Disney - Day 1 (Jan 18)

So we departed Ottawa at the reasonable time of 11:30AM - I had the weekend to prepare, so it was surprisingly calm and relaxed.

We're onboard:




Flight was amazing, the girls travelled really well.

We arrived and were greeted by Disney's Magical Express Bus, and by about 4:30, we were checking out our room:











And the view...



We freshened up, then immediately got ready to head to Downtown Disney where we had dinner reservations at Planet Hollywood...

waiting for the bus:


downtown disney:





all tuckered out, heading home:


Next morning, it was kind of cool, and foggy:


breakfast at Jambo:







Perspective, see how big the Ostrich is?

I love Rosie Cheeks

coming in from helping daddy shovel outside:

Remember the Wizard of Oz?

Apparently, it's as captivating now as it was waaaayyy back then :)

And now she's upset....

....because Luigi keeps falling into the "barf."

Seriously, I don't make this up.

The "Friend of the Day"

Peyton's just returned from school grinning ear to ear and told me that she was the "friend of the day" today. Apparently, she waited ALL December to be called, so it was a relief to hear her name today.




Friend of the day means:

- she gets to do "straws" - count how many days they have been at school since September (68, FTR)
- she got to stand by the teacher while they had snack
- she got to say the prayer
- she was the first to line up when it was time to leave.

Exciting day :)

Brag Post

...well, I mention it often - Peyton is a fabulous reader - she's passionate about it (just like her mom :) Here she is reading a letter Santa sent her at school:


The "hooting and hollering" in the background you hear are Peyton's crazy sisters playing in the bathtub:

Our Holidays

We've had a good couple of weeks - slow and relaxing, but that's all good! We spent Christmas Eve at Deb's as we have in past years. The kids played, the dogs (and Rico) wrestled, we ate yummy cheese, meats, and wonderful other appetizers, then we headed back home (I believe) around 9PM - Paul + I were exhausted and we knew we still had a fair bit to do before going to bed. Though the kids fell asleep on the way home, Leah + Peyton awoke and insisted on helping Paul set out the milk, cookies, carrots and other reindeer food while I took Paige up and tucked her into bed. Once the other two were settled and Santa had come and gone, and Paul had finished (pre) making the french toast, we finally collapsed in bed. I was the first to wake on Christmas morning at about 6:30AM. I had a quick shower and when I got out I could hear that the twins had climbed into bed with Paul. Thankfully, they hadn't clued in that it was Chrismas, so they weren't anxious to come downstairs. I quickly got dressed then popped downstairs to take some pics before the mayhem broke out:




So the big gift from Santa this year is a trip in January to Disneyworld - we tried to think of the most creative way to let them know, but in the end we figured that it is Christmas, and Christmas to kids is more about receiving presents/toys - so Santa brought a bunch of disney/princess themed gifts (jammies, figurines, treasure boxes, even candies.) Santa wrote a letter to the kids telling them about the trip, and also made a countdown calendar, but when the kids came down, they didn't have a lot of interest in either the letter or calendar (as expected, I suppose.) So once they opened all their Santa gifts, and Peyton noticed the big yellow board on the floor, we sat down and read the letter together (CLICK PLAY BELOW):




Paul's parents, along with Deb, Gary, Shane + Tristan all arrived promptly at 9AM, and then the kids opened the rest of the gifts...as in past years, I simply don't have a lot of photos because I was helping the kids open their gifts, while Paul's mom was on wrapping paper cleanup and Paul was alternating making breakfast with snapping photos here and there.










After the kids opened their gifts, we sat down to enjoy a massive, fabulous breakfast. Then every adult in the household spent about an hour opening up the plastic packaging on the kids gift (NOTE - next year we WILL own those special scissors that easily cut through packaging.)
Paul's parents headed home, and Tanya popped in for a visit. The boys went downstairs to play Shane's XBOX (not entirely sure what game, but at one point Gary was "bleeding out." Nice, Christmas game, surely.) I put the kids down for a nap, then Deb + I attempted to watch YEAR 1 while Peyton played on her new DS and Tristan messed around with her new laptop. (movie not recommended, by the way.) The movie couldn't compete with Tristan's built in webcam - which had us laughing until we were crying as we morphed our heads and changed out voice tones/accents, etc.
Paul barbequed our dinner (souvlaki) then Deb, Gary + the kids headed home around 8PM - it was a great, though long, day.

Boxing day was exactly that - the decoration boxes came out and the tree came down - it felt so good to reclaim the area!! What was a disasterous space 24 hours earlier was now tidied, put away, vacuumed...so nice. Paul popped out to buy his club at golf town, but other than that and a license for office for the new laptop (future shop) we didn't do any shopping on boxing day (unheard of for me!!)

We were originally supposed to go to Paul's parents for Christmas dinner on Boxing Day, but a glance at the forecast earlier in the week indicated that the 26th was going to be crappy, and so the dinner was postponed to Sunday night. Which worked out really well, as after a busy hectic Christmas, we had a quiet day to wrap up and relax. And yes, the weather did hit as expected. Rain all day, that turned to freezing rain, that resulted in an overnight 2 hour blackout Saturday night...which meant I got to sleep with Peyton and Paul got Casey :)

Sunday we headed over to Paul's parents house, and had a traditional Christmas meal with Betty Anne + Ken in attendance, as well as Erin, Peter and 2 year old Nolan. And his very popular recycling truck.

Before heading out: (wearing outfits that Laurie + Jenna picked out a couple of weeks earlier)



Monday, we along with Rich went to the new theatre that just opened up out here to see the Princess + the Frog (it was fabulous, by the way.) Then Peyton and I headed to St. Laurent because she had decided to finally get her ears pierced. Of course I forgot that Monday was still a stat holiday, so the mall was a zoo and we had to return on Tuesday to get someone to pierce her ears:



Monday night I got out with Tanya + De - we went to see New Moon (finally.)

Tuesday I shopped until I dropped...first with Peyton in the morning, then I dropped her off to meet Paul at his parents house (he took the girls for a tour of the airport) and I hit the shopping again.

Wednesday I played Peyton's DS...like, all day (oops.)

Thursday (NYE) was really quiet - we just chilled all day (and night.) I did stay up and see the ball drop :)

Yesterday I got in a purging mood, and Purge.We.Did. I threw out a pile of broken toys, I've got three black garbage bags of toys in the living room that will head out to the food cupboard, we packed up and put away a billion little people and their homes/garages/farms...etc. It felt so good and everything is so nice and organized...for now.

Today Peyton's hockey started again...I just did housework for most of the day while Paul worked at chipping away all the grout in our shower - while replacing a cracked tile he's decided that all the grout should be replaced at the same time. He's cooking dinner for the kids right now and we'll be heading out in about an hour for an adult evening at Chantal & Colins - I've been so house-bound, it'll be nice to get out and socialize a bit.

Tomorrow Grandma comes back from St. Lucia - it seems like she's been gone forever and we've all definitely missed her. I don't return to work until Tuesday, so a couple more days of holidays for me. :)

Our Christmas Company

My mom has been in lovely St. Lucia since the Sunday before Christmas - she's returning tomorrow. As a result, we've been up one for almost 2 weeks...meet Casey:



Casey will be turning 9 (I think) this year - we got him from a former colleague who had just rescued him from an abusive home. I thought he'd be a good match for mom so got him while she was vacationing in Vegas with Deb. I met her at the airport with him in my lap - she rushed over with this grin and (pretend) angry eyes saying "what did you do??" and it was love/hate at first sight.

For the most part, he's a good dog, but he's got annoying habits as well. He's a snauzer, so by nature a barker. I think mom's biggest complaint about him is that he's insanely destructive; to this day, he gets pissed off when left alone at home and typically takes it out on mom's bedding...he shreds it. My biggest complaint is that he's costing me a fortune in cat food...could it really taste that much better than dog food?

Previous to these past couple of weeks, we took him in when mom went away because we had too - but we were happy to see mom come back because seriously, having him in the house was like having another child....I always had to have an eye on him; otherwise he'd be stealing food from the kids, chewing apart anything paper on the floor, humping the cushions or worse - bed pillows, or sneaking downstairs to pee on the (new) carpet (why casey?)
About 3 Christmas's ago, my mom went to Pheonix for a week and the dog had the pukes/runs for almost the entire time. We later learned that he was reacting to his rabies shot, but at the time I just thought he missed my mom and made himself sick with stress. We also used to have this massive babygate up separating the great room from the rest of the house - it was metal and would "clang" shut. I think the gate scared the crap out of him and whenever he was in the backroom he'd cower on the couch and visibly shudder. He used to also sleep with us, and since he insisted on sleeping horizontally on the bed (and stretching out) it made for some wicked bad nights.

BUT - it seems he's matured (finally!) And I can honestly say that it's been nice having him around these past couple of weeks. Why?

- the kids just adore him...I was about to say especially Leah, but even Paige likes to cozy up to him
- he "does his business" in the backyard...which has been great as the temperature has dipped to below 20 in the past week
- he's been eating his dry food! Yay! So I haven't had to open up and dish out that nasty yucky soft crap
- he's been happily sleeping on Peyton's bed - an arrangement that they've both been happy with
- watching him (think he can) bully the cat has brought us all a bunch of laughter
- when I'm yelling his name and looking for him, he typically will just peek around the couch and look at me like I'm crazy (which is MUCH better than finding him wandering the bedrooms upstairs.)

So he still barks every time the doorbell rings; he still eats the cat food every chance he can; I still do not trust him alone with my pillows/cushions, but aside from that, it's been a nice visit and - dare I say - we just might miss him when he goes back home on Monday :)

My Decade in Review

I heard the local radio station doing this today, so during my commute home, I thought about all that I've done in the past 10 years....lots, really :)

Dec 31, 1999:
- I was living on my own in my first home in Barrhaven
- I had JUST started working at Manta (aka Halogen) software
- I was single ;)
- I was 27 years old
- I, like others, chose to have a quiet night ringing in the year Y2K - I celebrated with my mom

May, 2000
- with a loan from mom, I moved into a funky condo in Kanata Lakes

July, 2000
- on the same day my employer did massive layoffs (I was spared) I received a phone call from High Road offering me employment. I accepted before hearing the salary/benefits (oops) - I left many good friends I had made along the way

December, 2000
- the friends, from above, asked the new kid on the block (Paul) if he would take me to the Christmas party; he agreed to get me in the door and that's it
- party happens, guy was actually nice and I offered to drive him home (ya, he lived in Orleans to my Kanata. ugh)
- next night, he called and asked for a real date...
(it's worth noting here that the evening before this party, I was in Kingston at my own Christmas party where the drinks were flowing nicely - and the entire ride back home the next day, I whined and bitched about how I didn't feel like going out that night.)

Summer, 2001
- Paul introduces me to Heaven on Earth...I fall seriously in love with Port Hood, Cape Breton and vow to come again - over and over.

October, 2001
- We buy a vehicle together (pathfinder)

December, 2001
- after a particularly hairy day at work on a Friday evening at Paul's house, he advises me we'll be decorating the Christmas tree that night.
- I reluctantly agree (was beat from work) and after making a best attempt to make a Charlie Brown tree look good, I finally put the angel up on top...but oh, I didn't fit right because there was a package with a diamond ring shoved up her butt.

- I said yes...of course :)

Spring, 2002
- we decide on a destination wedding, pick a date and get everyone onboard and planning
- I sell my condo in Kanata and move out to Orleans

Summer, 2002
- a visit out to Port Hood again...seriously rethinking our destination choice

January 27, 2003
- we (and 40 of our close friends/family) fly down to Cancun, Mexico

January 30, 2003
- we say "I do!"



February 22, 2003
- we throw a great party (reception) on a night where there was a tremendous snow storm - and almost EVERYONE makes it, despite the weather :)

March 2003
- I seriously surprise Paul when I actually agree to purchase our "forever" home out in the east end

July, 2003
- Paul convinces me to take a home pregnancy test after about a month of listening to me complain about how awful I felt
- I eventually cave, test and OMG - could it be?
- an ultrasound the following week reveals YES! Like, 9 weeks!! (duh!) Estimated Due Date = February 13, 2004

- off to Cape Breton again, but icky this time as I am irritable and barfy.

October 16, 2003
- we move into our home!!

January 31, 2004
- Paul's birthday, and we're at the High Risk Unit at the Civic attempting to get my breach baby to flip; baby doesn't cooperate, c-section is scheduled

February 4, 2004
- IT'S A GIRL - Peyton Maya; 7lbs, 2 oz at 9:10 AM. 10 fingers, 10 toes and we fall desperately in love


November 2004
- Paul is "re-structured" out of Halogen, but bounces quickly and lands a job at Bell

March 2005
- I return to work at HRC

April 2005
- OMG we bought a mini-van

July 2005
- off to Cape Breton again; this time to have Peyton dip her little toes in the ocean for the first time
- we learned that OOPS we did it again: estimated due date = April 12, 2006 (Grandma's birthday!)

August/September 2005
- naseau is awful and crippling....I am irritable and hate everyone/everything.

October 2005
- IPS ultrasound...Paul's words "Pardon fucking me? What do you mean you see two heads? Is this your first day on the job??"

end of January 2006
- Dr. says enough is enough - I'm only 29 weeks but measuring 40, so time to slow down
- c-section is scheduled for end of March

Friday March 17, 2006
- we go out to Boston Pizza with the Gunns, Peyton's climbing on me like I am a play structure, but I feel good.

Saturday March 18, 2006
- I am done. over...finished. Really want this pregnancy over with because I can no longer bend to pick a cheerio up off the floor. My feet look like watermelons (well, apparently, 'cause I can't see them!) , I can't sleep comfortably in any position, the babies are so big that they don't move much anymore and that distresses me more, nothing fits me and I'm living in a pair of ugly jogging pants with no shirt fitting properly over my belly.

Unfortunately, I had to carry for a week and a half later....and lucky me, all they did during those last 10 days was GROW!





March 26, 2006
- IT'S A GIRL - Leah Caitlin; 6lbs, 4oz at around 11:00 AM.


- IT'S A GIRL - Paige Emily; 5lbs, 14oz about 2 minutes later



- both babes are declared healthy, and we bring them home 3 days later

April 3, 2006
- Calvin the sexy cat is re-homed (and happy, I might add.)

The next 6 - 12 months are a serious blur, but I have a ton of pictures (thank God.)
And we all, thankfully, survived.

September 2006
- despite me tearfully standing at the door saying - "are we absolutely sure about this??" - Paul pays a visit to Dr. Weiss.

April 2007
- I return to work, 4 days a week at HRC

October/November 2007
- I accept a new job at VTH and resign from HRC
- working full time, again

July/August 2008
- back to Port Hood again and this time the twins get to dip their toes in the ocean for the first time (and sadly, this is our last time going out east - though we will go back again one day)

November 2008
- Paul and I spend our first 4 day weekend away from the kids...was okay until the last day, and then maybe there were some tears :)


Summer 2009
- we rent a cottage in Georgian Bay and learn that there *is* indeed life after Port Hood.

...which brings us to the present.

In December 2009:
- I've just turned 37, Paul's approaching 40, Peyton will be 6, and the twins are 3.5
- Paul's still at Bell; I'm at VTH and Peyton's in SK. The twins will be starting school next September
- We still have a wonderful network of very caring and selfless friends, neighbours and family
- Life is...slowing down, thankfully, as the kids mature and become a bit more independant
- We're planning a New Year's Eve of staying in and doing nothing!! Doesn't that sound fab? It does to me
- We're in the final stages of planning our first Disney Trip, in January (Shhhh, it's a secret and the girls will find out Christmas day!)

Leah & Paige turn THREE

Unbelievable, but true - they've left the terrible twos and moved on to the rotten threes!
Here are some pics of the celebration(s):

First, with Rich & De - a couple of weeks ago. De made them each their own cake - beautiful & taste (she was practising working with fondant for Colin's boob cake, but that's another story.)


Then we had their "main" party yesterday: