a childs kindness.......

This morning, Susannah (8) told me that she had wanted to help Daddy shovel the driveway last night but that it was past her bedtime so she couldn't - so she asked if she could shovel the driveway for him as a surprise while he was at work!

She didn't forget either!!! After lunch she put on her coat and went out and shovelled the driveway, the porch and the front steps........

I'm very proud :)

A lovely family :)

We were in Pizza Hut for a long while and the children were just so well behaved - even Sam did great and just ate and ate which is not like him - normally he throws things and gets restless and as many of my blog faithfuls will remember, I get very stressed in restaurants with the children (don't look down Jane, don't look down!!)

Well tonight it was lovely - we all chatted and laughed and enjoyed the meal and the young ones were great :)

Near the end of the meal the lady from the table opposite walked over to me and tapped me on the shoulder - she said 'You have a LOVELY family! Just LOVELY!' I was so surprised but so thankful and I just thanked her and smiled - and she wished us all a merry Christmas :)

As you all know how stressed I get in restaurants with 5 children, I am sure you can appreciate how nice this was to hear!!!!

flu-proofed :)

Lloyd came home from work early today and we went into town to get the flu vaccinations. Going there with 7 of us is always such a fun experience (not) - firstly you ahve to write out all of the forms with health care numbers etc and then wait while they talk you through it all and check everything like allergies etc and then one by one you ahve to have the jabs....of course Laurie didn't want to be first - or second - or third so he got more and more scared and worked up and then burst into tears as soon as he had his. I went first, then Chris and then Lloyd. Then Laurie. Susannah went next and was also scared - she sat there with one tear rolling down her cheek :( Seeing this got Abigail scared so she started crying but was fine afterwards(easily distracted witha sticker thankfully) . Sam was fine!!

We sat outside in the foyer for 15 minutes in case of a bad reaction. Then we headed out. As a treat we decided to go to Pizza Hut for supper. We were the only people in the restaurant which was ideal...it was the waitresses first day as a waitress and she was great - except after a while another couple came in and the waitress gave them our order (lol) so it meant after the salad and garlic bread, we were left waiting for AGES for the pizza and pasta.......so long that Lloyd went and asked and then Susie went and asked....at which point they admitted they had screwed up the orders and they gave us a 50% discount! So 7 of us had 2 large portions of garlic bread with cheese, a large salad, large breadsticks, 2 medium pizzas (chicken and red onion and a double pepperoni and a large Fetuccine Alfredo and cokes all round for $26!!!!!!

The pizzas took so long to arrive that no one was hungry by that time, so we just had them boxed and brought them home - the kids can have them for lunch tomorrow!

We got home just before 7pm and now the kids are playing and Lloyd is getting Sam ready for bed......I plan to go and soak in the bath and read one of my magazines. Oh firstly I have a couple more posts to write!

Daisy

Daisy - I just want to say how good it was to read your email to the HS group tonight.......it is so good to hear that I am not the only one struggling with motivation and interest and getting work done this year........

Daisy wrote to our homeschool group and mentioned how things aren't going as planned for her re homeschooling this year (and Daisy (the montessori homeschooler - link to right) is so organized and always seems like the 'professional' and experienced homeschooler lol!) feeling flat and low and unmotivated - well it was so good to read that as that is EXACTLY how I have been feeling.

So thank you Daisy - and it is interesting to see so many other families feeling the same way.

Last year I didn't really get organized re homeschooling until January, and then we got all motivated etc - so maybe that will happen again.....we do at least have the excitement of our trip to liven things up - so much to experience and learn :) So hopefully 2007 will start well and continue in that way for the whole 12 months!

Christmas stuff :)

This is from an email that Deanna sent me :)

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? neither. both are too sweet

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? santas gifts are not wrapped.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? we have white lights on the house, white lights on the main tree and coloured lights on the childrens tree.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? no

5. When do you put your decorations up? we normally put ours up the middle of December but this year I wanted it up early so December 1st!!

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? brussel sprouts :)

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? willing my Dad to hurry up and wash the dishes and for the Queens speech to be over so we could open gifts (we opened them at 3:10pm after the Queens speech in England.

8. How did you learn the truth about Santa? I still believe in Santa!! I really do!!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? no and I avoid it everywhere - I don't want to have to kiss anyone but Lloyd.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? The main tree is in red and gold...red and gold baubles and white lights and this year I have a red and green and gold tartain ribbon going around it. The childrens tree is decorated in all the ornaments I have collected through my life as well as all the ones they have made for me over the years.....its a mix of colours and styles and is my favorite :)

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? love it but wish it wasn't here quite as long!

12. Can you ice skate? yes

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? the wooden wardrobe my Dad made for my Sindy/ Amanda-Jane dolls...it had gold handles and a full length mirror inside, a drawer and miniature coat hangers that were also gold and their clothes fitted perfectly...it must have taken him sooooooo long to make! I wish I still had it!

14. What's the most exciting thing about Christmas for you? the build up to the big day - all the crafts and activities, our family traditions and the excitement of buying gifts and stocking fillers for the children - my Mum loves that too and still buys lots of stocking fillers that she sends me for the children!

15. What is your favorite Holiday dessert? Christmas pudding with my Dads secret brandy butter recipe!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? We have too many to pick a favourite...going for a walk to find the perfect 'lollipop tree'..........making gingerbread houses, the children making their specific baking products like Chris and his mince pies, Laurence and his peppermint creams etc etc decorating the trees together, the shopping trip I go on just with my oldest DS, Picking up hot chocolates and driving around Bright Nights together as we drink......our Boxing Day walk at Elk Island Park.......our New Years Eve fire at midnight :)

17. What tops your tree? this year a big bow on one tree and an angel on the other.

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? both :)

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? 'We Three Kings of Orient Are', 'Silver Bells' and Rockin around the Christmas Tree..................oh there are too many I love :)

20. Candy Canes? I don't like to eat them but we always hang some on the 'Lollipop Tree'

Layers

LAYER ONE: On the Outside

Name: Jane
Birthplace: Yeovil, Somerset, England
Current Location: Sherwood Park AB
Eye Color: grey
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 4' 11"
Righty or Lefty: Righty
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

LAYER TWO: On The Inside

Your heritage: British
Shoes you wore today: None.
Your weakness: Procrastination
Your fears: spiders
Your perfect pizza: I don't like pizza
Goal you'd like to achieve: an entire nights sleep undisturbed

LAYER THREE: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Your most overused phrase on LP: :)
Your thoughts first waking up: has Lloyd left already?
Your best physical feature: I like my feet
Your bedtime: 10pm
Your most missed memory: my friends from Stockport and the things we did together.

LAYER FOUR: Your Pick

Pepsi or Coke: diet Pepsi but I don't drink it very often
Mc Donald's or Burger King: BK
Single or group dates: Lately? single - just Lloyd and I :)
Adidas or Nike: Nike
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Neither ick!
Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate
Cappuccino or coffee: Nescafe instant coffee

LAYER FIVE: Do You?

Smoke: No
Cuss: Yes
Sing: not often and not well
Take a shower everyday: no - I usually shower every oither day and then bath alternate days - I love baths!
Have a crush(es): Only on Lloyd :)
Think you've been in love: yes
Like(d) high school: Yes
Want to get married: yes
Believe in yourself: Most of the time.
Get motion sickness: yes
Think you're attractive: on my good days
Think you're a health freak: Not really.
Get along with your parents: Usually.
Like thunderstorms: I love them!
Play an instrument: no

LAYER SIX: In the past month...

Drank alcohol: yes
Smoked: no
Done a drug: No - unless you count Imitrex and cold FX ;)
Made Out: Oh YES!!! :)
Gone on a date: yes
Gone to the mall?: Yes
Eaten an entire box of Oreos: No
Eaten sushi: No
Been on stage: No
Been dumped: No
Gone skating: No
Gone skinny dipping: No
Dyed your hair: No
Stolen anything: No

...LAYER SEVEN: Ever...

Played a game that required removal of clothing: Yes
Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: Yes
Been caught "doing something": no
Been called a tease: yes
Gotten beaten up: no
Shoplifted: no

LAYER EIGHT: Getting Older

Age you hope to be married: 35 (did you read that Lloyd????!!!)
Numbers of Children: 5
How do you want to die:In Lloyds arms
What do you want to be when you grow up: will I be grown up one day? I like doing what I'm doing!
What country would you most like to visit: Japan


LAYER NINE: In a girl/guy

Best eye color?: hazel
Best hair color?: brown
Short or long hair: short
Height: tall
Best articles of clothing: chunky sweaters :)
Best first date location: Wherever

LAYER TEN: In The Numbers...

Number of drugs taken illegally: none (sadly)
Number of people I could trust with my life: 1
Number of CDs that I own: a LOT
Number of piercings: two
Number of tattoos: none
Number of times my name has appeared in the Newspaper?: a few
Number of scars on my body: one on my leg
Number of things in my past that I regret: a few too many to list here but I am very happy where I am now and who I am with now so it all worked out in the right way :)

Tuesday

I spoke to my Mom this morning. She told me that Les had died. He had a stroke last week and died a few days later. The funeral is Thursday.

I am kicking myself for being such a procrastinator when it comes to writing letters.

Geez today is such a depressing day :(

My friend Samantha phoned this morning - she always manages to make me laugh thankfully!

This afternoon we are having our flu jabs.

I don't know if its the weather or that we are getting over so many colds and stomach flus etc but I still feel so flat and down :( and totally unmotivated to do anything.

Heartbreaking.......

A lady that I chat with on linking parents is going through a VERY difficult time right now. It's so so sad. She was about 7 months pregnant but found out in the last few days that her unborn baby had died. Today she is in hospital giving birth to her Son who will be stillborn.

I just can't imagine what she is going through right now. Its just so, so sad.

Mel you and your family are in my thoughts.......and in the thoughts and prayers of all LP members today.