busy bee's

Hello Mr. Dog Whisperer!!!

Do you see him? He's in the grey sweater by the door way.. look at the pug watching me! So cute.

Last week the infamous Cesar Millan was in town to do a talk & the day after he did a meet and greet at the Bosley's Pet store here in Richmond. We went not really knowing what to expect. The first 200 people got wrist bands and got to wait inside a building. If you weren't so lucky, you had to wait outside in the dreary rain. We were 183 & 184!!!  Whew! But, we got there at 10am... and didn't meet him until after 1:00. It was a long wait. AND we ended up sticking around to see him leave as requested by my daughter. So we had to wait another hour after we met him, to see him depart. But, my youngest was pretty stoked to meet him. The whole process was all pretty rushed though, They herded people in groups of 25 & you got your photo taken with him and he signed whatever you wanted and were given a head shot of him. I don't think we even made eye contact. Oh well!!! At least I stood in his presence, the ol'mighty dog whisperer. 

Guess who's taught herself to finger knit??? No, not me.

But, my little one is now an expert little finger knitter. She taught herself & is now making some special little projects for a craft show we are doing this weekend. 

We took a quick jaunt over the border this past weekend and she finger knitted herself into a coma...Well not quite, but there was some complaining about her fingers being sore. She's also attempted to show her bigger sister how it's done, but it wasn't very successful. I am trying to encourage them to not give up!!! Because it does seem super fun! You make things quite quickly. There is nothing better than seeing results within minutes. It's pretty rewarding.

We are spending the rest of the week getting ready for the craft show & trying to work on the Airstream!!!

I need clones of myself.

journal time

Last night my youngest daughter was catching up on some homework. As I looked over her shoulder down onto her notebook, I quickly noticed the words "Jackass". 

EEK!!!

My inner alarm went off.

 RED ALERT! RED ALERT!

Not good words to be handing into a teacher!!!

I asked her what she was up to and what she was writing. She was just writing a review in her journal about a funny movie she has seen recently. I asked if she really thought Jackass, were good words to see on paper and hand into the teacher. She caught my drift & figured something else out.

Yes, we went to see Jackass 3 in 3D. Oh lordy! I hadn't seen the first 2, but knew the guys did some crazy stuff. Well... it was my youngest daughters choice of movie. She thought it would be soooo funny. Everytime she saw the ad on tv, she mentioned about wanting to go. I honestly had no idea what we were walking into. She laughed up a storm! Totally inappropiate for a young girl her age (what was I thinking?)... but, she didn't mind. There was some eye covering during some parts. I think her sense of humor may be slightly "off". She loved it.

She was looking though youtube video's and I have to say, I do like Johnny Knoxville. I love the catchy tune of the song in this clip too! I'm now smitten with Johnny.

Even though he is so rotten.

the hulk

A while back my daughter jumped in the car after school and said, " I broke some buttons on my shirt." I was all... "How?"... she said, "I reached up to grab something, and pretty much hulked my way outta the shirt!".

I couldn't stop laughing!!! 

Hulked her way outta the shirt!!!???

Oh, she kills me!

My little hulk.

last night

Fun times were had last night trick o' treating! We finally found an awesome neighbourhood that gets into the spirit of things in Richmond! YAY! After the last two Halloweens here, we were so close to giving up  & heading back to North Vancouver for treats. We even got to enjoy some fireworks at the West Richmond community centre before calling it at night. 

never too early!

I was at Superstore getting some dinner things and to my surprise the Candy Cane fudge crackle ice cream is back!!! YAAAAY!!!

I only discovered the ice cream towards the end of the last Christmas Holiday season. Stoked it's back.

Thank god I've started running. My timing couldn't have been any better!!!

Don't worry I'll pace myself.

creatures of the night

What do a nerd, flying squirrel and a zombie have in common?

They are all going trick-o-treating tomorrow night!!! YAY!!! (I'm the flying squirrel)

We've had to do some last minute shopping for my little zombie. Because she showed her friend what she was going to be wearing (a little too early) and the friend went and bought the same things!!! ACK!!! So because my daughter hates having the same stuff as other people, we had to go buy some different tights... not really a big deal. But, on the day before Halloween it is slim pickings for crazy tights! Value Village was pretty much liquidated of it's Halloween Dept. We did manage though to find a pair of barbed wire tights at a dept. store. Thank god!

I have had the worst last couple of days. I've been without a truck (again), the thing is constantly at the repair shop. The truck broke down Thursday night (always on a thursday!). As I was mentally preparing for the long day ahead of using public transportation, I couldn't sleep so I actually started my day at 2:30am. I was delirious by the time we got home last night, I went to bed at 6:30pm. On our early morning departure as we walked by our truck, I noticed some crackhead had busted my back passenger window!!! Jerks!!! I was already contemplating returning the truck to the dealership, but now have to replace the window before I can do that. I have lame luck.

I'm still dealing with the dealership on what to do with the truck, but as a treat out they are giving us tickets to Frightnight. I love getting scared. Love it. I remember going to the 630 CHED haunted house in Edmonton every year when I was growing up. So fun!!! But my youngest daughter, not so much loving gettin' scared. She takes it too personally. We are unsure how it will work if the three of us go... can't be leaving the little one outside, while we go in to the haunted houses... "Hey, carnie! Watch my kid would you?!". Not likely. But, the rides are open too, so we'll figure something out. Hopefully I can find someone else who can come with us.

Here's to wishing everyone a great night tonight! 

Hopefully you've all found your costumes for your Halloween festivities!!!

Oh Grandma

My grandma passed away this June, the day after my daughter's birthday. I find myself wondering why she is gone. Like, why do other people still have their grandma's and I don't?

 As I walk down the street & look up at the balconies of apartments and wonder why couldn't my grandma enjoy one more summer of a balcony full of blooming flowers? How come she doesn't get to feel the season change?

I miss not being able to call her. I was even thinking of calling the number to see if someone else has taken the number. A new grandma for me to talk to? 

She is just gone now. No more apartment, no more phone number, no more her.

I know it's lame to say it's not fair. But, it isn't. I wish everyone could live forever.

 I hate the cycle of life.

I had a dream about her last week. I walked into her apartment and it was Christmas dinner. We were all there & she was walking around with a pepper shaker asking us if we needed pepper? She was kind of dancing around from person to person, and I remember just staring at her and thinking - you shouldn't be here - you can't be here, you are gone forever. She didn't look me in the eye, but I was standing next to her in awe that she somehow managed to come back for this family dinner. Then the dream was over.

She was such an awesome beautiful woman. She had quite the life & had so many wonderful/crazy stories to share. I try and think of her stories and wonder if I have remembered them right, so I can share them with my kids. I wish I could call & double check things with her. I don't want to get things wrong when re-telling. 

She was a painter. She always had an art room in her apartment. She was so crafty. I remember a million moons ago, I sent her a letter asking if she could make me a Gizmo costume for Halloween. I even tucked in one of my prized Gremlins trading cards in the letter of request so she could use it as reference. She never did make the costume... she said she couldn't find any good fur in her little town on the island. When I was going through her things after she passed, I was kind of hoping I would have come across that old letter. 

I remember hanging out at her place as a child and she was all about building forts in the middle of her living-room. She was so awesome. I don't think she ever made me clean up after myself.

When going through her things, I wanted to save everything. I put many things aside, and my dad took them. I would like to have more time to go back through her stuff. She actually had many, many, journals. She wrote about everything! I loved her old photos...

I miss our chats and  especially miss her laugh.

I miss her.