Fabulous post!!

You can find this and other fabulous posts  IF YOU CLICK HERE

It reminds me of the OLD ME....how insecure I was before my separation.  Lol!  I have grown so much as a person since then - thanks in a HUGE part to the Soul Restoration classes I took and Brave Girls.  As well as other journaling, therapy, hard work and friends xxx

Anyway, this is an excellent article and worth reading :)  I truly believe that it is VITAL to have a relationship with yourself and to really REALLY like yourself - LOVE yourself before you can have a GOOD and HEALTHY relationship with another.  

BLOG | Self-Love Cleanse: Loving the Inner Mean Girl

By Tymeesa Rutledge
April 13, 2011

I remembered being pissed when I heard a female voice in the background while I was talking on the phone with a guy I had feelings for (But keep in mind we were only friends at that time).

It wasn’t long before HE confronted me. “Why did you catch an attitude?”

HE then went on to say how she was his little cousin, which it turned out she was. I felt totally embarrassed because I had assumed the worst. My “inner mean girl” (the negative voice in my mind) began to get ratchet as all hell saying things like “HE’s a liar,” “You don’t deserve this,” “HE’s lying, you don’t have to tell him our feelings are hurt. You’re not jealous. HE’s out to get you!” It wasn’t pretty.

HE became the mirror that helped me see the issues I have and how my “inner mean girl” was negatively affecting my life. It was then I embarked on a self-love journey.

This post is ultimately not about romantic relationships and instead, will discuss the importance of having the relationship with oneself. A self-love journey is about loving myself for all of the insecurities and flaws I have.

That realization encouraged me to seek out solutions; I found some solutions at the The Loving Your Inner Mean Girl Workshop led by Christine Arylo of The Inner Mean Girl Reform Schoolwho encouraged me to begin the Self-Love Cleanse.

Amy Ahlers (left) and Christine Arylo, co-founders of the Inner Mean Girl Reform School. Screenshot from their "Stop the Self Sabotage...take the Inner Mean Girl Cleanse!" video below. (Youtube)

The workshop offered some solutions on how to deal with my personal issues. I never thought about my negative voice being my “inner mean girl.” But, that’s definitely what she is. A total mean girl! She constantly tells me I won’t finish my homework on time, that I’ll never have a “good boyfriend” or be a “good friend” because I didn’t deserve any of it.

While all of us has an inner mean girl, the manifestation is a little different for everyone. Sometimes there are “inner mean sisters” thriving inside you — six of them in total. Maybe you have the mean girl that tells you “You got an ‘A-’ when you should have gotten an ‘A.’” Christine likes to call her the “achievement junkie” because nothing she ever achieves is good enough.

Or, maybe she or her sister’s the “comparison queen.” You know, that mean girl that tells you “You’ve been on television when you were 21. Big deal! Oprah has been on television since she was only 20.”

Whatever your inner mean girl says to you, her words come from a place of past hurt. Maybe, like me, you’ve been disappointed in past relationships with ex-partners. Maybe you’re still carrying baggage that needs to be dropped off at your local UPS storage that you can come and visit whenever you like versus being the hoarding “bag lady.”

If you have any of these mean girls or their sisters Judy Jealousy, Heather the Hater, etc., you can join me in the Self-Love Cleanse.

The Self-Love Cleanse is a 40-day journey in which you commit yourself to loving YOU.

When my inner mean girl says “Tymeesa, you’ll never do that” or “you’re not organized enough,” I tell her that I love her and ask myself “What am I afraid of?” The Self-Love Cleanse is a personalized journey. You can choose and make up whatever works for you.

Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve been disappointed many times in my life by family, friends, boyfriends — you name it! But, my inner mean girl doesn’t want me to get hurt again. As a defense mechanism, she says mean things out of fear or insecurity. I understand where she is coming from. So instead of hating her, I will love her.

The self-love cleanse can be done for yourself as well. It’s a daily battle. It’s moment by moment. Situation by situation, girl. Below, I will share some takeaways I’ve been using from the workshop in the last week:

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Self-Love Cleanse: 10 Things to Do for the Next 40 Days

1. Write 108 things that you like about yourself.

2. Start your morning with gratitude. Look out the window and admire nature.

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“How you start your day is how you live your day.”
–- Unknown

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3. Talk to her (the inner self) in the morning. Tell her that you love her. Then, take that inner pause.

For the last week, I’ve been saying “I love you Tymeesa” three times every morning.

4. When people compliment you, accept the compliment and build a conversation around it.Really receive it! You’re not a bad person acknowledging that you’re cool.

5. Appreciate all of the things you have –- whether it’s your friendships, food, water, shelter, etc.

6. Drink a cup of tea to relax your soul in the morning. Tea really relaxes me so I start my day in a good state.

7. I write a morning prayer in my journal and thank God for what he’s done for me. If you pray or meditate, take the word “more” out of it.

For example: Instead of asking “God, let me be more loving,” ask God to continue to allow you “to be loving.” You are accepting yourself as you are right now.

8. During the day — lunch, mid-day or afternoon — celebrate 3-5 things that you’ve done so far. You will be surprised at how much you accomplish.

9. Be present.

I have a problem with this one because I’m always thinking in the past or future. But, I have to appreciate the moment. Why? If your mindset is in the past, you’ll be overcome with regret and if you’re thinking too much about the future, anxiety will consume you.

10. Because those are not positive feelings, you should let them go!

Good luck.

Today I went to the mail box and was very happy with what was there :)

Today I hoped the tide had changed permanently but sadly no...

Today I dreamed of new beginnings

Today I forgot  to get the letter out of the car

Today I heard more geese fly overhead even though its 30c

Today I said he was a selfish bastard - and I meant it.  He is.

Today I read all about my new class.

Today I watched Sam walking along looking through his mini telescope :)

Today I believed my fate lies in the hands of a totally selfish bastard :(

Today I felt powerless to protect my children the totally selfish bastard that doesn't seem to care about their futures and best interests :(

Today I wondered endlessly how best to deal with this situation

Today I bought a french cd and lemonade.

Today I cleaned my bathroom.

Today I was riding a roller coaster.  I am happy and had a wonderful day with my children - we enjoyed the gorgeous weather and our time out - we had a great day homeschooling and Abigail enjoyed her class.  we had fun at the park - I had a good time with Susannah there - the farmers market was fun too.  It was a great learning day :)  It was also a good day for developments regarding Abigail and therapy.  She also had a good day and no melt downs!!  It was a GOOD day :)  The only bad part was dealing with divorce stuff.  Get that out of the way and life will be perfect :)

Our Wednesday.....

This morning was spent studying French for Abigail while I was busy on the telephone mainly (see post below).  Abigail also spent time using Studyladder and also Google translator and getting it to answer me and my questions - typing fast to answer me with funny and quick responses - it was hilarious!  

Sam has a cold and isn't feeling great so isn't in the mood to do workbooks right now and I refuse to push him as it just upsets him and puts him off completely and I don't want to turn him off of learning.  So instead he watched Batman, rode his bike outside with Abby for a while, studied his cocoons and caterpillars for a while, played with the magnet sets, and built a man with arms that opened doors and had jointed arms and hands and feet etc with Knex.  

Tonight he used his new mini telescope and microscope to examine endless things.

I think a LOT of learning took place today even though he didn't open a work book :) 

Susannah attended a team building day at Birch Bay Ranch today.  She enjoyed it although was disappointed not to get to use the ziplines or horses that they normally get to use - they did get to use the towers though and Sharon that runs the Ranch told them that we were hotter than Hawaii today!  It was 30c here today :)  It is GORGEOUS weather - so lucky :)  

It was early out at school today which meant schools closed at 2pm.  When Susannah got home we headed to the library in town for Abigails class.  A Roald Rumpus'.  It was a class based on Roald Dahls books.  While she was in the class Susannah picked up another of her series of books by Susan Desson I think it is - she is really enjoying that series and finishes them in a day or two.  I love that she is reading so much suddenly :)  I have told her she HAS to borrow them from the library now though as I can't afford to keep buying them at the store at the rate she reads them!!!

Abigail enjoyed her class and came out with chocolate and a whistle and a sticker on her that read E Crocodile - and she had picked a Roald Dahl book to take out of the library.  I might get her to read it to Sam tomorrow or maybe I will read it to them both.  

After that we went to Education Station next door as I wanted to pick up a cd of French songs to listen to in the car.  We found a good one that covers exactly what we are learning at the moment - colours, numbers, body parts etc etc.

While I was looking round, the children played in the play area, including Susannah who LOVES the magnetix or whatever they are called - the triangle things that sam has at home - although they all seem to have gone missing somewhere again:

After the Education Station, we walked down towards the farmers market and had a stroll around there.  This week they had a big bouncy slide.  It hasn't been there before so we couldn't resist checking it out!  It was only a dollar for two goes!!!  

Then we headed over to Broadmoor Lake for an hour or two of relaxing in the sunshine while Sam and Abby played at the playground.  Susannah and I chatted and tried out a couple of new math games:

And cooled down in the hot sun with some delicious lemonade:

Before heading back to check on Laurence who had decided not to stay in town as he had a bad head so had gone straight home from school on the early bus instead.  When we got home he was fine after having a sleep.  He is going to start on some melatonin again - he hasn't needed it for a few weeks after getting his sleep cycle back to normal but now its off again so he is going to take it again.  

This evening Abigail listened to the new French cd...her and Sam played with the magnet set again and she worked on her French homework again learning how to say 'touch your' and parts of the body...as well as seasons and weather, and days of the week...

Bed time now.  Not sure what we are doing tomorrow yet - we have a free day until tomorrow evening.  The weather is going to be gorgeous so we really should make the most of it.  Maybe a picnic somewhere.  Maybe a splashpark.  Not sure.  One thing is for sure - we will be making the most of these last few days of Summer :)  

Enjoy the heat everyone

xxx

Hump day :)

Wednesday already!  this week is going fast but I guess that is always the way with long weekends!

Today was another busy one.  This morning I had a lot of phone calls to make - various calls regarding school issues, busing issues, medical issues and financial issues to deal with.  Unfortunately I also had to deal with my idiot of an Ex and his insane mood swings.  For someone who has criticized my mood swings for the last 18 months, I can't BELIEVE how rapidly and how drastically HIS moods change and they are stressful to deal with because unfortunately he likes to try and control my life and that means he also likes to try and control my childrens lives too.  He is also in control of us financially - and our future and is leaving us in a pretty bad way :(    There are ways out of our situation but I can't take them without his help and signature and yet he won't take them and to me it makes absolutely NO sense....he has thrown away soooooo much money in the last 18 months so two years and for a business man it is just sickening.  What FATHER does that????  SERIOUSLY?????  What kind of Father throws away all of his money and leaves his kids in this kind of situation just to get back at his wife????  What kind of MAN does that?????

I have lost any kind of respect for him that I ever had....it's so sad....I used to look up at him more than anyone else on this planet.  Now.....now?  Now I'm not sure I think of anyone less.  He would hurt my children that way and think so little of them.  That he would rather waste money on lawyers fees than on putting his children first.  He would rather send money to some guy he barely knows in the US than put his kids into sports.  He would put some guy he barely likes from work before his kids happiness.

Kathy posted something fabulous on her FB today:  If you want changes in your life....the first and best place to look is in the mirror. Just over 8 months ago I began to really look in that mirror and started to work on myself... so I could be a better me, not just for myself, but those in my life. If you want change....it all starts with YOU!


I couldn't agree more!  And this is exactly what I have done over the last year.  Through therapy, classes, self help, journaling, and BLOODY HARD WORK!!!!  And I am happy with the changes I have made and the person I have become.  I am happy with the Mom I am now.  The friend I am now.  That I am calmer, happier, more independent, more relaxed, more assertive.  I laugh more, play more, work more, plan more, create more, think more, try more, believe more.  I am more confident.  


Taking the time to work on me after my separation was the best thing I could have done for my children.  They deserved it.  They deserved to have the best me they could have.  They NEEDED me to be healthy in body and mind.  They needed me to learn ways to cope better, to be stronger, happier, healthier.  And while I am still finding this divorce crappola very stressful, at least I am finding ways to handle it without yelling and screaming or crying or being depressed.  These days I create art  or journal and have other ways to release tension.  I also don't have anyone to 'pretend' for....to be a certain way for....I can be myself.....and that is wonderful.  It is extremely freeing to be able to totally be yourself in your own home.  For the first time in ten years to be able to totally be yourself.  

Haircut tomorrow - thank goodness ;)  

Which means therapy with Amber  - the one person who who knocks sense in to me :)  Tells me exactly what she thinks and gives me shit when I act pathetic!!  What would I do without her???

and meeting JoAnne afterwards :)  Yay - we haven't seen each other since the day she moved house!!  Far, far too long my girly :)  xxx

Our Tuesday...

We had French club today, and so our day started off with Abigail revising her her French homework, and practicing her introduction, numbers and colours, ready for class.  She then worked through some of her French workbook which today focused on the alphabet in French.

Sam really wasn't in the best of moods this morning for 'work' and so although we encouraged him, after a page of spellings he disappeared off to his room.

On the way to French club we stopped off to buy snacks to share at the club - and also to get a Pumpkin Spice Latte - a they started to sell them today.  Then onwards to Castledowns Library.  On the way we practiced more French, and Abigail managed to get Sam interested at last - and he practiced his own introduction, numbers etc etc.

French club was really good today.  The children started with playing games on a French cd - that involved listening to songs and following the actions - learning words such as jump, run, walk, stop, fast, slow, high.

We also played 'Jacques Di' (Simon Says) and 'What's the  time Mr Wolf?'

The children introduced themselves - their names, ages, and said something that they liked to do.  

They did some worksheets about colours.  

We meet again in two weeks time.  

(the other children were still at the table doing other things when I snapped this picture but I snapped it because they were playing a game and had their backs to the camera so the other childrens faces aren't shown)  

Laurence has changed his class finally - is no longer doing physics which was worrying him, and is now doing personal foods this Semester as well as science.  He is much happier :)  

Susannah is happy about her new guitar teacher and the fact that he is so laid back (she says he reminds her of me and that I should go and meet him as we suit each other.....lol)  She really likes him and the fact that he has such great ideas and wants them to put on a play.  

I have to phone transportation tomorrow and put in  complaint about Laurences bus driver :(  I don't like doing that but two issues have come up with her now - she hit our address post with the bus and didn't even report it - and she is turning in our driveway even though they have been told not to (our driveway is clearly not wide enough - hence her hitting the gatepost sigh) and now because Laurence told her she isn't supposed to turn in the driveway, she now does not way for him to sit down before driving off but instead pulls away fast while he is walking down the bus aisle so he almost falls over each time.  I am NOT happy with this situation.  Today she left a snotty message on my phone about if I don't want her to turn on the driveway then I have to phone transportation - so tomorrow I will!

The children went to their Dads this evening, but while they were waiting, Sam and Abby curled up on my bed and watched some documentaries.  First they watched another dinosaur show (Sams favourites) and then they watched an Animal Planet show called 'Animals go head to head' which was a show where they compare two animals and see which would win in a battle.  They got to see which would win between a crocodile and a Great white shark!  

Tonight while the children were out, I had the first homeschool Moms coffee night.  About a month ago I started a Facebook group for my areas homeschoolers.  There are now 39 members :)  I suggested a coffee night tonight and there were 10 of us that showed up :)  I'm thrilled!!!  I only expected about 4 at the most!  But 10!!!  :)  And they want to make it a monthly event!  :)  

We ended up chatting for three hours tonight and it was just a really nice evening.  I saw friends I see regularly, friends I haven't seen for YEARS and met some new friends too!!  :)  

All in all another great day.  

Tomorrows plans are looking just as good too - Abigail has her class in the afternoon and Susannah has her team building class at Birch Bay in the morning.  The weather is supposed to be gorgeous so I think we will make the most of it as much as possible - seems silly to waste the good weather when it will soon be gone!  

I haven't done my LSNED class work for today but I'm too tired now so that will have to wait until the morning.  

Tomorrow morning I have a telephone appointment with Abigails therapist to discuss how she is doing.        

Ok, I need to get to sleep.  Another busy day tomorrow.  

Have a good one everyone

xxx

Love this :)

Lorraine posted this on Facebook and I just loved it!!  And after some religious nut on a friends FB (Sorry Tracy if she's a great friend but.....) posted an offensive comment about homeschooling and Andrea Yates, I couldn't stop myself posting in response....and it reminded me of this post that Lorraine had added:

The Bitter Homeschooler's Wish List

by Deborah Markus, from Secular Homeschooling, Issue #1, Fall 2007

1 Please stop asking us if it's legal. If it is — and it is — it's insulting to imply that we're criminals. And if we were criminals, would we admit it?

2 Learn what the words "socialize" and "socialization" mean, and use the one you really mean instead of mixing them up the way you do now. Socializing means hanging out with other people for fun. Socialization means having acquired the skills necessary to do so successfully and pleasantly. If you're talking to me and my kids, that means that we do in fact go outside now and then to visit the other human beings on the planet, and you can safely assume that we've got a decent grasp of both concepts.

3 Quit interrupting my kid at her dance lesson, scout meeting, choir practice, baseball game, art class, field trip, park day, music class, 4H club, or soccer lesson to ask her if as a homeschooler she ever gets to socialize.

4 Don't assume that every homeschooler you meet is homeschooling for the same reasons and in the same way as that one homeschooler you know.

5 If that homeschooler you know is actually someone you saw on TV, either on the news or on a "reality" show, the above goes double.

6 Please stop telling us horror stories about the homeschoolers you know, know of, or think you might know who ruined their lives by homeschooling. You're probably the same little bluebird of happiness whose hobby is running up to pregnant women and inducing premature labor by telling them every ghastly birth story you've ever heard. We all hate you, so please go away.

7 We don't look horrified and start quizzing your kids when we hear they're in public school. Please stop drilling our children like potential oil fields to see if we're doing what you consider an adequate job of homeschooling.

8 Stop assuming all homeschoolers are religious.

9 Stop assuming that if we're religious, we must be homeschooling for religious reasons.

10 We didn't go through all the reading, learning, thinking, weighing of options, experimenting, and worrying that goes into homeschooling just to annoy you. Really. This was a deeply personal decision, tailored to the specifics of our family. Stop taking the bare fact of our being homeschoolers as either an affront or a judgment about your own educational decisions.

11 Please stop questioning my competency and demanding to see my credentials. I didn't have to complete a course in catering to successfully cook dinner for my family; I don't need a degree in teaching to educate my children. If spending at least twelve years in the kind of chew-it-up-and-spit-it-out educational facility we call public school left me with so little information in my memory banks that I can't teach the basics of an elementary education to my nearest and dearest, maybe there's a reason I'm so reluctant to send my child to school.

12 If my kid's only six and you ask me with a straight face how I can possibly teach him what he'd learn in school, please understand that you're calling me an idiot. Don't act shocked if I decide to respond in kind.

13 Stop assuming that because the word "home" is right there in "homeschool," we never leave the house. We're the ones who go to the amusement parks, museums, and zoos in the middle of the week and in the off-season and laugh at you because you have to go on weekends and holidays when it's crowded and icky.

14 Stop assuming that because the word "school" is right there in homeschool, we must sit around at a desk for six or eight hours every day, just like your kid does. Even if we're into the "school" side of education — and many of us prefer a more organic approach — we can burn through a lot of material a lot more efficiently, because we don't have to gear our lessons to the lowest common denominator.

15 Stop asking, "But what about the Prom?" Even if the idea that my kid might not be able to indulge in a night of over-hyped, over-priced revelry was enough to break my heart, plenty of kids who do go to school don't get to go to the Prom. For all you know, I'm one of them. I might still be bitter about it. So go be shallow somewhere else.

16 Don't ask my kid if she wouldn't rather go to school unless you don't mind if I ask your kid if he wouldn't rather stay home and get some sleep now and then.

17 Stop saying, "Oh, I could never homeschool!" Even if you think it's some kind of compliment, it sounds more like you're horrified. One of these days, I won't bother disagreeing with you any more.

18 If you can remember anything from chemistry or calculus class, you're allowed to ask how we'll teach these subjects to our kids. If you can't, thank you for the reassurance that we couldn't possibly do a worse job than your teachers did, and might even do a better one.

19 Stop asking about how hard it must be to be my child's teacher as well as her parent. I don't see much difference between bossing my kid around academically and bossing him around the way I do about everything else.

20 Stop saying that my kid is shy, outgoing, aggressive, anxious, quiet, boisterous, argumentative, pouty, fidgety, chatty, whiny, or loud because he's homeschooled. It's not fair that all the kids who go to school can be as annoying as they want to without being branded as representative of anything but childhood.

21 Quit assuming that my kid must be some kind of prodigy because she's homeschooled.

22 Quit assuming that I must be some kind of prodigy because I homeschool my kids.

23 Quit assuming that I must be some kind of saint because I homeschool my kids.

24 Stop talking about all the great childhood memories my kids won't get because they don't go to school, unless you want me to start asking about all the not-so-great childhood memories you have because you went to school.

25 Here's a thought: If you can't say something nice about homeschooling, shut up!

Senses tag.....

• One thing I saw today was…goats on a high roof....

• One thing I heard …coyotes in the field behind our house - and Sam telling me that they were howling because the moon was out.

• One thing I touched today was…the coolness of gemstones and grit in the water while gem mining at the Prairie Gardens.  Sam found the most ENORMOUS Amethyst that is so big he can't even shut his treasure chest now :)  

• One thing I tasted …the amazing dill and garlic roasted baby potatoes at The Prairie Gardens.

• One pleasant smell I had today was…the scent of corn being cooked...buttery goodness of corn on the cob :)  

Gorgeous weekend continues...

Labour Day weekend continues and the weather has stayed FANTASTIC!!!  It was 25c today!!!  Just perfect for the long weekend :)  

We got up early for a Sunday morning and headed up to Bon Accord to the Prairie Gardens.  They have their Cornfest this weekend and I wanted to make the most of my Annual pass!  I got it through Groupon coupons  back in the Spring and it has saved me an absolute FORTUNE this year :)  It is wonderful not having to pay to go :)  

We still have the Pumpkin Festival to go to in October, and we went to their Easter Festival and their Berry Festival in July. I hope they do this coupon again next year!  We love going to the Prairie Gardens - and Cassie is so much fun to take because she likes to join in with all the games and things with the little ones and with picture taking just as much as we do - so many teens don't these days!!  It was funny because just as we arrived, the little boy that her Mom childminds/ cares for arrived too!!! So she spent some time with him too :)

We got to the Corn fest in time to see the Corn eating contest - in fact in time for Abigail to join in!!!  I videoed it too and will add the video to facebook tomorrow :)  All the other pictures from today are also on there - as my security settings are better on there :)  

Abigail did great and came a close second I think, but one boy was WOW - he motored through that corn!!  No one else really stood a chance - it was like he had been trained for the contest!!  :)

We spent four hours at the Prairie Gardens and STILL didn't manage to do everything there - but we did have a LOT of fun.  We rode the train, shot the cannon, did one of the mazes, went gem mining, had lunch, visited the petting zoo, raced ducks, made corn dollies, saw pumpkins, played in the playground....made a scarecrow..

Unfortunately by late afternoon it all got a bit much for Abigail - maybe a bit too hot and tiring - I'm not sure, but she ended up having a bit of a melt down.  Something upset her and that was it - she couldn't stop crying and having a tantrum.  Once she starts there is just no stopping her.  It doesn't matter where she is.  It is like a toddlers tantrum.  I can't get her to calm down or stop crying, so I normally take her to one side and sit her somewhere.  Mainly to take her out of the situation - a chance for her to calm down and also a chance for her siblings etc to continue their fun without the stress of Abigails tantrum (which can be very embarrassing for them - as other people normally stare in a criticizing manner).

Anyway, by this point we were almost about to leave anyway, so we waited until the children had finished their gem mining, and then we slowly headed back to the car.  Once in the car Abigail was fine.

When we got home we had dinner -  cheesy jacket potatoes - Susannahs favourite!!  And then Cassie headed home!! Sam worked on designing a remote control robot using some supplies he found in the garage, and I stained the deck and porch.  

Abigail started to feel ill so she sat on my bed and watched things on Netflix.  

It wasn't long before Abigail started to be sick.

:(  

She was very unhappy again and it was difficult to get her settled.  

I managed to get half the deck stained which I'm really pleased about.  No doubt Mr Bloody Perfect will find something to complain about it, but you know what?  I'm really pleased with it - and it needed to be done and no one else was going to do it - the wood was already started to warp and crack in places and its such a big job - I can't afford to hire someone to do the job so I just got on and did it and if its not perfect then so what??  It's done :)  

And really I don't care what he says because all he does is complain about every single thing I do :)  Its like his life isn't complete unless he is complaining about something I am doing or saying.  Most of it just makes me laugh because most of the things he says are just so petty and small minded.  He really needs to get a life so he will stay out of mine finally.  

So we still have another day left of the three day weekend.  and yet we have crammed so much in already!!  Tomorrow I want to finish staining the deck/ porch.  Then we are thinking of taking Rosie for a walk somewhere different - somewhere we haven't been for a while or somewhere that would be nice for a Fall walk...the weather is so gorgeous and the leaves are changing colour fast :)  

We have to pick Laurence up from the twins and I think Susannah was hoping to cook dinner tomorrow - not sure what she is planning on making but I've been sending her a few recipes I thought she might like to try.

A friend of mine is a cook and I'm hoping next time he is in Edmonton he will stop by and teach Susannah a few recipes...he said he'd cook me dinner, so maybe he will let Susannah help :)  

I am soooo looking forward to enjoying this weeks HOT HOT weather :)  We don't have too much planned.  French club - and Abigail has a class on Wednesday afternoon to look forward to.  Maybe a park day on Thursday too....the homeschoolers were talking about meeting at QE outside pool too.  Oh and we have our first Homeschool Parents coffee night on Tuesday :)  

That's all folks ;)

I feel so good about today.  I really feel like we got sooo much done!  The bin we rented is FULL!!!  Totally FULL :)  Yay :)  

And best of all, the garage is sooooo empty that it ECHOES :)  and it is swept clean and it seems soooo much bigger!  It's fabulous!  The kids did a great job helping me and worked really hard throwing stuff into the bin, putting things in bags, sweeping, sorting.  Susannah invited Cassie over and they baked cookies and brought Laurence and I a cup of tea each while we finished up the garage together - it was real team work to get everything done :)  And wow is it ever all done - it looks amazing! 

We found a whole cupboard of car care products and so I set to work cleaning, polishing, waxing and giving my truck some TLC :)  It is now all shiny and gorgeous :)  I have a coupon for full detailing at a place in ST Albert, so as soon as the rear light is fixed I'm going to take it in to be detailed - my car soooo needs to be detailed inside!!  Its terrible!!  Then  I guess it won't be long and the winter tyres will need to be put on!  And I have a coupon for a service too so I will book that at the same time.  

I have a few chores around here to do this week - ones I made a list of while I was cleaning up the garage - outside chores before the winter weather arrives - we are due some hot weather this week so it will be perfect for the things I need to get done.  

All in all a great first day of the holiday weekend.  Laurence has gone to his friends house tonight.  Cassie's sleeping over tonight and tomorrow we're off to the Cornfest.  

Better get some sleep :)  

Oh and I am KICKING myself for not taking before and after pics of the garage :(  

Todays message from Brave Girls xxx

'Little Birdie' Featured Artist of the Day: Crystal Manning Carl Junction, Missouri, USA crystalmanning.blogspot.com

Friday Fill-ins....

1. When I was 10 years old I got my first Sindy Doll - she was a ballerina with brown hair and a beautiful pink tutu.  I loved her :)  

2. brussel sprouts are my favorite vegetable because they are yummy with a roast dinner and remind me of Christmas. 

3. My dream pet is a pet rock, because they don't pee or poop or shed hair or have vets bills. 

4. inspiration and creativity surrounds you. 

5. If I could live anywhere in the world I'd live in Canmore or Nantucket. 

6.  Love and strength please keep on shinin' on me. 

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a quiet night at home, tomorrow my plans include getting that bin filled and then depending on the weather maybe the movie on the square downtown and Sunday, I want to head to the Cornfest at the Prairie Gardens to make the most of the Annual Pass I got for half price with Groupon!! Then on Monday (as it's a three day weekend, I want to...double check everything is in the bin, then take Rosie for a walk somewhere different - maybe Whitemud Ravine, maybe the Wilderness Centre...maybe Elk Island

That Friday feelin'.....

It's a three day weekend :)  Love it!!!  And after a gorgeous cool and rainy Fall day today, the weekend is supposed to be lovely and the start of a GORGEOUSLY HOT week :)  27c by the end of the week :)  

We seem to be falling in to a nice school day routine already, which I am really happy about.  Awake at 6am.  Susannah and Laurence are having no problems getting up for school this year at all :)  Abigail wakes up not long after Susannah leaves, and Sam sleeps normally until about 9am - although this morning he slept until almost 10am!!  I just leave him to sleep when I can because he is such a bundle of energy all day that I am sure he needs all the sleep he can get!!  Yesterday he was at the park climbing trees and racing about all day and I'm sure it tuckered him out :)  

Plus, he looks so beautiful asleep that I can't keep from watching him.  

Abigail worked on her science book today which she says is her favourite book so far this year.  it is split in to weeks with one topic a week and one page per day - but she just does as much as she likes.  Today she finished off week one, which was all about plants, flowers and the way they adapt to survive.  Next week is all about Dolphins and starts with how they manage to sleep under water without drowning :)  

We headed into town to run some errands, including to the pharmacy for Abigails meds.  We also got her referral for the Tourettes clinic, which is wonderful news, so I can call them on Tuesday and get an appointment set up.  So pleased that has come through!  Although I must say she has been a lot easier since our routine has calmed down and the weather has been cooler - not sure which it is or weather it's a combination - but more sleep, more routine, slower days, quieter days...it all seems to be helping her - and of course she is on meds which could be slowly starting to kick in too.  Although they said it would take up to six months for that!  

We weren't in town for long - came home and put dinner in the crockpot.  Sam and I started to fill the big bin that we have rented for the long weekend.  We are clearing out the garage ready for Winter and also getting rid of some old broken furniture and bits and pieces.  Sam loves helping.  I'm so sad for him that Winter is almost here as he so loves to be outside.  He likes that the mosquitoes have all gone now and he is outside so much - on his bike or his skateboard.  Playing with Rosie...he is making plans for the treehouse and how to finish it.  It seems to really be on his mind at the moment.  Such a shame he doesn't have a man around the place to help him with it.  As much as I want to stay single it makes me wonder if I should - for them....especially for Sam.  Maybe he needs a guy around the place more.  A guys guy - that would go outside and kick a ball with him....go build the treehouse with him....go catch bugs with him (lol)  - today he came inside with a  big fuzzy caterpillar on his leg - just crawling around on his pants!!  He thought it was fantastic!  I thought it was creepy lol!!  :)  

So what else did we do??  Oh I know - it started to rain so we gave up on filling the bin for today and I came in and worked on a class I'm taking.  Sam sat by me and watched 'Word World' on Netflix.  The two of them played The Game of Life.  

Abby had some computer time.  She's trying to arrange a sleepover at my friend Trish's house.  It's funny watching the conversation.  

Susannah and Laurence got home from school and it was the normal after school type stuff until dinner.  Sam played outside for a while.  Everyone pottered about.  Quiet evening.  Three days of school has left everyone tired and quiet and ready for the long weekend I think :)  

Lobster we were watching at Sobeys today:

Crab we were watching at Sobeys today:

Dark skies behind our house today:

NOT-BACK-TO-SCHOOL Picnic :)

Yesterday we went to the HLSA NOT back to school picnic - a celebration for homeschoolers in Edmonton, for the start of the new homeschool year.  

The weather was perfect - 18c, not too hot, sunny...just gorgeous...and the park was Emily Murphy...a lovely treed park in the river valley.  

There was a wonderful turnout as you can see - although it was difficult to take pictures without identifying too many people as I didn't want to put pictures online without permission of close ups...and also people were soooo spread out in the park.  I also took these mainly just before we left and many had already gone home - earlier in the day there were many more people there.  I was so surprised by how many were there - especially how many older teens were there!  

I thought I knew a LOT of the homeschoolers in the area yet I didn't recognise too many there - a few faces from various classes we go to - park days we've been to.  French class etc.  I saw a few friends and of course the children are better at recognising their friends and vanished as soon as we arrived.  Abigail was thrilled that her new BFF was there.  (best friend forever lol) and Sam was soon off with his friends from French club and a big group of boys who were playing in the trees...all the Moms were saying it looked like a re-enactment of Lord of the Flies :)  So true!!  

I spent most of the afternoon with my friend Lorraine and her Daughter Alora and met their friend Nikki - who is a member of the Sherwood Park Homeschoolers - soooo nice and I'm looking forward to seeing them again at coffee night next week :)  

It was a great start to the homeschool year :)