Operation "No Hubby" Day 5

Today was a good day, if you don't count the crying this morning (me not him) and another fit this evening (yep, me not him). This is been a lot more challenging than I imagined. I love my son more than anything, but I am just not cut out to be a stay at home mom. Bless those that can. Tonight's little emotional outburst was when Marty told me that he probably wouldn't be home until next Thursday, instead of Wednesday. So now the count down is for 12 days. Ugh. I'm not even over the hump yet.

But yesterday and today were good days. Yesterday was fun in the park (between rain showers) and more fun in the afternoon with Heather and Sara. It is so much fun watching Max and Sara play together. They are the cutest little couple. They laugh and bicker and yell and kiss and make up. You'd think they were an old married couple. Max was cuter than cute in his crown and purse.


Today was a wonderful day spent at the beach, again with Heather and Sara. Max and Sara were a little more rangy as both were up early (5am for us), but we still managed a good day and some very tired children. I'm actually feeling pretty pooped from a day in the sun myself.

My mom arrived on Saturday for to give me some help. Only two more sleeps to go.

What were you doing at 5:30am?

Operation "No Hubby"

Well we've done a day and a half with no hubby/daddy. I believe too strongly in the jinx to say anything concrete about it, so I will just sort of describe how things are going and you can all make your judgments.

First, to all those women who are raising kids on their own: GIANT kudos to you. I can't imagine doing this full time. Second, for those moms whose partners are away a lot, BIG kudos to you too. This 11 day stint will be the longest that Marty and I have ever been apart in the past 8 years.

I've decided that what I have to do is be really organized and plan lots of activities. Today was the dog park with our friend Heather and Sara. Max and Sara held hands while walking. It was the cutest thing EVER! And of course, no camera. We have decided that we are going to force this spontaneous moment to happen again later this week and ensure that cameras are in hand.

Tomorrow we are going to visit some friends out of town. We have a beach day planned later this week and I think I might bring him to the Museum one day too. And probably more time with Heather and Sara and maybe some play groups, or the local wadding pool. The afternoons after nap I think will be the hardest gap to fill, but we'll see what happens.

This evening I was treated to 20 minutes of "Mommy... Mommy!... Mo-mmy! Maa!Mmmyy!... MAAAAAMMMMYYYYY!!!". Wonder what the neighbours think? Me, I'm thinking, Tough crap!

Now I am going to make tomorrow nights supper, sweep up for the second time today (damn dog) and maybe watch an episode or two of Buffy before heading to bed with Harry (Potter that is).

Knowing Me, Knowing You #7

Holy cow! Is it already July? Where the heck did June go? Oh well. It's time for Knowing Me, Knowing you. Shan's monthly interview with myself. Head on over to her blog to join in the fun!

1. What household chore do you dislike the most?

I know I am not supposed to answer "All of them!" but it's hard not to. The one I dislike the most would be sweeping. With two cats and a dog that is currently shedding faster than I can sweep, it's become an almost hourly job. I'm not kidding here!

2. Do you have any travel plans this year?

Other than having to go to San Jose for work, nadda. Marty and I would love to go somewhere, but money is too tight to even mention it. We are lucky that my in-laws rent a cottage every year and the whole fam-dam--ily heads down for the week. It's fun and the cottage is always on water, so Max will love it!

3. Ever met a bloggy friend in real life?

Well, Karen at Virtually There doesn't count because we were friends before blogging. So no. But I am going to a local blogging event in a couple of weeks (BOLO) and will meet a bunch of them. Nervous is not the word. What should I wear? How should I act? How will I walk into a room where I know no one and strike up a conversation? Let alone all that, I've been strong-armed to read at it. Ack! The anxiety is already setting in.

4. Seen anything good lately?

Star Trek baby! I would really like to go see it again. And I am counting down the days to the new Harry Potter! July 15th. 10 more sleeps.

5. What's your favorite kitchen appliance?

Can you tell that Shan loves to cook and bake? Appliance? Well, I don't have anything fancy. Bascially just pots and pans. Oh, my crock pot! Love the crock pot!

You Capture - Photographer's Choice

This week's photo challenge from I Should Be Folding Laundry is Photographer's Choice. I really didn't know what to do, so here are a few of my most favorite recent (within the past week) photos. She did challenge us to taking pictures of ourselves. Maybe next time... ha!

I know I posted a bunny picture last week, but this is just too cute. Thumoer will eat clover right out of your hand.


This photo makes me feel a little lonely and sad, like Max is waiting for someone to come play with him. Actually he just wanted to sit in the chairs. Even though the juggling show wasn't going to start for a good 15 minutes, he just sat there and watched the crowd.


I love this shot because Max took it. He has this thing about taking his own pictures. I really have to get him his own little camera. Some how he got the camera on black and white mode.


I love the vibrant colour of this daisy from my garden. The contrast between the fusia and yellow is gorgeous.


And this is just because I love playing with the colour option on my dinky little camera. I think it can take some fun shots. It's a bit blurry, but what the hell, it's fun.


Next week's challenge: Independence Day (we'll say Canada Day) and food. Mmm, food... Need to raid pantry...

Driving mad

If you happen to pull up along side me while driving in Ottawa, chances are I am gesticulating madly and swearing up a blue cloud in the car.  Ottawa drivers piss me off, plain and simple. 

I learned to drive on the outskirts of Montreal, so yes, I tend to be a little more aggressive and faster than most Ottawa drivers, but what I can't handle is stupid drivers.  Here's an example: I'm driving behind an SUV (don't get me started on those) and the driver (female) slows down at every single little bump and crack in the road.  WTF?!?  Not only is that a hazard (no I don't tailgate!) but it's incredibly annoying.  You're in an SUV!  SPORTS. UTILITY. VEHICLE.  Trust me Mrs. Soccer Mom, it can handle that cracks in the pavement.

Hello.  My name is Julie.  And I have road rage. 

 

The first step is acceptance, right? 

Happy Canada Day

We were supposed to be heading down to Kingston today to spend it at water's front with a bunch of friends. When the weather was crap yesterday and predicted to be worse today, we all decided that we would call it off. And this morning when it started to pour rain at about 8am, I was thankful for our decision. And then it stopped raining. And it started to get warm. And the sun would peek from the clouds now and then and sizzle you. So instead of sitting around the house all day, what did we decide to do? Head over to Parliament Hill.

If you like throngs of people, over priced food and the fear of loosing your kids, then Canada Day in the Capital is the place for you!



We mostly stayed in Major's Hill Park, where it wasn't shoulder to shoulder. We had some pizza, listened to some music, walked around a bit, tried not to loose Max and people watched.


We tried to get up on the Hill but it was impossible. So we headed home. On the walk home we saw this:


The Snow Birds passed over a couple of times actually. It was really cool. What did Max see?


The excitement had just tuckered him out. We ended the day with a pop in at our friends Meredith and Ron, which turned out to us spending the afternoon and having dinner, after playing on their home made slip and slide (using dish soap). It was a blast. Though we would have loved spending the day with our TO friends, this was a good way to spend it too.

Happy Canada Day everyone.