.
97. I'm quite shy until I get to know people, then become very extroverted.
98. I was fired from a coffee shop I worked at for laying in the grass & reading a book b/w customers.
99. I used enjoy diagramming sentences.
100. Up until I was about 16, my hair was white-blonde.... now, it's brownish.... You can imagine my delight when in grade 7 we had the vocabulary word "hoary."
Well, I hope you have enjoyed learning all these FASCINATING facts about me! When you get to your 100th post, let me know b/c it's your turn! I really enjoy getting to know more about my internet friends, & am looking forward to reading yours!
1. I ALWAYS eat candies in pairs, one for each side of my mouth. If I am eating M&M's they can be any colour, but if I am eating different flavoured candies (like Skittles) they have to be the same colour. Chad usually ends up w/ the odd ones.
2. I usually carry in my pocket: 2 Pony Tail Holders, Chapstick, & a small Swiss Army Knife. This has gotten me in trouble in numerous airports. Since I always carry it, I don't think about it until I go through the metal detectors. I have had to "surrender" it & replace it probably 5 times.3. Speaking of candies, I am addicted to Sour Grape Candies. I used to get them from 7-11 in the
nickel candies, but my local 7-11 doesn't carry them. I found them at Mac's instead & order them by the box..... of 200. Again, I have to eat them in pairs. Sometimes to mix it up, I mix in a few sour Watermelons4. I DESPISE dusting. When I was growing up I had to dust the house every Saturday, so since I've been married I try not to do it at all costs. Luckily we have moved almost every year since we have been married, so it hasn't gotten too bad, but once Chad gets a job, we'll be living a bit more permanently (I hope), so I'll have to start dusting more frequently.
5. I never envisioned being a pastor's wife. When I met Chad I wanted to be a farmer's wife & he was actually planning on being a farmer, but his career path took quite the detour & we have discovered that farming is not in his future any longer. Oh, & I'm ok w/ that.
6. When I was in highschool, planning my future, I wanted to be an Algebra teacher b/c I really enjoy Algebra. I also figured I could have the summers off & I could be a long-distance trucker. I wanted to get a Peterbilt.7. In College I nearly failed Calculus & the lesson planning unit.... teaching was not meant to be in my future.... I still like Algebra.
8. When we were first married, we lived on Chad's parents' farm while Chad finished university. I got my chance to drive semi & well, let's just say, trucking was not meant to be part of my future either.
9. I am NOT a good cook. I once reduced some steaks to black ooze & a bone. Actually quite the interesting story....
10. I do however, love to bake. I think it may have something to do w/ me having a tremendous sweet tooth. I like to really enjoy the fruit of my labour. I'd choose a brownie over a steak any day.11. I once made cards for all the people on my Christmas list. That was the second year we were married & it added up to about 20 people. Our Christmas list has grown considerably since we have moved so much & is nearing 80. I no longer make the cards we send.
12. I still purchase rubber stamps when I find them that are cheap, even though I know I won't use them. Hopefully we have a crafty kid somewhere along the line.
13. Our CDs are all organized by Genre (Christian, Rock, Jazz, Kids), which makes sense to most people, and they are alphabetical.... by the artist's FIRST name. You'll find Aerosmith rubbing shoulders w/ Alanis Morisette, Eminem beside Emma Bunton, Green Day by Gwen Stefani..... Chad understands my system, but he has issues in the music stores now b/c he can't figure out why Nelly Furtado isn't in the "N" Section.
14. I don't scrapbook b/c I am neither patient enough, nor crafty enough. I get my pictures & put them in a photo album. Job Done.
15. My craftiness is expressed in counted cross stitch. I am half way done making a Christmas Stocking for Chad, but haven't really worked on it since Asher was born. I am planning on making one for every member of our family at some point.... hopefully before they move out & get married.
16. Beverage of choice: Soda = Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper, unfortunately you can't get it in Canada, so I settle for regular Dr. Pepper. Though I have seen that Walmart carries Berries & Cream Dr. Pepper.... Not sure why they don't also carry C.V. Dr.P17. Beverage of choice: Coffee = Creme de Menthe Latte w/ whipped cream (hot) or
Iced Raspberry Latte *(I discovered that there is some chemical reaction when you put whipped cream from a can on an Iced Raspberry Latte that causes it to curdle, so no whip cream please!)
18. I LOVE to put Ketchup on meat of all kids, except ham... that would be wrong. Although Chad thinks it's disrespectful to put it on salmon & pork & lamb...... I also enjoy a good teriyaki sauce from time to time.
19. When I go to a restaurant I usually end up ordering the exact same thing from it every time. For example, at Red Robin I always order the Teriyaki Chicken Burger.... At IHOP, I always order the Stuffed French Toast Combo... You get the idea!
20. I never needed braces (But for a while I thought they might look nice, so I wanted them).
21. I used to wear LOTS of bracelets & anklets. In grade 8/9 I had 20 bracelets, 10 anklets & I knew who/where each one was from.
22. One bracelet was made out of safety pins from Cross-Country race numbers.
21. I ran Cross-Country (it's a sport) in highschool. I was district champion twice, & placed 7th in state once.
22. I have a hard time running to the mailbox now.... I am totally out of shape.
23. A kid on my block once showed me that you can smoke the bottom few inches of ferns. I tried it, it tastes like roasted marshmallows.24. My friend April & I once got in trouble for having a raspberry fight in my parents' garden. We were supposed to be PICKING them, not THROWING them.
25. In kindergarten I was spanked by the principal.
26. I was spanked b/c a girl who was in grade 8 told me my teeth weren't sharp, so I bit her on the arm.... HARD (she really should have known better).
27. She still gave me the kitten she had promised.... I don't think I would have.
28. I have never owned a dog. The closest I came was when I married Chad. The farm dog liked him best, & eventually grew to tolerate me too.
29. When we moved onto the farm after a year of marriage, the dog peed on our house, Chad's bike, our grill, our lawn chairs (each individual one), & our broom. I think he was marking Chad as his territory.
30. I used to enjoy riding in the grain trucks w/ Chad during harvest on the farm. I'd take crossword puzzles along & if I couldn't figure out the answer I'd get on the radio & ask the hired men. I don't think my father-in-law liked that very much though.
31. Chad's Mum tried to teach me to cook once. She likes to cook by feel, I have to cook w/ specific instructions & measurements. I will never be as good a cook as her.
32. I never had asparagus until after I was married. We went to dinner at a friends' house & I had no idea what it was.
33. I ADORE sautéed asparagus w/ a little garlic & sea salt.
34. I always hated Kohlrabi while growing up, but I have grown to really like that too.35. One summer, Katie & I spent playing Monopoly & listening to Madonna's "True Blue" cassette. I still think of playing Monopoly on Katie's bunkbed every time I hear one of those songs.
36. Katie & I also watched Top Gun about 100 times that summer.
37. I enjoy getting things organised if I can focus on that & only that until I can finish the job.
38. I believe it has been a blessing that I never got my college degree b/c I would have felt like I needed to get a job in a certain field.
39. I was able to support Chad & I for 7 years while he was in school before we had Asher, so my jobs have been pretty good.
41. I have (mostly) enjoyed every job I've had since we got married.
42. April & Katie & I used to spend HOURS playing w/ Lego at my house. I was a bit of a control freak & if I didn't like what they made, I'd make them take it apart & make something more suitable.
43. Perhaps one of the many things I loved about Chad when we met was that he has 2 HUGE Rubbermaid containers of Lego. He has all the "City" buildings (hospital, Police Station, Fire station, etc).
44. Chad's sisters organized it & put it away. It's all colour coded. Blue, Red, Green, White. I tried once to sort it all out. I think we'll have to have a Youth Group Lego night sometime.
45. When I worked as a Mail Order Manager, I would sometimes retreat to the washroom b/c no one could bother me there. I'd enjoy the peace & quiet for awhile, then go back to work.
46. When I worked as a Switchboard Operator, I became addicted to Ebay & bought many, many CDs from my highschool & college days...... & some board games...... & some books.
47. I cannot use chopsticks
48. I HATE to be the first person in the door of a place I've never been before, be it a restaurant, someone's house, whatever. I'll hold open the door for Chad instead..... He says that looks funny, but that's ok w/ me.
49. I love to swim in the ocean...... if it's warm enough.
50. I enjoy Hawaiian pizza, but always pick the pineapple off. I like the TASTE of them, but not to actually eat them. I usually give them to Asher.
51. I was banned from bringing the game "Encore" to a pastor's wives group I was in b/c I knew more songs than anyone.
52. I really enjoy playing card/board games w/ friends & family.
53. I have not worn make-up in about 5 years.....none.
54. I think I'm too lazy to put it on & take it off.
55. When I was in grade 7 I was finally allowed to wear make-up & went a bit overboard. I looked like a raccoon.
56. Chad & I met the first day of my second year of college (it was his first).
57. We started dating a week later (in September).
58. We got engaged at Christmas.
59. Married in July. We knew each other 10.5 months.
60. We've been married almost 9 years.... We still like eachother. :)
61. We moved to Canada after we got married & Chad was not old enough yet to sponsor me for immigration.
62. I was 20 & Chad was 18 when we married.
63. When I was in highschool, my youth group leader hit me in the head (accidentally) w/ a softball. I got to ride in an ambulance to the hospital for observation. I kept telling them I had to go home & finish my Calculus homework.
64. I enjoy grocery shopping, but I buy too many sweets I don't need..... I'm getting better though.
65. I have not had a hairstyle that I've really liked in the last 7 years or so.... Again, I think I'm too lazy to have to do much w/ it, so I leave it long so I can put it in a pony tail.
66. I cannot stand moths. They always flutter by my face or ears & get stuck in my hair.... it's not pleasant. Chad asks, "What are they going to do to you, get you dusty?" I heard a story once of a lady who kept hearing wind in her ear & went to the Doctor. She had a MOTH in her ear! SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO YOU????
67. I've never broken a bone.
Aren't you fascinated by all this info?
68. I once was hospitalized overnight for being dehydrated, the doctor first thought I was high.
69. My favourite Ice Cream is Ben & Jerry's "One Sweet Whirled" (Inspired by the Dave Matthew's Band). We used to stop by the Ben & Jerry's in Trafalgar Square after eating at Wong Kei's in London & I'd always get a scoop of that w/ "Phish Food" or "Koffe, Koffe, Buzz, Buzz, Buzz." (Unfortunately it's been discontinued, which explains why I haven't been able to find it)
70. I'm pretty sarcastic. I've really had to tone it down, in highschool it was a bit out of control.
71. I'm sorry there aren't graphics to go w/ all my fine points down here, I know it makes it more interesting, but I got tired of uploading them all.... Like I said, I'm sorry.
72. I hate being cold.
73. When the weather is hot, I'm happy.... if I can cool myself off sufficiently.
74. I really like the water.... I think I may have mentioned that before.
75. I used to make lists for everything, but I found that I could never remember things on my own, so I stopped making them.... except for major things, like moving.
76. Chad took away the pen & paper by my bed shortly after we were married b/c I would turn the light on & off all night to add things to my list.
77. I sleep alot better now.
78. Except when I have Hot Feet.
79. I enjoy reading other people's blogs, especially if I know them, but there are also some very funny people I don't know whose blogs I thoroughly enjoy.
80. I enjoy getting together w/ Chad's family as much as my own. I know I'm very fortunate to really like all my in-laws (I just hope they all like me too!)
81. I buy almost all of my family's clothes second-hand (except socks & underwear b/c that's gross).
82. I am VERY out of touch w/ how much new clothes cost.... it ASTOUNDS me that people would spend more than $7 on a T-Shirt.
83. I enjoy being pregnant..... having the kids afterwards???? That's alot of work!
84. I have gastroparesis, which means my stomach takes longer than normal to empty, but I also have a high metabolism, meaning I can eat almost whatever I want w/o gaining weight.... figure that out.
85. When we lived on the farm I let a cat have it's kittens on our couch (on many, many towels) so I could watch. It was fascinating!
86. She wasn't so happy when I put them all outside in the cat-house after that. She kept bringing them back inside every time I opened the door.
87. Since Chad & I were married nearly 9 years ago, we have lived in 3 countries, 2 provinces, 1 state, & 7 houses/apartments, not counting the month here & there when we lived w/ his parents b/w moves.
88. I know all the phone numbers we've had except one.
89. I can easily remember numbers for bank accounts, phone numbers, social security numbers, etc., but sometimes can't remember which one is current.
90. I slept w/ my stuffed dog "Ralph" until we were married. Chad made me choose him or the dog. Ralph moved to the dresser.
91. I took calculus in highschool & passed it only b/c my teacher basically stood over me & told me the answers to the final. I did pass Calculus on my own in college... barely, b/c I had a LOT of tutoring. I don't think I was really applying myself either time.
92. I've never been to public school.
93. When I was growing up, my elderly neighbours had a boxer & since I didn't have a dog & wanted one, they let me walk it whenever my heart desired. She used to pull me on my skateboard up & down the street chasing cars.
94. When I was pregnant w/ Asher I craved breakfast foods all the time & Chad finally put his foot down & stopped taking me to IHOP.
95. In college I had 6 piercings in my ears & am now down to 3. My parents were not very happy about all those "holes," but I told them I'd grow out of it & I did.... less than a year later.
96. My favourite show is "The Office" I like BBC version too, it's a bit dirtier, but quite true to the office life I experienced while working in London.
97. I'm quite shy until I get to know people, then become very extroverted.
98. I was fired from a coffee shop I worked at for laying in the grass & reading a book b/w customers.
99. I used enjoy diagramming sentences.
100. Up until I was about 16, my hair was white-blonde.... now, it's brownish.... You can imagine my delight when in grade 7 we had the vocabulary word "hoary."
Well, I hope you have enjoyed learning all these FASCINATING facts about me! When you get to your 100th post, let me know b/c it's your turn! I really enjoy getting to know more about my internet friends, & am looking forward to reading yours!
Friday, 4 July 2008
I Feel Tired
I suppose it's par-for-the-course that when I am 7 1/2 - 8 months pregnant I would feel tired. Of course it may also have to do with taking a long road trip last week, or the fact that the boy is waking up before 6 in the mornings, or the fact that the toy room is down 2 stories from the bedrooms, but I feel like doing NOTHING!
This is a problem for a few reasons.....
So I am trying to convince myself to remove my posterior from the chair it seems to be glued to, but it seems there is some sort of magnetic field that pulls me toward any other chair in the vicinity. Seriously, last night I got out of one chair, simply to relocate a mere 5 paces later to another chair w/in the same room. Kind of defeats the purpose, but I suppose 5 paces of exercise is better than nothing!
This is a problem for a few reasons.....
- Asher doesn't understand why I don't want to go running down the hill w/ him.
- Asher doesn't always listen when I tell him to do something & needs to be manhandled/dragged to do my bidding.
- I should really try to stay a little fit so that labour isn't too taxing on my body.
- We are living w/ my in-laws & don't really want to be viewed as the very lazy person I might be coming across as.
Thursday, 3 July 2008
We're Home, & Getting On Schedule!
We made it to Alberta on Tuesday afternoon. Asher was a trooper (McDonald's really helped). We stopped at the Alberta border for a picnic lunch, but there were ants EVERYWHERE! They were the red & black kind that are pretty big & they didn't look like they were very happy. They were really truckin' it & they were all over the ground & the picnic tables & the playground, so we packed back up & went to McDonald's for lunch. It was too bad b/c we were looking forward to having a nice picnic lunch again, but it was nice to be in the air conditioning too.
Asher woke up at 6 yesterday, but we figured he was still adjusting to the time change, so it was ok. He was pretty tired yesterday morning, so we took him out to Costco & Walmart to get a few things & keep him awake 'til naptime. He does enjoy Walmart! Last night Chad & Grandma took him to a playground & he thoroughly enjoyed that. I enjoyed a leisurely bath while they were out.
This morning I heard Asher wake up around 6 & ask to watch Bob the Builder, but that was all he said, then I heard him around 6:30 say that his night-light had come on (it's on a timer & he can get out of bed when it comes on in the morning), but he went back to sleep until 7, so it was nice that we all got a bit more sleep last night.
We've got most of our things unpacked, but I haven't started on the new-baby gear yet, I just don't know where I'm going to put all that stuff & I don't really want to think about it either. Hopefully I'll get inspired in the next few days to find a good place for it. I think Chad's mum would like that.
Asher woke up at 6 yesterday, but we figured he was still adjusting to the time change, so it was ok. He was pretty tired yesterday morning, so we took him out to Costco & Walmart to get a few things & keep him awake 'til naptime. He does enjoy Walmart! Last night Chad & Grandma took him to a playground & he thoroughly enjoyed that. I enjoyed a leisurely bath while they were out.
This morning I heard Asher wake up around 6 & ask to watch Bob the Builder, but that was all he said, then I heard him around 6:30 say that his night-light had come on (it's on a timer & he can get out of bed when it comes on in the morning), but he went back to sleep until 7, so it was nice that we all got a bit more sleep last night.
We've got most of our things unpacked, but I haven't started on the new-baby gear yet, I just don't know where I'm going to put all that stuff & I don't really want to think about it either. Hopefully I'll get inspired in the next few days to find a good place for it. I think Chad's mum would like that.
Monday, 30 June 2008
The End Is In Sight!
Tonight we are in Regina, SK. Some may understand the title of this post as quite literal. Saskatchewan is said to be so flat that you can watch your dog run away fro days, so even though we have about a day of driving yet, the end may be in sight!
We are staying at another Travelodge. I realized tonight this is the 3rd one on the trip. I guess they must be pretty good. I couldn't get a cheaper rate tonight, though I tried, but since we had gained an hour just before we stopped yesterday & then another one this afternoon, & we had driven almost 800 km, we decided that we'd just take the room here. It's the first night on the trip we've had to pay over $100 for a room, which overall is pretty good. Chad still thinks that's high, but I think he's just out of touch w/ how much hotels cost.
The perks of our hotel are:
We are staying at another Travelodge. I realized tonight this is the 3rd one on the trip. I guess they must be pretty good. I couldn't get a cheaper rate tonight, though I tried, but since we had gained an hour just before we stopped yesterday & then another one this afternoon, & we had driven almost 800 km, we decided that we'd just take the room here. It's the first night on the trip we've had to pay over $100 for a room, which overall is pretty good. Chad still thinks that's high, but I think he's just out of touch w/ how much hotels cost.
The perks of our hotel are:
- Swimming pool
- hot tub
- waterslide
- kiddie play area
So, yes the perks are pretty much all pool related, but really, who has time to do much more in the evenings anyways? We have to tire Asher out after a day of sitting in the car, what better way than a pool? A bath just doesn't cut it on days like this.
We stopped for coffee this morning in Kenora at a coffee shop called HoJoes. It was listed in our hotel book as a "Vancouver Style Coffee House." It lived up to it's name! It was some of the best coffee I've had in a long time. Strathroy had a coffee shop, but they seemed to go about things as cheaply as possible, & when you are making a latte for someone, that just doesn't cut it, my friend!
Anyways, back to the pool! Asher enjoyed the waterslide a bit more tonight. It wasn't as fast as last night's was, & it wasn't a brand new experience either. We have a pretend phone in the car for Asher to play w/ & he "called" Grandma Vos to tell her all about the pool & waterslide he went on last night. It was very cute & obviously left an impression on him.
In the kiddie play area there was a cave that lead up to a normal tube slide (w/o water) & it took some convincing & daddy to go w/ him, but Asher finally went down that slide as well. Chad said it was a good thing he had gone down the slide w/ him b/c since they were wet (the kiddie area was in w/ the pool area) the slide was really fast & Chad landed on his bottom at the bottom & it did not feel too pleasant. Plus it was quite a ways that you had to walk in the tunnel, & who knows if Asher would have made it the whole way up alone. It was pretty squishy in there as well, Chad reported.
So, we MIGHT be able to make it all the way to Lethbridge tomorrow, but it would be a long day to do it. We aren't sure if we are up for that long of a day w/ the most boring part of the drive still ahead of us. Besides, why not have another night at a hotel w/ a pool & possibly a waterslide?
Sunday, 29 June 2008
One Thing I've Learned
On this trip there are many things I've learned, such as:
- I'm not as patient as I'd like to think I am.... especially when I am tired & hot. I just get cranky & snappy.
- I really, really like specialty coffee & it's not so easy to find when you are in the middle of nowhere (although I knew this before the trip too, but it's VERY evident now).
- Hotel rates are not set in stone.
This last one is a tricky one b/c we all know about AAA/CAA rates being lower than normal hotel rates, but did you know that if you hem & haw just a little, they will sometimes offer you an even LOWER rate? Our first hotel's rate was $120. They offered me $110 w/CAA, but then I asked how that compared to other rates in town & she said, "well, I can actually offer you $100." It came through as "Rate of the Day" on the bill, so it's worth asking for at Travelodges.
Tonight we stopped at a Holiday Inn & I asked about rates & they offered me $120, or $110 w/ CAA. I asked if there was anything cheaper & he simply said no, so we left. We went to a Days Inn & they offered $120 w/ CAA & I simply asked if she could give me a room for under $100, say $99 & she said, "sure." So It's definitely worth asking for cheaper or naming your price (as long as it's a reasonable price for a room) They'd rather have you there for a little less, than not have you there at all.
I am a bit surprised that they have cheaper rates though b/c it is Canada Day weekend, but perhaps we are just stopping at hotels that aren't full & that's working to our advantage.
Our hotel tonight has a swimming pool, a kiddie pool, a hot tub & a waterslide. We took advantage of them & tired Asher out. he went to bed easily & has been sleeping for the last hour or so. Much better than last night. Chad had to lay on the floor by his playpen for nearly an hour until he fell asleep. He just hadn't expended enough energy & wasn't very tired. We made up for that today by stopping for lunch at a rest area & letting him run around for awhile & then going swimming this evening. (The waterslide was pretty fun for all of us, though Asher took quite a bit of convincing to go on it).
Saturday, 28 June 2008
Are We There Yet?
We are in Marathon, Ontario tonight. We have travelled about 1200 of 3500 kilometres on our trip. It feels like we've gone much further. Chad mentioned today that he already is not looking forward to making this trip again in 3 months. I agree.
Trips like this used to be fun, but now I am constantly having to turn around in my seat & being 7 months pregnant it's not too comfortable to try to reach for toys & books that have been thrown down on the floor. Asher's actually being fairly well behaved, until we get out of the car. He just wants to run & be crazy, but who can blame him? After 4 hours of having to sit still in the car seat we all want to run around & be crazy.
Driving is proving to be less than enjoyable for Chad as well b/c of the trailer. We can't use the cruise control b/c it makes the car work too hard, so Chad has to drive w/ his foot on the accelerator the whole time rather than being able to move a bit to get more comfortable.
Right now Asher is standing in his crib saying, "hi, Mummy!" over & over. We have set chairs on the table & draped a blanket over the top so he can't see us. Having to share a room w/ a toddler who has not expended enough energy over the course of the day, is not a whole lot of fun.
There will be no TV watching before bed. I always feel a bit sorry for the people on either side of us when we are in hotels. Asher is great at going to sleep at home now, but I think he saves all his bad nights for hotels. I suppose it makes sense since his routine is all askew.
Wish us luck on this trip, that we get the sleep we need.......
Trips like this used to be fun, but now I am constantly having to turn around in my seat & being 7 months pregnant it's not too comfortable to try to reach for toys & books that have been thrown down on the floor. Asher's actually being fairly well behaved, until we get out of the car. He just wants to run & be crazy, but who can blame him? After 4 hours of having to sit still in the car seat we all want to run around & be crazy.
Driving is proving to be less than enjoyable for Chad as well b/c of the trailer. We can't use the cruise control b/c it makes the car work too hard, so Chad has to drive w/ his foot on the accelerator the whole time rather than being able to move a bit to get more comfortable.
Right now Asher is standing in his crib saying, "hi, Mummy!" over & over. We have set chairs on the table & draped a blanket over the top so he can't see us. Having to share a room w/ a toddler who has not expended enough energy over the course of the day, is not a whole lot of fun.
There will be no TV watching before bed. I always feel a bit sorry for the people on either side of us when we are in hotels. Asher is great at going to sleep at home now, but I think he saves all his bad nights for hotels. I suppose it makes sense since his routine is all askew.
Wish us luck on this trip, that we get the sleep we need.......
Thursday, 26 June 2008
I Think I'm Ready To Move
Last night we got a call from the U-Haul guy saying that the closest place that had a trailer of the size we had reserved was 2 hours away. Well, we had ordered the smallest trailer b/c we have a VW Jetta to pull it with, so getting a bigger trailer wasn't really an option. His offer was to cut the price from $250 to $100 for the week.....
So Chad has gone to get our cheaper trailer! I declared it unfair that he gets to go driving for 4 hours this morning while I have to stay home & pack & clean, but then I remembered that I would have the computer, so I decided that I'd check emails & blog a bit!
So, now I have a few loads of laundry going, everything is pretty much packed, & I basically only have vacuuming to do, which I will wait until everything is pretty much out of here to do b/c you can't really vacuum w/ boxes everywhere. I'd show you a picture of all our boxes, but the cord for the camera is packed & I don't really know how to connect it to the laptop. Maybe I'll get them up in a few days.
Surprisingly, our phone has been disconnected already. I ordered it to be done today & they kept saying it would be done by 5 pm. I checked it at 9am & it had already been done. It figures that if you need a phone connected they'll wait until the last minute, but to get it disconnected it's done right away so you can't make anymore calls!
Tomorrow we head out on our way from Ontario to Alberta! It's supposed to be a 42 hour drive. We're going through Canada b/c we've never been that way before. It adds about 8 hours onto the trip, but since we have a trailer full of stuff we figured it doesn't make sense to cross the boarder if we don't have to.
I'm actually really looking forward to the trip both b/c it's seeing things we haven't seen before, & b/c we'll have lots of time to think about the calls we have received from churches. We don't really know where the Lord is leading us, so we have to really pray & figure out what His will is for us. We have 3 really good offers & we just don't know what our decision is.
So for the next week I'll be at the mercy of hotel internet. Hopefully most the ones we stay at will have wireless so I can still post about all the exciting things we do & see on our "big trip" as Asher has been calling it.
So Chad has gone to get our cheaper trailer! I declared it unfair that he gets to go driving for 4 hours this morning while I have to stay home & pack & clean, but then I remembered that I would have the computer, so I decided that I'd check emails & blog a bit!
So, now I have a few loads of laundry going, everything is pretty much packed, & I basically only have vacuuming to do, which I will wait until everything is pretty much out of here to do b/c you can't really vacuum w/ boxes everywhere. I'd show you a picture of all our boxes, but the cord for the camera is packed & I don't really know how to connect it to the laptop. Maybe I'll get them up in a few days.
Surprisingly, our phone has been disconnected already. I ordered it to be done today & they kept saying it would be done by 5 pm. I checked it at 9am & it had already been done. It figures that if you need a phone connected they'll wait until the last minute, but to get it disconnected it's done right away so you can't make anymore calls!
Tomorrow we head out on our way from Ontario to Alberta! It's supposed to be a 42 hour drive. We're going through Canada b/c we've never been that way before. It adds about 8 hours onto the trip, but since we have a trailer full of stuff we figured it doesn't make sense to cross the boarder if we don't have to.
I'm actually really looking forward to the trip both b/c it's seeing things we haven't seen before, & b/c we'll have lots of time to think about the calls we have received from churches. We don't really know where the Lord is leading us, so we have to really pray & figure out what His will is for us. We have 3 really good offers & we just don't know what our decision is.
So for the next week I'll be at the mercy of hotel internet. Hopefully most the ones we stay at will have wireless so I can still post about all the exciting things we do & see on our "big trip" as Asher has been calling it.
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