The Comic Book Family: June 2006

Friday, June 30, 2006

Driving

"Quentin, I love you, but you're driving me insane."

"But I'm not old enough to drive."

"So quit driving me insane."

"But there's no sane here."

Thursday, June 29, 2006

A Tagging

I have been tagged, and therefore, here is a list for you.

I AM: perpetually tired, but generally happy with my life
I WANT: to know I will have enough work for September
I HAVE: a wonderful family
I WISH: for long, happy, healthy lives for my children
I HATE: ignorance
I LOVE: my children, my husband
I MISS: my dad (yes, I still have one, but they played two very different roles in my life, and I miss him a lot)
I FEAR: that I do not do enough
I HEAR: Quentin and Tyler on the Splash n' Crash
I WONDER: what the future holds
I REGRET: that my sister doesn't talk to me before making decisions, even though she says she will
I AM NOT: the person I once was
I DANCE: regularly with my children. Unfortunately, they haven't learned swing yet
I SING: "If You're Happy and You Know It" many, many times over the course of a day
I CRY: but not as much as I used to
I AM NOT ALWAYS: sane
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: food, impossible wedding cakes (no eggs, flour, white sugar, milk...)
I WRITE: in my blog
I CONFUSE: everyone at least some of the time
I NEED: to make dinner now
I SHOULD: clean my house
I START: many household tasks
I FINISH: when I need to, and rarely before

Your turn!

Some Quentin stories

First off, because I feel it's the most important one (I'll end with the funniest one to leave you on a light note), one with a request. The request? One I made when Quentin was an infant, but apparently it needs to be made again. Children learn from what they see people doing, or by what some people allow them to do so do not show them or encourage them to do things that they should not do. Children do not really know the meaning of moderation (if one person can do something to one person in one situation, everybody is allowed to in every situation). Please do not bite/nibble/snuffle/suck on/snack on any part of my children. It teaches them to BITE. Because he has seen someone else doing it, Quentin decided today to 'snack' on Jade's toes. I repeatedly asked him not to, but I kept turning around at various times today to see him doing so and Jade not being too happy about it. The last time left Jade crying her head off with deep tooth marks on her foot.

A happier story. Quentin was purple today. No, it wasn't paint. We found some Okanagon cherries at a produce store today. YUMMY! We brought them home, and I decided to give Quentin a refresher on how to eat cherries, as I think he's old enough now to not need me to take the pits out for him. Well, I was right. Unfortunately, he needs to be unclothed to eat them. Popped one in his mouth, and instantly there's a big blotch of cherry juice on his shirt as he tries to take the pit out without swallowing any juice, or even biting through to the pit yet. My fault, I should have known better. Unfortunately, he happens to be wearing his favourite shirt. Off it goes. With the potty training complete, pants and shorts don't really fit him, and he's wearing one of the few pairs of shorts that do. Off they go. And the brand new Curious George underwear with them. There's purple coating his face, it's in his hair, it's from his fingers to his elbows, down his chest, on his legs, all over the floor (tile, it's okay.) We went outside and played with his new Slip and Slide, aka Splash and Crash, in a vain attempt to clean him up. It partially worked.

The story that's so funny it will probably be told at his wedding. We went short shopping for Daddy tonight. Daddy's in the change room trying things on, then coming out to model them for us. Quentin is being a standard little kid going in and out of the changerooms too. Daddy comes out, holding up his t-shirt so I can see the waistline of the shorts he is trying on, and says "So, what do you think of these?" Quentin comes out of the same changeroom with a big smile on his face, holding up his shirt, shorts and underwear around his ankles and in the exact same tone as Daddy says "So, what do you think of these?" I had to turn around I was laughing so hard. Kudos to Tyler for keeping a straight face, because there was no way I could.

I love my boy.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

And then there was one...

Child in diapers, that is. Quentin is completely out of diapers now. He made it through last night with only wearing underwear to bed. No more diapers for my little boy. Daddy, the diaper rinser, is quite relieved. Yes, sometimes there's a little accident, but not because he's not trying to get to the potty every time, and they're not every day.

Yesterday I made a strawberry rhubarb cobbler. Apparently it's a good thing I did because it is Quentin's favourite cake! I've been baking chocolate cakes lately for my friend Shannon's wedding cake. It's next weekend, so there have been a few cakes cooling on the table that Quentin can't have, and not just because there's wheat flour in them. I wanted to make something that used some of the strawberries we brought home from my Gramma's house last weekend, and made the cobbler. Even though he'd been sneaking some of the crumbs of the chocolate cakes, the first bite of the cobbler Quentin exclaimed "MMMMM, this is my favourite cake!" Better than anything he'd had before.

Jade is coming along fine with food, with crawling, with climbing, with babbling... Definitely different than Quentin who was content to sit until he started walking, pretty much. She wants to move. The only food she's tried so far that she doesn't like, or at least doesn't keep down, is bananas. Tofu was a definite hit. As were the lingonberry popcicles we made from the IKEA juice.

Apparently I'm going through a midlife crisis...Tyler doesn't know who his wife is anymore. I actually purchased a bright pink tank top a few weeks ago that I wear. Last night, I bought a skirt that I will wear fairly often because it's quite comfy. The skirt is above the knee unlike all the ankle length skirts I've been buying and wearing in recent memory. Tyler says he's going to divorce me as we obviously got married under false pretenses.

Take care all.

The Scam Man Cometh

So...the scam man came to our door today. I read about a guy, maybe this one, in the paper a few weeks ago. Apparently this has been in the local papers too, not just the major ones. A guy asks for some money to 'top up' what he needs to keep his car from being towed away, just a few dollars...$8.50 in this case. (He said he'd leave some tools as collateral, but I didn't see a car, hear a tow truck, or see any tools for that matter.) When he comes back, he needs enough to get his car out of the impound lot. The story I read was that the little old lady became wise when he came back and got upset she didn't have enough money, and she ended up hitting him with her purse.

How did I know it was the scam man? There's nowhere near our house that would have a car be towed on a Saturday. Secondly, there's nobody named Craig that he could be a nephew of on the entire street. And no, no there isn't a Michael at one of the houses next to me that he could ask for money from either. Then there's the nonsense about he was just in a car accident (wouldn't he need the tow truck then?) Helped that he ran away as soon as Tyler came up the stairs, although I'd been about to close the door on him at that point. I did report him to the RCMP, where the dispatch lady said that she'd read about him herself and she was glad I didn't give him any money. A police car was patrolling the area within five minutes.

Yeah.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Fun and Games

Well, not really. But yes.

Saturday we made a day trip to Campbell River to visit my grandmother. A long day, especially as it was my third day in a row without a nap, but that's okay. Well worth it. This is the grandmother that I looked identical to when I was an infant, and therefore Jade looks like her as she looks like I did. Quentin had fun and did not want to leave. Of course, he spent a lot of time in the backyard with Daddy playing badminton with the new set of toys he received from his Great Auntie Susie, and he didn't want to stop playing badminton.

On the way back to the ferry we stopped for a few minutes in Qualicum Bay. Every time we go to an ocean beach, I try to show Quentin the fun of finding those little crabs whenever a rock is turned over. We hadn't found any crabs in the many times I had done that for him, and I wanted to prove to him that I wasn't completely insane. We didn't stop at the tourist beach, but rather a smaller one and we hit the jackpot! Not only were there tons of crabs under the rocks, but we didn't even have to flip rocks because this beach was just crawling with them. To top it off, there was a little tidal pool that had itty bitty little anemones in it. I think I might have been more excited than Quentin!

I had found him a very nice shell when we first got there, and he wanted to get every other shell that he saw. So, I told him that he already had the prettiest shell on the beach. After that, even if I asked if he wanted one that was really nice, he said no because he had one already.

Other amazing things...we passed a ReMax that had a 3D balloon on the side of its building, and he pointed out "the balloon like on the benches." You know, the ads on bus benches? He also noticed the giant gnome was holding his hand to say "stop." He is amazing and astounds me constantly on how much he knows, how much he connects ideas and concepts, and just how wonderful he really is at times. I love that little boy.

Jade is saying a few words. She will repeat 'Up' when we pick her up. She says "Mom." And she also says lots of phrases that have a definite meaning...whatever they mean, including one we're sure is a repeat of us saying "I love you."

I stopped by Terry Fox again today. Apparently I left my folder behind on the desk of the teacher I subbed for, and she was kind enough to call and let me know. (I didn't figure it out and don't know if I would have.) So, I poked my nose in to say hi to my old counsellor. He's going to put a good word in for me to get one of the jobs that they have open. He always would have done anything for me. For that matter, pretty much any of the counsellors would have, but he was the one that was assigned to me alphabetically. I think half the staff is Terry Fox grads from various years. Definitely a school that had some school spirit.

In other news, my dad says his eye surgery went well today. I haven't seen him, but he says it's all good.

And in other other news, my sister and her children could use a few prayers as they start life on their own. It's going to be hard as my sister tries to find a place and the children get used to not living with their dad and I think some prayers would help as it's not a happy separation.

Take care all. Hug your loved ones.

Saturday, June 17, 2006

He did it! Hooray!

He did it! He DID it! (insert spanish)

No Diaper Days have paid off! Not an accident today. Yesterday he panicked when we were at the mall...not that he wanted to use the toilets there, but decided as he was really about to go that he "liked the potties now." (Too late.) Even when he wears a diaper, more often than not he's been saying he has to go.

This morning, he decided without me telling him it was time that he had to go. He told me, as he was sitting on the potty that he was going poo. He's said it before. He seemed a little more earnest this time and said "I'm going two, Mommy, pee and poo!" I got rather excited, then remembered he's said he's going poo before and asked if it was for real. No. Darn, oh well, another time. Then he stood up and lo and behold! YAY! I kept telling him how proud I was of him. Shortly after he asked me if I was so proud of him and then said "I'm so proud of me too." Adorable.

Okay, I forgot to flip it, but you get the idea:

Driving home today, from the backseat I hear "no. no. no. no. no. no. no. no. no." Very calm. "What are you saying no for, Quentin?" "I'm looking for a crescent house." The no's continue. "Do you see one?" "No." "Have you ever seen one?" "No." And the no's continue.

Peek a boo with Jade?

And one last picture because it's so darn cute!

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Surreal

My first TOC call for Coquitlam was to a school I had never heard of before. Only two years old on top of a hill in Port Moody. The office staff and students were nice. The Business Ed teacher said hi to me in the hallway (I knew that's what she taught because that's what she taught at Fox all those years ago.) That was as welcoming as it got. The teacher even came back early and didn't say much to me.

My second call came bright and early yesterday morning. To Terry Fox. I had checked out the staff there as I was looking at the schools I was applying for jobs at, and noticed two teachers were former classmates of mine. I later had this corrected to three. Lots of teachers that were still there from my years as a student, so it was going to be a little odd. Especially when I was trying to figure out why this Science teacher was telling me to leave the students' work in Room 103 on her desk. Why would she have a desk in an English classroom? Then I remembered the move the school made. Still the main ladies in the office from ohsomany years ago. Go into the Science Dept. office, and everyone is incredibly nice and welcoming. The students were nice. The teachers were nice. I was home again. Not enough to make me want to stay away from my daughter longer than I had to, but I appreciated the opportunity. And hey, my grade 8/9 Science teacher was there. And another teacher had just been given a lovebird named Fry from a student. Fairly new school, and chalkboards in the classroom instead of whiteboards and incomplete trolleys for AV - definitely Fox.

Received an e-mail that my old band teacher is retiring. The party is next Friday at the Wild Duck Inn. Nice and classy - lol! Not sure if I'm wanting to attend, partly because of the venue, but it might be interesting to go for a little while.

Take care all.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Grace

I don't really want to post because I love having that picture of Jade being top center, but I know I have copies and can scroll down and everything else including the fact that there should be more updates.

As I am officially a Coquitlam School District TOC, I am eligible to apply for all their teaching positions now, and had to get my computer access stuff in order to do so. (Although I did get a peek at the postings thanks to a friend of mine.) Many problems and communications with technical support later, I get an e-mail saying that everything is fixed and thanking me for my patience and grace. It's an odd word to have used, in my mind, although I do appreciate it. At the end of the school year last year, one of my vice-principals, Matt Beimers, said that when he thinks of me, the word 'grace' comes to mind. This little e-mail brought back the warm fuzziness of that compliment. It's not a word I would have ever used to describe myself. In fact, at one point during my post-secondary career I had three close friends of mine, within a month time period, each tell me I wasn't a nice person. They weren't trying to be mean, really. I think they were trying to say I didn't always have much tact without having any themselves. It's something I still think I have troubles with and do make conscious efforts to amend, so to be told that I have grace is quite nice. It is definitely something for me to try to live up to, and something to keep those cockles of my heart warm.

And in other news....what you're really here for:

Potty training is going amazingly well. Wednesday through Saturday, very few issues. Of course, he won't have a bowel movement in the potty and actually didn't have one until he was in a diaper and asleep one night. Not a normal occurrence. We used diapers on Sunday because we had the prostate cancer walk and lots of driving. Quentin still asked to go potty when we were at the family gathering in the evening, even though he was wearing a diaper. Daycare isn't too thrilled with the idea of him wearing only underwear (we can't go in and out if we go outside to play), but I'm not thrilled with the idea of not being very consistent. How will he learn if he's in a diaper two days a week?

Jade is saying "mom." Just like her brother and unlike most children, mom is the first word. Most children say "dada" first, but not our kids. She repeats sounds that Quentin makes to her at times. Sometimes those are just high pitched squeals that Quentin is getting her to copy, but she does try to communicate.

Okay, time to sleep.

Take care all.

Friday, June 09, 2006

More pics for your enjoyment!

Here's a picture from every month, starting at the bottom in February, up to tonight at the top.

Long Promised Pictures

Okay, if April can post pictures without even having a computer, I better post some pictures too.

The sweater says "Little Princess." I think that says it all.

Everyone needs a weird bathtub picture, don't they?

Two little cuties in sweaters that Granny knit for them.

One of the last nights he slept in his 'little boy bed' (the crib stayed beside it so he didn't roll out). The big grin is because I gave him a pillow case, instead of just using the bare pillow that I made him a long time ago. Of course, now he refuses to have a pillow case on, but at one point he was thrilled with it.

This is Quentin dancing with Jade to his music class cd.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

No Diaper Day

Today we had No Diaper Day for Quentin. Yes, he is wearing one while he is sleeping. It was a fairly successful day. We bought a timer last weekend, so every 35 minutes it would sound off and it would be time to go potty. Around midday, Quentin started waiting a couple of extra minutes before he'd go, a few times in a row. So, brilliant me, I decide to change the timer to 40 minutes. That time, between the 35 and 40 minute mark, he pooped. Not in the potty. The only other accident he had was peeing once, after Tyler got home from work. Not bad. We even went in the car to swimming without a diaper on, and he did fine. YAY Quentin! Unfortunately I have appointments tomorrow and Friday, and we're running around Saturday and Sunday, so the next full No Diaper Day probably won't be until next Wednesday. That's okay. We should be able to work through this fully before the end of the summer, right? :)

Jade appears to have given up her morning naps. Doesn't really matter what time she wakes up, they've pretty much disappeared. Her afternoon naps aren't happening until well after 1:00. And tonight, although she only had the one nap this afternoon and we went swimming, she didn't fall asleep until after 11, not counting the 15 minutes in the car on the way home from the pool.

Me? I'm tired. I'm heading to bed very shortly. Take care all. And really, those pictures are coming soon.

Monday, June 05, 2006

Dancing Baby

No, not the dancing baby from Ally McBeal...Jade! Jade has figured out the whole dancing thing. She was playing with her piano (Fisher Price, not our big one) and started bouncing up and down to the beat of one of the songs. Big smile. While sitting in her high chair Saturday night, she looked at me with a huge smile on her face and started bopping to the music. (Some early '90s song from junior high...possibly Tone Loc, or at least something along that era.) She didn't for the next song, but did the song after that. Daddy didn't appreciate it too much as it interfered with his getting food into her, but I didn't mind! Then she did again this morning to the Eagles. She just kind of bounces her upper body, a bit of bobbing her head. Very cute.

Quentin said today, although not for the first time, that he would like another baby sister. He doesn't want a baby brother because he's a brother, but he wants another baby sister.

Quentin also got another hair cut last night. He didn't want to sit still in the tub (what I have figured out to be the easiest place to cut his hair as it confines him, gives him something to do, and makes clean-up much easier), so I offered to use the buzz clipper. "No, no, please no." He's very polite in his absolute refusals. You know he means he really doesn't want to do it if it includes that phrase. Eventually got him into the tub by enticing him with a shower, and now he has short hair again. He looks so much older every time he gets his hair cut, it makes me a little sad. Especially when I come to my computer and see a picture of him (rotating pictures on the screen saver) from around a year old.

Love, love, love, love, love my kids.

Be well.

Friday, June 02, 2006

Do It For Dad

Sunday, June 11th at Burnaby Lake we will be doing the Do It for Dad walk for prostate cancer. Near and dear due to my dad passing away the winter after Quentin was born. Quentin and I are both going to be registered. If anybody would like to sponsor us...Okay, more specifically, if anybody would like to sponsor Quentin, please let me know! Thank you! (I can actually set it up so you can sponsor him via their website, but I haven't done that yet, so if you prefer that way...I need to know so I can do it!)

Much love.

I worked! AHHHHHHH!

Today being the first day that Vicki couldn't watch Jade and Quentin for me...I got a call to TOC. A little bit of trepidation...what if the kids are awful, what if they don't listen, what if they don't do what they're supposed, what if I'm awful....what if they are just as good as every other class I've stepped into and everything's fine. Watched a bit of Romeo and Juliet for one class, and did some poetry in the next. Woo hoo. All good. I'm not too out of practice to handle them and Jade even survived too.

Jade is currently enthralled with the baby in the mirror, not that I blame her as that baby is pretty darn adorable. I bought a mirror with a big foam frame when Quentin was an infant, and she loves it just as much as he did.

Not much else to say today. Hope your lives are all going well.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Busy busy day yesterday

We had a great day yesterday. We went and visited with some of the mommies and children that Quentin and I met when he was born. (Other children born the same summer.) It has been quite awhile since we've seen them, so it was quite nice to spend some time together. Everyone is growing and changing so much!

Last night was swimming night. I know we've only gone twice, but I'm totally in love with swim night. Everybody has fun! Jade and I go in the 'big' pool and swim. Last night she was kicking, splashing with her arms, and making motorboat sounds (imitation of me showing her how to blow bubbles) all at the same time. Okay, the motorboat sounds were interspersed with her adorable high pitched happy sounds, which just made it that much better. She decided she doesn't want to wait for me to count to three, and so refuses to sit on the edge of the pool by trying to throw herself in! I had to change the strategy to getting her to stand instead of sit. It works well too.

Quentin and Daddy spend most of the time in the wading pool. It's warmer and Quentin doesn't have to worry about water going over his head. They planted duck seeds (including one silver duck seed), frog seeds and even a seal seed in a bucket. They did venture over to the big pool to have Quentin jump in a couple of times...but then water splashed up his face so back to the wading pool they went. Doesn't matter, they both enjoyed themselves!

Quentin was asleep by the time we got home. Jade slept on the way home, and was awake enough to cuddle with me on the couch, just hugging me and smiling at me. Just wonderful.

I really need to post some pictures. My apologies. Hopefully I can do that this weekend. I just received some great pictures of the two children from Auntie Crazy Lady, so I want to scan those in.

Take care all.

The Comic Book Family