Holidays Are Here Again!!

Well, it's that time on the calendar that I both look forward too and dread each year! 

HOLIDAY TIME!

To me, it means both a break from work to spend with family AND busy days that leave me longing for a holiday from my holidays!

This year, along with my parents, we were going cottaging.  It took me a week to pack and shop for the trip.  On Friday, I loaded up the van, packed to the brim, for our 4 day trip to a cottage located just 5 minutes down the road!

Yup, seemed like a lot of stuff for that much time, but with 2 kids, you have to plan. PLUS, we still made a couple trips home for stuff we forgot!

The cottage is one I went to every summer as a child and have wonderful memories of it.  When we moved here from Brampton about 20 years ago, we stopped going to the cottage, because we lost sight of what the cottage gave us.  A chance to re-connect and view a bit of different scenery!

Truthfully, I'm a wimp!  I really do hate travelling with my kids.  It's an ordeal to pack everyone and everything up and at home, I know they can't get into much trouble and things are "ABBY PROOF", but somewhere else?  I can't be sure!

It really was great though!  The cottage has been upgraded since my time.  And the bonus...HOT TUB!!

The cottage belongs to my Great Uncle Jeff's family and he lives right next door, so it was nice to also visit with him and he took us on a nice boat trip!

Here are a few pics from the cottage adventure!

The introduction to the water started with the hot tub.  Hayden was a bit scared of the river and Abby wanted nothing to do with it.  She loved the hot tub though and had NO fear of it at all!  She jumped right in and could care less if she went under and got water in her face.  Hayden was not so brave!

He did eventually migrate to the river.  He could touch bottom in a few places and hung out there.  Liked chilling in the tube with Dad and Grampa and even got to jumping in.  When I was his age, I was the same...no fear of swimming in the river...but as I got older, I got wiser and realized what also swam in those same waters....Frogs, Snakes, Fish, Turtles and who knows what else!  Let's just say, I didn't even stick in a toe!

Kids now a day's, this is how they enjoy a boat ride!

On Saturday afternoon, Uncle Jeff took us for a ride on his pontoon boat while Gramma stayed back at the cottage and had a quiet rest.  It was nice and peaceful.  The kids enjoyed it, but a 4 year old being a 4 year old, was ready to go back after about 10 minutes.  Sorry Buddy!  Hitch yourself up for a bit of a trip.  He did get to help Uncle Jeff drive the boat and took his job VERY seriously!  We convinced him that Uncle Jeff got lost and it was only because of his good driving skills that we made it home at all!  Abby loved it too and liked to look over the front of the boat at the water.

This is just one of the many beautiful homes on the Otonabee River...if you look real close, you will see a banner on the side of the house?  What does it say you ask? 

Here's the close up!

It's not real clear but it says "Will You Marry Me?"  I couldn't make out the name in the heart, but someone was going to have a memorable boat ride....perhaps not as memorable as my first boat ride with my hubby..but that is a story for another time!

The rest are just a few random pics from the rest of the weekend.  I can't wait to do it again.  It was fun and the kids had a blast!

I Think I Know Why My Plan Failed!

Yesterday, I blogged about how I had an evil, diabolical plan to knock Daddy of the pedestal of greatness!

I think I now know why my kitten tactic failed me!

I LIE TO MY KIDS....A LOT  (see previous post about my mother of the year qualities, or lack of them!)

Hayden was under the assumption that we were going to the market to get a cow...actually, 2 cows.  A brown one and a white one.

The story goes....last Tuesday, I bought a bag of milk and by Wednesday night, the kids drank all of milk! I said we were going to have to get our own cows if that kept up. 

I even told Hayden he could get a brown one for chocolate milk, but we better get a white one for Abby!

So, I figure he didn't want the kitten so there would be room for the cows!

He did look for the cows at the market...but in true excellent parent fashion...I told him they must already be sold out!!

My Attempt To Toss Dad Off His Pedestal

I'm not sure if anyone else's household with kids is like this...

DAD ROCKS!!! 

In the eyes of his kids that is, which is great, don't get me wrong, but mom is SOOOOO under appreciated.

I mean, we are the ones that cook for them....something different then the main meal, because they want grilled cheese instead.  We make sure they have clean underwear and socks.  Bake for special occasions and wrap birthday presents. 

BUT....

We are also the ones to enforce rules, issue time outs and say no.

Dad however, has the life of Riley.  He goes to work and comes home each day and the moment he pulls in the drive way....a small chorus of "DADDY" rings through the house and the stampede heads to the doorway, ready to jump all over him and smother him with hugs and kisses! 

I on the other hand, get
"mom, you're home, what did you bring me?"
"Can I have a cookie?"
"Please wipe my bum!"

So, this weekend, I cooked up a diabolical plan to steal the affections of my son and make dad look like the meany.

We went to the farmers' market on Saturday and there is a stand of FREE KITTENS!!

This is the conversation:

"Oh, Hayden, look...free kittens...let's go look"

"Oh, Hayden, are they not so cute and tiny?"

"Oh, Daddy, I think the kids would love one, let's get one...Hayden you want a kitty right?"

(see, the thing is...I DO NOT WANT ANOTHER CAT!!!  We have 2 and some days, it's 2 too many, but I knew dad would say no, and I could be all....See, dad is the meany, I would have let you have the cute cuddly kitten, but Dad squashed those dreams!!...aka...love me more, 'cause I was all for a kitten!"

Honest, to goodness, this is what Hayden says, with NO prompting.

"no, we already have Nuggett and Tiggy, we don't need a kitten!"

WHAT?!?!?

What child says no to a kitten, especially after it's nibbled on it's finger?!?!

Hmm...must think up new plan!!!

Why I Won't Win Mother Of The Year

I was chatting with a girlfriend and was delightfully pleased to know that when they hand out the Mother of the Year awards...she will be standing right beside me on the sidelines...making fun of the winner!!

These are a few of the reasons I won't win:

1. I lie to my kids....A LOT!! 
2. I eat their candy....like I need it!
3. I say things that I know will make them cry!
4. There is a very real chance that any pictures I have taken since Abby was born, will never be printed and lost completely when the computer crashes.
5. I secretly want to burn Hayden's baby book, just so I don't feel like I need to do one for Abby too.
6. When daddy is not home for dinner, I pray Hayden tells me he wants canned pasta for supper...COLD!
7. I have let him have nothing but fudgicles for breakfast! 
8. I did not go watch Hayden play ONE SINGLE game of soccer this year!

I am sure there are a TON more reasons, but these are the top ones!

Blog Love

I admit....I am addicted to blogs.  It wasn't until I checked out a blog that belonged to one of my friends that I even knew what a blog was...but after that, there was no going back.  I even hopped aboard the blog train and started my very own.  I love everything about blogs....writing them, reading them, their different templates, finding out people read mine.  I have about 6 - 7 blogs that I follow on a regular basis and I find myself constantly checking to see if they have been updated...and when I say constantly....I mean, at least every hour!  How you ask, do I get to do that when I work 4 days a week?  Work has Internet....and to be totally honest, I don't check it as often when I am not at work because I can't get away from the kids to do so and I am not fancy enough to have it go right to my phone.  I would be in so much trouble if I did. 

I even find myself checking out blogs of strangers and sometimes getting caught up in their lives.

There is a blog for get about anything.  For a long time, I was always on the prowl for new crafting blogs, they would keep my interest for hours.

But I have just started following one that I LOVE!!!! 

The library was having a bake sale, and I like to find new things to try that will make people drool and demand to know where I got the recipe.  I remembered that one of my other blog-owning friends mentioned some awesome fudge-related recipe (need I say more?) and I thought I would follow the link to the blog.

OMG!!!

I wish I had checked it out sooner!!

http://confessionsofacookbookqueen.com/

YOU MUST CHECK IT OUT!

Not only does all the food, rather I mean desserts, look awesome and fairly easy to make, the woman is HILARIOUS!!  Or maybe it's just me who thinks so.  I am now trying to catch up on pages of blog posts and am on page 22 right now!  I can relate to so many things she writes about...I feel like she is writing about me some days!

So, now I am blog addicted to hers and spend WAY too many work hours reading it!  Do I feel guilty about that?  Nope, not really...I'm too busy laughing to concern myself.

So, I have made plans to re-create a few of the recipes for the bake sale.  I'll blog with pictures and how I made out, but if they look SUPER yummy and you demand you MUST have the recipe, I'm going to link you back to her site...because I think EVERYONE should read it...EVERYDAY...just like me....just so I don't feel like a stalker!  ALONE!

Nair Away That Hair!

I forgot....I LOVE NAIR!!!

We bought some a couple years ago for Brian.

OK, let me explain....Brian shaves his head and I actually haven't seen him with a bit of hair in the 8 years we have been together.  At some point, he decided that instead of shaving his head, he would Nair it.  So, we bought the type for coarse hair and slathered it on!!  Problem was....we were living at our old house and didn't have a shower...just a tub.  Why would that be a problem you ask?  Well, Brian was afraid to get into the tub and just wash it off in fear that the residue in the water would remove ALL of his body hair!  I was only joking when I told him it would!

Anyway, we washed it off in the sink and it didn't have the desired effects.  So, for anyone who has used it, knows it's expensive stuff!  Not to see it go to waste and the fact that I HATE shaving my legs, I decided to give it a whirl!  I LOVED IT!!!!  Easy peasy!  Longer lasting then a razor shave.

It got packed up when we moved, shoved into the back of a cupboard and totally forgotten about until I was going through the cupboard this week.  BINGO!!! I mean, my husband is coming home....should probably shave those puppies!  I wasn't sure if the active ingredient would still be "active" but it didn't let me down.  Now, that is the way to shave...slather the cream on and sit and watch TV for 10 minutes.

Then, I got thinking....have you ever read the warnings on the back of these products....this is part of the warning on the back of the nair bottle:

"Do not use around eyes, in nose, in ears, on breast nipples, perianal or vaginal/genital areas."

I always laugh and wonder why they need to use these warnings...should common sense not dictate that warning itself?

This is how I imagine the conversation in the head of the person responsible for the warnings.

"Wow, that worked great on my legs...hmmm...Nair removes hair....and I have hair down there...so, let's put Nair down there and make it bare!"

Sorry folks, hope I didn't offend anyone who actually had that thought process...I was just impressed with my wee little "ditty".

Anyway....if you haven't Naired away the Hair...give it a shot!

That Was Just Plain Ol' Cheesy!!!

OK, well as anyone who reads my blog knows...I have been a "single mom" for the past week.  One of the problems I face when alone with the kids, is cooking meals!  My kids are picky (some are gasping...what?!?!  YOUR kids picky?  Wonder where they get THAT from!)  They won't eat most of what I make, and Hayden would be happy with grilled cheese or spider man shaped canned pasta...Abby eats yogurt, cheese and some sort of bread product.  So, I haven't really cooked and just focused on simple.  On my way home from work today, I was CRAVING Kraft Dinner and hot dogs.  I KNOW!!  Not the best, but I always have a box in the cupboard for when the mood strikes.  (My kids won't eat it, btw!)

Everything is all ready, time to add the cheesy goodness!  You all know what I am talking about...that 1 package of cheese powder that ALWAYS leaves you wishing it was just a tad bit bigger.  As per usual, I grab the package by the top and give it a few good hard shakes to move the powder to the bottom! 

POOF!!!


THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE PACKAGE!!!


CHEESE POWDER EVERYWHERE!!! 

It was in my face, my hair, my shirt, the counter and stove.  Thankfully, there was still enough for the KD! 

**Special tip to increase the cheesy goodness....add a good spoonful of Cheese Whiz!** 
(Learned that golden  tip from my mama!)

It was VERY yummy by the way!

As if I didn't have enough on my plate for the night...the library is having a bake sale for the month of July to raise money for new books for the children's department.  I had purchased all the ingredients to make Rice Krispie squares.  Usually the kids are in bed by 7.  Hayden had soccer, so his night was a bit later.  My devil child however had completely different plans for the evening.  By 8:15, she was still in bed, just bawling!  Cried so hard that she puked!  Now, I have about 1, 000, 000 things to do AND make bake sale treats!

The over-achiever I am, can't just make simple squares...OK, well I made simple squares but it's all about presentation.  I wrapped them all in cling wrap, then fancy cellophane and then they looked a little blah still, so I found some ribbon in my stash o' crap, fancied up some little tags and tied them on.

VOILA!  IRRESISTIBLE!!