Sunday, January 18, 2009

Kindergarten

Went to Kindergarten with Matt this week. It was wonderful.

I got to watch him hand out the play dough coloured cookies we brought for snack.

I helped the kids make birdhouses at centre time.

The principal came to the gym and juggled for the class. They loved it!

Then I bleached all the food that the kids play with in the house centre - yes, that was right up my alley and I felt completely at home.

One little boy smiled up at me and said, "I think you are beautiful."

What a great day!!

Okay, I know you've been missing the "Matt quotes" so here you are:

"Mom, how old is Cody?" (Cody is Matt's cousin)

"I think Cody is around 20."

"Or maybe he's 7."

"Actually, Matt, I'm pretty sure that Cody is right in that 20 yr old range."

"Ummm.... or he could be 7."

Sure wish I was 7.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

The Holidays

We had wonderful plans for the holidays this year. Nothing turned out the way we planned.

We were all packed and ready to go see family - the flights were cancelled and we ended up staying put. We didn't even leave the airport, or part with a single suitcase. We didn't even get to check in. Upon our arrival at the check in desk, we were informed that our flights were cancelled and we should turn around and go home.

So, we turned around, went out for breakfast, then proceeded to wander Calgary contemplating some sort of major purchase to try and cheer ourselves up.

Our major purchase turned out to be groceries at Costco. Our Christmas turned out to be just the three of us, and it was wonderful. We had dinner with some angelic friends who heard that we were earthbound, bless their dear hearts.

Funny how things turn out soo very well even when it's not anything at all the way we planned.

My parents came for the week of New Years. We were going to go swimming, to the Zoo, The Festival of Lights, play games...Barry and my dad were going to start framing the basement...all sorts of fun stuff. Barry and I were sick.

Very sick.

Barry rarely got out of bed the whole time they were here. I stumbled off to work (the odd day) and the other days my wonderful dad chauffeured me to the Dr.

I had a sinus infection and Barry had an ear infection. What are the odds?

Instead of doing doing and more doing, we just were. We read, visited, watched a movie, played cards, napped...and just enjoyed being family.

It was one of the most relaxing and wonderful visits we've had. I still feel sorry that my parents had to run the household, but it was sure nice to have them here to look after us.

Thanks guys.

Funny, even though it didn't turn out at all the way we had it planned...it turned out exactly the way we needed it to.

God is good.

Hugs,


Wednesday, January 7, 2009

December 12

That was the night of my staff Christmas dinner. It snowed. A lot.

Dinner was originally scheduled for 7:00, and Barry was going to be home (it's a staff only, no spouses kind of dinner) to watch Matt. Perfect. No babysitter required.

At the last minute, Barry had to go to a hockey game with some co-worker (team building and all that stuff).

Thank goodness for Heidi - she came through at the last minute and said she'd watch Matt.

I get to work that morning, and dinner is somehow moved to 6:30. Oh my. Heidi was scheduled to arrive at 6:45. I call her in a frantic panic. She has a great idea - since dinner is out at this quaint little country restaurant (that she happens to live near) why don't I bring Matt to her, and he can play with the other kids (Heidi is room and boarding with a wonderful family who just happens to have a daughter in Matt's kindergarten class). Excellent!! All my problems are solved.

I quickly feed Matt a hot dog, and head out the door into the blizzard armed with my directions (I've never been to this place...out in the country...down the back roads...in a blizzard).

Somehow, I managed to peer through the whirling snow that was coming toward the windshield with so much ferocity that Matt actually unzipped his backpack, got blankie out, snuggled up with blankie, and told me, "Momma, this is a scary place......Do you even know where Heidi lives?"

So. The directions said to turn onto the road that The Blooming Fields is on (that's the restaurant) and keep going past the restaurant. They are the 2nd driveway on the right. I find the road with The Blooming Fields. Yay! When we get to the restaurant, I notice that you have to turn down a side road and then into the driveway, I see a sign that says "No exit. Local traffic only." I figure I am going the right way. They will be the 2nd driveway and all will be well.

There was no 2nd driveway.

We ended up in a field with a stop sign in the middle of it. A stop sign?? What happened to local traffic only? I was in the midst of carefully turning around - the snow was getting pretty deep - when two dogs came bounding up to greet me. They were followed closely by - I'm assuming - the owner of the field.

Apparently the enormous Newfoundland was named Duke. He wanted to go for a truck ride in Matt's car seat. On top of Matt in the car seat. Thankfully he was able to assure me that if we went back to the "main" back road we would find three more driveways on the right, and I was confident that the second one would be the God-sent babysitter.

We were right!!!

I was late for dinner, but so was everyone else, and Matt and I had quite the adventure, driving through the snowstorm. When we got home at the end of it all, he sighed, and told me, "It's okay, Mom, we're home now, safe and warm."

Thank goodness we had the four wheel drive.

Barry had to navigate some slippery-ness on the way home from Calgary, but the closer you get to the city, the more civilized they keep the roads.

Well folks, I have much to be thankful for tonight. I'm home, safe and warm, and off to read in bed.

Blessings,

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

December 11, 2008




That was the night of Matthew's school Christmas Concert. The very first one. I'm sure it will always be remembered as the very best one. The kindergartners always steal the show. The principal was careful to advise the audience that we could not just up and leave after the kindergarten performance. Obviously, he's been to more than one of these events. We, however, did not heed his advice. Seeing as Matthew was the only child from our family performing that evening, we both went to "collect" him when he was finished...and we just never came back to our seats. In our defense, it was already close to his bedtime, and he was definitely tired, so we decided that he "needed his rest" and we went home.
His class "rang" Jingle Bells perfectly. Each child had a bell and followed the teacher's cues at the perfect moment. We were soo very proud! Then all the lights in the gym went out, and each child held up a glow stick while they sang "This Little Light of Mine." I still get choked up whenever Matt starts to sing that little tune.
More to come...eventually you'll be all up to date.
Blessings,