as expected.............

.......vacations never start off easy!

This past Wednesday we had our cat, Chip fixed and de-clawed. We brought him home on Friday and all was well. Was.

This morning he was spooked by one of our kids and jumped off of the couch. 9:30 That would be fine normally, except for the fact that his paw began to bleed. He ran over to me and jumped on my lap. He then jumped down and ran upstairs. As he was running away, he left a nice trail of blood behind. At this point I shouted "stop the cat, he's bleeding!!!" Now my wife was on his tail (so to speak) He stopped at his crate so C could check him out. Now for the bloody trail to clean up.

11:00 Chip was going to stay home for the week, with a friend of mine checking up on and feeding him. Change of plans. I had to rush 25 minutes away to Arens house. Chip is now staying their for a few days of observation.

11:45 My mother in law is coming to Myrtle Beach with us again. She lands at 12:30. The airport is 55 minutes away. Aren and his wife just had a baby girl 15 days ago. I haven't met her yet. Can't leave before I do. Chips crate has some blood spatter on the inside. Gotta clean that before I go.

Call C. "Sorry, just leaving for home now, I guess you have to pick up your mom with the kids"

12:00 I get home and start organizing all things packed. Re-arrange some bags and get things ready to go in the van. No van. C has it to pick up her mom. She was supposed to take the put-put so I could load up the van.

1:45 Grammas here!!!! The kids are pumped, I'm ready, Grammas setting things aside for the beach, and C is double checking stuff. I think we can leave by 3:00.......... maybe.

INTRODUCING.......................

C H I P ! !

three years ago...

..H1 was born. I can't believe he has grown up this fast. Three years seems like a short time unless looking with a parents perspective. What is three years to an adult? For some children it's more than a lifetime!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOOTS!!!!!!

Home Alone :(

This afternoon I drove my wife and kids to the airport. They are on their way to visit grampa and gramma in Saskatchewan. Grampa and gramma are ecstatic about the visit, phone calls and pictures are only so good. Even uncle Lance and Catherine are planning to meet up on the weekend. Now for some great one-on-one time at their reunion! C. is also excited to head west. She is a natural born prairie girl, and always talks of the land of living skies.

This is the first time that I wasn't there on the plane to help with the kids. I can only hope that they are well behaved for her. A three year old and 18 month old can be a handful in the backyard, let alone a confined aircraft. On the plus side, our children are usually very well mannered, polite and obedient. Of course the phrase "monkey see, monkey do" comes to mind. If H1 can do it, so can H2. That being said, I hope H1 listens to mom so H2 can follow suit.

I, on the other hand, am staying to watch the home front. And working. Oh ya, and biking!! I have had numerous invites from co-workers and family to keep myself occupied. And of course the daily phone calls from the kids will help pass the time.

I now have a very mild taste of what my Mexican com padres must feel when they come up here for months on end.

Another Helping Hand

On Saturday, H1 and I did some more pick-ups. Another great day together. I really enjoy his company, and we get to learn more and more about each other. Don't tell his mom, but I think he's becoming a Daddies Boy!

When we arrived home after the work was done, C and I had a little chat. I thought it would be neat if H1 and I took pictures at the different greenhouses, and posted about them. At least this way I won't (can"t) run out of things to say!!

Now to convince my brother to let me do more pick-ups before I get too busy in the nursery!

A Helping Hand

With my brother starting up his own wholesaling business, his week can be tiresome. I told him right from the start that I would help him out however, whenever.

Yesterday, I did a few "pick-ups" for J. I used his Dodge extended van, and went to four local-ish greenhouses. There weren't too many flowers to pick up, (3 pails Asiatic lilies, 10 pails Mums, 10 pails Gerbera and Mini Gerbs, and one pail of mini Calla lilies) but I had a helper. J brings his three year old with him too, and left the car seat installed. H1 was very excited to go for a ride with me in the van. He could finally see exactly what was around him. "Look out cars", he would say, "Here we come!!"
We were only gone for about an hour and a half, but we really had a great time together. As a treat for helping me, we stopped off at....... TIM HORTONS!!

My Eldest Niece

WOW!!!

My eldest niece has just recently gotten engaged.

My congrats to her and her betrothed, I wish them only the best.

Sam was born when I was in the eighth grade. I was an uncle! She has grown up quite a bit. Not really. Not that she is immature, on the contrary, maybe a bit sheltered. She is only seventeen. Eighteen in May 2007.
I pray she (THEY) know what she (they) are doing! Her fiance seems like a really nice guy, from the couple of times that we have met. He comes from respectable family, so that doesn't concern me. He is apprenticing to be an auto mechanic, another plus. I just hope that this being her first real boyfriend, is her right choice. Not that I am doubting them, I just can't judge their future.
They are planning on a winter wedding.
January 2008.

Sometimes there is no time like the present, right Hon??

Blogging Schedule

I have come to the realization that with one computer and two bloggers, we need a schedule. Whenever C has to go to work, I get to post. All other times are hers. Fair? Yes. She is the one who works at home.

Happy 1st Birthday Booka-Booka

I know I am late to post, but on January 15 2006 at 5:33 am, our baby-doll was born.

H2 weighed in at 7 pounds even, measuring 22.75" long. She was the "easiest" baby of our two for C to deliver.

This past Monday, we had my parents over for dinner in celebration of H2's 1st birthday. Her older brother was all excited for his little sister, and sang Happy Birthday beautifully to her. He knows almost all the words. He just wasn't sure how many times to say "Happy Birthday to you" until it switches to "Dear ........". He would usually add a few for good measure!


Today we had a birthday cake for her.
Black Forest cake.
Another new favorite for H1.

What we like to do with the kids and their birthday cakes is to let them eat it.

Themselves.

No adult accompaniment.

No wiping off chocolate until they have had their fill.

H2 started out eating very daintily. After a couple of minutes, the
chocolate was flying! Unfortunately, I haven't off-loaded my camera, but the pictures will be posted ASAP. Immediately after dinner was bath time for both kids. H1 had the pleasure of playing with his dessert as well, but seeing as he is 2 1/2, he wasn't as messy.



*UPDATE*

H2's Birthday pictures.
Enjoy!
(We all did)

....and she's off!!!

Tonight is another night with me at the wheel. C left for work at 4:15, and the kids and I were playing downstairs. H2 was starting to get hungry, so I brought her upstairs for dinner.
H1 followed a few minutes later.

"Daddy, I'm thirsty."
"Where is your cup, Bud?"
"Downstairs."
"Can you go downstairs and get it for me, so I can re-fill it for you?"
"No. You go get it Daddy."

I smirked.

He ended up going downstairs for it, though. He is starting to realize things, like the alternative to not getting his cup. You can't re-fill a cup that's not there.
Shortly after I fed H2, there was a dire need for a diaper change. It always seems to happen when C is not around. (that's probably just my own biased opinion) ;)

Time to scrub my hands, and start worrying about what to make for supper for H1 and I. Fried egg sandwiches it is. We finished dinner by 5:15. I thought taking the kids out for a special treat was in order. I made a quick phone call to friends of mine in Fonthill, and met up for coffees. One adult to 2 kids ratio is quite a challenge, but manageable. After the kids sampled a few Timbits, and H1 polished off his chocolate milk, we were ready to go.

Time-check......6:45.

Home..........7:00
H2 in bed....7:10
H1 in bed....7:30
Me.....soon after I post.

Wreckin Machine

It seems every time I try to build something out of the Lego Duplo that we (Santa) gave our kids this year, I can't!! That is to say, H2 won't let me. She won't even let her big brother or mom build anything. Try as we may, the only time any special buildings or towers are fully finished is when she is sleeping! H1 loves to play with his Duplo. H2 loves to take it apart.

"Wreckin Machine" got this name first when H1 was playing with his Thomas the Train set. Along came his sister, and in short order had the tracks all apart. I guess building is not her strong point, but demolition sure is!

Happy New Year!

A couple of weeks ago, I was talking to a co
-worker. He instructed that when the date of your birthday, and the age you turn are the same number, this is your "Champagne" birthday. Happy bubbly birthday to me, New Years Eve 1975-2006! I guess I could have had 31 beer, glasses, shots, or what-have-you, but this bottle was great! I hope the holidays and festivities found everyone safe for another year. And no, I didn't drink this all to myself. We had friends over with their daughter who is 11 days younger than ours. Happy birthday to you too Aren, 5 years my junior!

"To the new year, the old year, and future years to come, health and happiness to everyone"

Merry Christmas!

I hope the holidays treat(ed) everyone well!
Our family did our gift opening Christmas morning, with H1 opening nearly all the gifts.(his AND everyone elses!) We had a really nice day, and finished it at my parents for dinner with my oldest brother and his family. We had a short web-cam Christmas with C's parents and brother in Delisle, Sk. I think I speak for all of us here, we'd rather had been here for Christmas this year!
As for Boxing Day, I started work at 8:00. For 4 hours, I was painting hot water heat pipes. For two hours after lunch, I was framing with my brother J. I had to be home ASAP so C could go to work. She started at 5:00, which means she leaves by 4:15.

Tag, I'm it!

Three days Away

I'm dreamin of a white Christmas.
Current temp: 8' Celcius
Local Weather
I must be dreamin!

I am a "BLOGGER!!"

This is my first post.. EVER!!