Remember When?

My mother's brother, Joe, sent our family a gift after my youngest brother, Jon, was born (summer of 1981). A puppy. Just what my mother needed after having her 6th child (she cried). "Tawnie" is what our family voted to name her (because of her coloring). She was a dog superior to all others in the neighborhood.

I don't want my siblings to feel bad or anything, but I was her favorite...I could see it in her eyes (they all probably saw the same thing in those beautiful eyes). Tawnie loved me. I took great pride in her...after all she was beautiful and lovable. Even the vet loved her.

She and the vet became quite close after she got hit by a car (I will never forget my brother Geoff holding her and crying after it happened) and then later hit by a delivery truck (she had a metal pin in her leg and walked with a limp for the rest of her life). Now, I didn't say she was street smart, but she was people smart. She protected our home from some delinquent teenagers when they tried to break in. That's right. She was tough!

Tawnie was thoughtful of others. Later in life, when my brothers were in their rabbit faze, she was known to let rabbits (she could sense their boredom) out of cages and have wild games of tag! She also looked after orphaned bunnies and mothered them. She was patient. She was selfless. She let us dress her up when she clearly thought it was beneath her. She was the family garbage disposal. She was a soft place to rest your head after a bad day at school. I miss you girl.

A Few Things That Make Me Happy

PBS' "Masterpiece Theater" is airing the stories of Jane Austen. I just watched "Persuasion" and loved it. I have read the book a couple times and it is a great read...I really liked the movie rendition. "Northanger Abbey" is going to be on (I believe) next week. This is a lesser known Jane Austen book, but entertaining. Hopefully the movie will live up to the book. ANYTHING by Jane is fun!


I did 6 loads of laundry today. Typical. One of my favorite products, that is helping me in my battle, has changed the way I do laundry. I love Shout Color Catchers...thank you Angela for telling me about them!

Remember When?

So, to make this blog somewhat useful (at least for me), I will be sharing something (a memory...a thought...who knows what!) about my younger self. So that, when memory fails, and it is failing, my kids will understand why their mother is so CRAZY! I should apologize before we begin for the many run on sentences and horrible grammar. Unfortunately my memory is one long run on sentence!

5th Grade - Mrs. Olson - Cherry Hill Elementary School (Mission, B.C.)

Fifth grade was the beginning of the end for my hair. Not only did my mom finally relent and cut me some bangs (a decision that many people would later regret), but this was the last picture I have where my mom did my hair...everything after this was a crap shoot...literally...a crappy photo shoot.

During 5th grade I was coming to terms with being a girl. Sure, I still loved to catch frogs and caterpillars [my brothers and sisters and I caught tons of caterpillars in the cherry tree out front and then had little caterpillar "circuses" (complete with ramps and obstacle courses) until one day when they all disappeared...hmm...Mom?] and I was delighted when my best friend, Carla, found a newt on the way to school, but it was the beginning of my lifelong love for "Anne of Green Gables" and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers". What could be more girly than that?

I started babysitting in 5th grade. My sister, Natalie, and I babysat for a family with 3 kids (2 toddlers and a baby). One Saturday we watched the kids for 10 hours and earned $15! Wow! We were raking it in. What is that...like 75 cents, each, an hour? I was 10 years old and Natalie was 9! What were the parents thinking?

So until next time...

My House Stinks...

like burnt sugar! Apparently this is what happens when your seven year old (Chef Minnie) makes "Dinosaur" oatmeal in the microwave without adding water.

A Goal For the Family

Tonight during FHE we decided to talk about goals. We talked about making realistic goals (we brought this up after Sunny, age 5, said she was going to clean the house every day by herself...she has a hard time hanging up her towel on a good day). We asked the kids to brainstorm some ideas for a family goal. Sunny's family goal (along with some help from Adam) is the goal we will be focusing on this year...

Try not to shoot people. Anywhere from the waist down is okay. Actually from below your private area down (this was Adam's suggestion). The legs are okay. Not the chest or the head, unless you have body armor on.

This is a goal I think we can meet...seriously. 2008 is going to be a great year!

What's Wrong With This Picture?

These are the socks I wore today. Yes, I was aware (half way putting them on...clearly I am hitting a new level of lazy) that they didn't match. In my defense, my house is cold and my feet were cold and my socks weren't up to the challenge...they are my husband's socks (of course he usually wears the matching sock). To make matters worse....

That's right friends...not only did I wear unmatching husband socks...I wore them with Crocs. I even left the house like this!...an all time low...Stacy and Clinton where are you?

Detox

Happy 2008!

New Year's Celebration in a nutshell:
The baby birds spent New Year's Eve, Day and Day 2 with J's parents (they are the best!). J and I spent the evening with friends (SCUM was played) and food. New Year's day was spent taking down Christmas (it took more than 7 1/2+ hours) to put all the Christmas decorations away...yeah! J and I went out for dinner and then, the wild pair that we are, went to bed at 8:30...so sad. Yesterday, I went downtown and met J for lunch...then instead of doing the 100+ things I need to get done...I went to a movie by myself (something I don't get to do enough of). The kids have been home for about 20 hours and we are in detox mode...there has been a lot of teeth gnashing, whining and overall despair.

A Resolution:
I will not eat chocolate before 8 am (yes, it has been a problem in the past).
Day 3 and I am going strong!