I am still off for the summer but......

I can't remember if I updated that little baby Shea lost his battle with EB and died in July. How terrible and unfair and sad.
His parents held a funeral for him and put together this slide show. Warning it is very sad and took me 3 tries to get through the whole thing.


http://youtu.be/WplTWadKyq0


Lots of love for Christy and Brynn - my heart goes out to you

So sunburnt

Spent the weekend watching my oldest (J) play baseball. I applied the normal SPF 45 to all exposed parts of my skin and headed off to the park with my hair down. When I got there I put my hair up in a pony tail - hot and humid means no hair down - but forgot to apply sun screen to the area of my back that the hair covers. The result? BURNT . Ouch!
And then I had to spend the entire next day out in the full blazing sun with an already tended back. Double ouch


bring on the aloe vera

words are funny

The word "solemn" always throws me. It never looks like how I think it is supposed to be spelled.

sol·emn

adjective \ˈsä-ləm\

: very serious or formal in manner, behavior, or expression

: sad and serious

: done or made sincerely

Origin of SOLEMN

Middle English solempne, from Anglo-French, from Latinsollemnis regularly appointed, solemn

First Known Use: 14th century

other words I enjoy

Traverse

¹tra·verse

 noun \ˈtra-vərs also -ˌvərs, especially for 6 & 8 also trə-ˈ or tra-ˈ\

Definition of TRAVERSE

1

:  something that crosses or lies across

2

:  obstacle, adversity

3

:  a formal denial of a matter of fact alleged by the opposing party in a legal pleading

4

a :  a compartment or recess formed by a partition, curtain, or screen

b :  a gallery or loft providing access from one side to another in a large building

5

:  a route or way across or over: as

a :  a zigzag course of a sailing ship with contrary winds

b :  a curving or zigzag way up a steep grade

c :  the course followed in traversing

6

:  the act or an instance of traversing :  crossing

7

:  a protective projecting wall or bank of earth in a trench

8

a :  a lateral movement (as of the saddle of a lathe carriage);also :  a device for imparting such movement

b :  the lateral movement of a gun about a pivot or on a carriage to change direction of fire

9

:  a line surveyed across a plot of ground

 See traverse defined for kids »

Origin of TRAVERSE

Middle English travers, from Anglo-French travers (as in a travers, de travers across), from Latin transversum (as inin transversum set crosswise), neuter of transversus lying across; senses 5–9 in part from ²traverse — more attransverse

First Known Use: 14th century

Crevasse

cre·vasse

 noun \kri-ˈvas\

: a deep, narrow opening or crack in an area of thick ice or rock

Full Definition of CREVASSE

1

:  a breach in a levee

2

:  a deep crevice or fissure (as in a glacier or the earth)

 See crevasse defined for English-language learners »

See crevasse defined for kids »

Origin of CREVASSE

French, from Old French crevace

First Known Use: 1813

How true is this?

Both have happened to me in life but not #2 for a while. I have learned since having children that they get up at 7am in the morning no matter when you go to bed........

Scrap book challenge

This is for a challenge with Creative Scrappers. (so if you don't scrapbook you can ignore). I saw the sketch and new I had the perfect picture of Honey.

Enjoy

The Oatmeal

The comic writer the Oatmeal may be the funniest guy ever.
Check his web site out (I am seriously thinking of buying a t-shirt)

http://theoatmeal.com/

June - Bane of my exsistence

June - it used to just be just another month on the calendar pre kids.

Now it is a non stop flat out run kind of month. We've got baseball 3 days a week and tons of fun end of the year stuff planned. At least the weather is good right????

Where we live the teachers are voting to go on strike which means that we have to stuff 3 weeks worth of school stuff into 4 days. The kids are excited about the strike but I wonder how excited J will be when he has to come to work with me for the next 3 weeks??
Ack

Dear kitten

http://sfglobe.com/?id=939&src=share_fb_new_939



So cute  - the monster known as Vacuum

Pregnancy funnies

I will never be pregnant again (this is my solemn vow) but a friend posted this link on her Facebook page and it made me laugh. Enjoy

http://m.humorsharing.com/funny-pregnancy-tips/4518/pic-0

salty, salty tears

my husbands co workers all know about my fear of sharks so his buddy texted this to him the other day to show me. I am afraid I will disagree. Sharks want to maim and kill.

Texts from the dog

The funny things people email you

This is from my brother

Cuppa tea with your girls is JUST what the dr ordered

my life is hectic - really really busy - this is something everyone can identify with - busy kids, busy mom right?

This week I was lucky enough to have 2 separate tea dates with girl friends. Both much needed to help calm me and focus me on what is turning out to be a busy busy week.

Thanks ladies - I appreciate the laughs and the time we spend together - laughing with you keeps me sane!!!

Yellow and black insects

I found out I was allergic (deathly) to yellow and black striped insects the summer I was 28. I had asked my husband to fill the hole near the hose nozzle that these insects live in. He didn't and one night when I went to turn off the hose the little pecker heads stung me.
What happened next was comical (after it stopped being scary). I started to itch and swell. I managed to get my rings off and then proceeded to scratch the hives that started to cover my body. I said that I felt like I was swelling up and my husband said he couldn't tell (thanks a lot asshole) but we proceeded to the walk in clinic just in case. Before you ask me why the walk in clinic and not the ER I will just say we lived in a community where you could probably die waiting to see someone in the ER and I had never had an allergic reaction so how was I supposed to know they were so dangerous? Anyway by the time I made it to the walk in clinic my eyes were swollen shut.. They took one look at me, injected me with an epi pen (funny legs shaking) and sent me off to the hospital. 

Note to self - if possible don't give into the scratching when you are having an allergic reaction - it hurts a lot afterwards and was swollen for days. At the ER I had some steroids and was forced to wait to make sure it didn't happen again. I negotiated myself down 4 hours from the 8 they wanted to keep me and went home to sleep.
It was scary!

For years I thought I was allergic to wasps. Only after allergy testing did I find out that I was in fact allergic to Hornets and Yellow Jacket.

But really  - they all look the same and I carry an epi pen in the summer months just in case


I now have started a series of allergy injections to try and lessen the severity of the reaction but that is a topic for another day

Yellow Jacket



Hornet
 

Flow charts

On my sister's FB page were these funny gems

Chuckles

May the 4th vs being an Anglican

the 4th of May is Star Wars Day

May the 4th be with you



However as an Anglican I automatically want to respond "And also with you".


Not cool - have to force myself not to say it

Weddings

Called a groom back to confirm that we did indeed have pew hangings for his wedding. (They were in the nicely labeled place they should have been). 
He asked what colour they were.

I said "white"

He asked "Ivory or actually white"

I said "did you really just ask me if the pew hangings are ivory or white, that is kind of a getting married in less than 24 hours crazy kind of question."

Yup, yup he sure did.

So now the bride is coming to look at them to make sure she likes them. 

No offense guys but probably should not have left it to the last week......

Fartlek

Is a running/training term that makes me giggle like a 10 year old boy

Wikipedia describes it as this:

Fartlek, which means "speed play" in Swedish, is a training method that blends continuous training with interval training.^[1] The variable intensity and continuous nature of the exercise places stress on both the aerobic and anaerobic systems. It differs from traditional interval training in that it is unstructured; intensity and/or speed varies, as the athlete wishes.^[2][3] Most fartlek sessions last a minimum of 45 minutes and can vary from aerobic walking to anaerobic sprinting. Fartlek training is generally associated with running, but can include almost any kind of exercise.

It is supposed to help you increase speed and endurance. I think I may need to incorporate this into my runs.

 

10k race

On the advice you guys gave me (oh yeah Ry-Ann it was totally you), I signed up for the local road race in the 10k category. Many, Many times I wanted to back out and run my safe 5k but I stuck with it.

The day of the race dawned and I was nervous - tummy flutters. The boys ran the kids 1k race and I was at the finish line to cheer them on (and was also very proud). Pretty soon it was my turn to go. I started off slow, which in a race situation is hard to do - the crowds energize you and you want to start off flying. But then you get winded and it is all over. I forced myself to set a comfortable pace (I actually ran behind a girl who was pretty close to my shape for almost 5k). I lost the girl at the half way point as she started to slow down and I kept going.

At the 8k point my legs started to hurt but by then I was so close I just kept going - up a slight incline (owwwwwwwww)

I must have been fast because the boys were waiting at the finish line and they totally missed me. Once I was done I had to go looking for them.

I had set a public goal of under 1 hr 10 min and a private secret goal of 1 hour 6 min .

Well guess what people - I did it in 1 hour 3 min and 31 seconds. 

Holy crappola!!!! I am on fire! That might actually be a personal best.....

 

I am embarrassed to admit

I am embarrassed to admit that I don't know my sisters LIVE IN boyfriend's last name. They live together, I've met him and like him a lot but I have no idea what his last name is. AND they have been together a year or more.

awkward.

I am hoping she'll read this and tell me

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad

annnnnnnnnd

Happy Pinch Bum Day!

My grandfather invented this special day. He used to say the 1rst of May is Pinch Bum Day. He'd sneak up to my grandma and goose her and we would all shriek with laughter. (in our defense we were little and it was hilarious)

Why you would ever get married on such a day as that I have no idea but my parents decided it would be as good a day as any.


Go out and goose someone you love

I admit it - I don't underdstand

Gas prices

So I watched this video

http://video.ca.msn.com/watch/video/gas-price-doesn-t-make-sense/16a2uggil?from=HP12_CBC

and what I got from it was that we don't have the facilities to refine our own product so it costs us more? Is that what you got from it?

Old guy funny

My dad sent me this Pickles comic and it is totally him!
He is the only person I know who can shower in under 3 minutes.




wait for it - at the bottom


































 

I like peep a lot but this sounds a little gross

Kicking off the season with is Marshmallow Peep-Infused Vodka recipe by Bakingbites the perfect cocktail to celebrate Easter! After making this, try making some Peep Vodka Lemon Drops with the Peep-Infused Vodka!

Directions: Place about 30 Peeps into a large jar. Fill with vodka. Allow Peeps to marinate in the vodka in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Vodka can be used as-is, or Peep remnants can be removed by straining vodka through a coffee filter.

 

 

Credit -  http://keitochansays.com/2014/03/28/marshmallow-peep-infused-vodka/

Easter Peeps - Yoga

Easter peep funnies - Star Trek

Finally I did something crafty

Feel free to ignore this post if you are not a scrap booker. 

But if you are curious this is what I used (which looks like an amazing list but really is just left over scraps I had of this and that)

Background paper - Simple Stories - Summer Fresh - Denim grid
Cards - Simple Stories - Summer Fresh - flash cards
Green card stock - Bazzill Basic Guacamole
White Pen - Gelly Roll - white
Bingo Card & Striped paper - Simple Stories
Brads - My Minds Eye - Collectable - Jen Allyson
Wood Camera Veneers - Studio Calico
Chip board banner - Hey you! Basic Grey
Date Tag - Elle's Studio - June 2013 kit
Thick Cork arrow - stash
Title Stickers - Thickers - Dear Lizzy & American Crafts - fancy
Thin cork arrow - American Crafts - DIY shop

Baby Shea

I haven't updated anyone about baby Shea in a while - I have been reading their blog posts regularly and have watched with joy as they were able to return home. Recently Shea got an infection that prompted them to have to return to Vancouver for medical treatment. 
This is from their blog. 

If you don't follow them it is worth checking out once and a while

http://www.loveforshea.com/

Shea Update

 

The last week and a half have been a complete blur.  Shea has returned to his feisty self and we have had a couple of days to catch our breath.  It is hard to describe what that moment feels like.  Not the one when the doctor tells you that your child is critically ill – at that point “medical Bryn” was front and center.  The moment I am thinking of comes days later, after Shea had significantly recovered and we were transferred back to Canuck Place from the hospital for respite.  It is in a simple conversation when the nurse practitioner who tells you that the conversation during the flight down was an part to decide if we were going to be admitted to Children’s or transferred directly to Canuck place for palliative care.  That moment will take all of the wind out of lungs and drop your heart, the point when you realize how close things came.  Thankfully Shea quickly responded to the antibiotics and Christy, Shea and I were able to come out of this experience relatively unscathed.

Sitting down with the Canuck place team after the dust had settled allowed us to get some clarity on how we will handle future infections.  Some things are relatively simple – setting up a suitcase in advance with a week’s supply of dressing changes, Shea friendly blankets, and bottles.  We are also educating ourselves as to services available such as requesting ultrasound guided IV’s when doctors request sterile blood samples and insuring that the team here remains in close communication with our team in Vancouver.

Christy and I are doing our best to figure out life outside of Canuck Place and the hospital but with Shea leading at least we have a shot. It’s been a couple of stressful weeks to be sure, however, we are grateful to be home and loving every smile we receive.

From our little family to yours

Bryn, Christy, and Shea

Lent is ALMOST OVER

I have cheated a few times (4) during Lent and had something to eat after 7pm. Punishment for this infraction is a $5 donation per offense to a charity. Looking like Primates World Relief Fund is going to get at least 20 this Lent season.......

https://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?charityID=s50860

I have also tried not to raise my voice at the children (unless they are in danger). That didn't go as well..... no dollar value can be put on that. 

Funny work typo

Ahhhhhh work typos

In the Anglican church there is a common refrain - it goes "through Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit" etc,

Well on a massive bulletin for Palm Sunday (included a Baptism AND a Confirmation service), I typed "Jesus Christ who LIES and reigns"

Oh man - thankfully it was caught before it went to print...........

Embarrassed and amused

I am an 80 year old at heart

We had a funeral at work the other day (I do work at a church so they happen from time to time). The deceased was a nice 93 year old man who had kids, grand kids and 19 great grand kids. 
His family picked the hymns that he loved and I have to say they are the same ones I love! With the exception of the Christmas hymns that I am going to make everyone sing at my funeral this man and I have the same favorite hymns......

I KNEW I was an 80 person inside.

Here is a you tube clip of it

http://youtu.be/Ge2N7iCG3rA


Now at my funeral I want this hymn sung and I want it sung JUST like it is in the You Tube clip - by a HUGE English Choir. No pressure people, no pressure

http://youtu.be/LDPwNPAV6tA

No Amazing gracing though - too sad.

wellllllllll

Had a little break - every thing else caught up with me and I have been busy.

But I am going to try harder.

In the mean time enjoy a little Easter laugh

Birds............

Spring has sprung which means the return of the cheerful little song birds. Over the winter I had forgotten how they like to chatter to each other.

The problem is they chatter to each other at 5:15am.  Singing their cheerful little good morning songs. I don't find them cheerful that early in the morning and I sort of want to shoot them.

Things that make Canadians laugh

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/03/14/rick-mercer-warm-weather_n_4966854.html

Cloudy with a chance of making stuff up

I feel Winter coming to an end

ahhhhhhh feel that?
Spring is coming - the snow is gone and I've seen birds out and about.........
The city we live in is a desert so we don't get a lot of actual winter unlike the city we used to live in where it is still in the -'s and they have lots of snow.

This will be Easter in the place we used to live

 

The things we do for the ones we love

I am afraid of heights. 
Even watching people on TV and movies dangle from heights makes my palms sweat. I am truly not a risk taker or and adventure seeker. You should see me when we go up on the chair lift during ski season - no one is allowed to move and the littles are not allowed to sit too close to the edge. I get REALLY nervous. Even worse is the ski lift in the summer! Every year we venture to the top to hike around and look at the pretty mountain wild flowers. 2 summers ago we went down the lift - which was the worst thing I have done in a long time - you can see just how high up you are and how far you have to go.... shudder. So last summer I made the boys hike down. Even though it was straight downhill for over an hour and my knees were aching it was 100 times better than going back down the chair lift.

Where am I going with this?

2 weeks ago on Spring Break we went to visit my parents. My mom had some passes for a local tree top adventure/zipline that she bought at a charity dinner. Older son J had done the kids course last summer with his cousins and had a blast. He was keen to try it again this Spring. Me not so much. My husband likes the outdoors and is an adventure loving kind of guy and was quite interested in trying it out. I tried to come up with a couple of excuses as to why we shouldn't do it but in the end I booked it for us because I knew how much he'd love it.

We got suited up in our harnesses, went though a low lying test course and passed out safety test. Off to the big trees we went. First obstacle in I froze - logs swinging independently of each other. OMG get me OFF this thing. The nice guy talked me through this one and gave me some tips and then I was off. 

A few scary moments when I was 50 feet off the ground on a ladder that was offset steps and no supports. Deep breaths, don't look down. My husband said I was so fast he could not keep up with me. Little tip - the faster you are the faster you can get back on the safe, safe ground.

In the end we did the green and the blue course and passed on the red and black courses (think rop swing into a spider net - no thank you) and I lived to tell about it. Do I want to do it again? No. But I would do it before I bungee jumped or ski dived......

 

This one was ok - there was a net

The rest not so much

 

Are 4 year olds sociopaths?

so·ci·o·path

ˈsōsēōˌpaTH/

noun

noun: sociopath; plural noun: sociopaths

1.

a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience

My youngest is 4 and I am bit worried he is a sociopath. He had an incident at  daycare last week where he pushed his best friend from the top of the play ground structure (6 feet in the air). The kid had to go to the hospital and have 2 stitches in his face. OMG 
From all accounts it was an accident and H did feel bad about it but still HOLY SHIT HE SENT A KID TO THE HOSPITAL and he is 4!

What is the proper procedure for this?

We talked about how hurting your friend was a bad thing and not to do it again. I also grounded him from TV for 4 days. I feel awful (worst parent ever?) and I am almost positive this kids mom works at the preschool we also go to. Can you say AWKWARD?

What does LOVE look like?

Listening to kids discuss what "Love looks like" on the radio.

 So I asked my youngest H what he thought love looked liked for him. He said "nuthin" then "oh look there is a garbage truck"

My oldest J said "snuggles with you.......and cookies"

much better answer

Still grumpy from the time change

And this made me smile

Piano tuning day

I got a call at work the other day from the piano tuner asking if it was ok to come in a tune our piano. In the last church I worked in the office was quite a distance from the piano so I had never actually hear the piano being tuned. So I told they guy "Sure, come on down"

HUGE MISTAKE. I had no idea he was going to be so loud AND play the same key for what seemed like 3 hours. ahhhhhhhhhh pounding my head against my desk. Please NO more!!! The lower octaves were ok but once we reached the higher octaves I had to go home.

Lent

Why Do Catholics (and non Catholics) give things up for Lent?

"Ask nearly anyone who grew up Catholic what they’re doing for Lent, and they’ll probably tell you what they’re “giving up.” The notion of giving up some pleasure for the 40 days of Lent is very much in keeping with the penitential character of the season.
Of course, the primary pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. All of these are intended to turn our hearts back to God, to purify us, and prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection at Easter. One of the things that the whole Church gives up for Lent is the acclamation “Alleluia” before the proclamation of the Gospel."  http://www.foryourmarriage.org/why-do-catholics-give-things-up-for-lent/

For Lent I always do 2 things. I do one thing to make myself a better person (ie give up a bad habit I may have), and giving up something I really enjoy. The punishment is always financial with the proceeds going to charity.

In past years I have  stopped swearing, stopped snapping at my husband (and vice versa), given up chocolate (that was AWFUL) and given up diet pop.

This year I decided that I would not raise my voice at the children for 40 days. The only time it is acceptable to do so during this time is if their life is in danger. My son ran away from me in the parking lot today and that equaled a free yell. Sheesh! 

I also gave up eating after 7pm. No nightly snacks for me. This is something that I had no idea I enjoyed as much as I do.

That is NO big deal you say to yourself. That one is easssssssy. WRONG people. It is so hard AND my husband keeps making popcorn at 7:30pm at night. I am DYING here. Also I have been late to work 4 times since the start of Lent. How is that for not raising your voice at the children????

Sigh - Easter is soooooooooooooooo far away

This is EVERY cat (but we still love them)

Time change

ahhhhhhhh the time change.

It actually takes my little people a couple of weeks to adjust to the time change. You get a lot of  "why am I going to bed when it is still light out" etc. and trying to convince them to go to bed at 7:30pm which is really 6:30pm etc. 

My boss had a funny moment last week when she sent out an email advising people to set their clocks back to avoid being late for church. No fewer than 15 emails pointed out that she should have said to set the clocks ahead (spring ahead, fall behind)

She felt so bad but found this amusing nugget to prove that the confusion with the time change is universal.

enjoy

Daylight Savings Time, If I Forget To Change My Clock Will I Be early or late for church in Spring?

http://youtu.be/dFowYsXYw90

 

Where have you been?

Watching curling - the Brier to be specific. You can watch 3 games a day!! The players at this level are very impressive and it is fun to watch.

I spent most of the week completely engrossed in the games. The final was on Sunday between Alberta and BC. Sadly BC didn't win...... 

Ah well - we'll get them next time!

Look I am not the only one

Or this one

Toddler pools - Is no where safe?

See I TOLD you they exist

Pool shark shows no mercy.

When I was a little kid I was afraid to swim in pools that were half covered by the pool cover or pools that were really dark. I was always afraid that there was a shark in the pool. I realize that sharks live in salt water and that the pools I swam in were pbvioulsy not salt water pools but I was still afraid. 

I now see that I had ever reason to be wary.........