The Re-cap

I'm sure you've all been long awaiting this run down of the crazy week....strap yourselves in,  hold on to your hats,  it's gonna be a bumpy (and expensive) ride.

I've been very absent from here lately as we've been busy trying to finish the basement.  Save the funds by doing the work ourselves.  Mr. C knows what he's doing...I just do what I'm told.  We hoped to have the carpet in before the kids arrived,  no can do.  But the walls have a first coat of paint.  So we put some blankets on the floor and headed to Costco to buy 5 matresses.  That's right sports fans....5!  In case it isn't already quite a job and dollar to put on Christmas for 7 children,  adding beds for them....whoa.  But we were escatic that all of them chose to come for Christmas.  Both our oldest boys have been dealing with some hurt an confusion and have not spent time with us.  Big K not in the last couple months,  and T-dog...not at all.  But thanks to iPods with email,  support from their other parents and possibly the promise of Snowboarding (not as a bribe,  but just as a plan for an activity that aparantly tipped the scales in our favor) we had all of our family under one roof for an entire week.  This was very fun and very loud.  We live in a semi-detached home...meaning that one side is attached to someone else (duh). Unfortunately for them,  they decided to move in two weeks before Christmas.  Boys of any age,  but especially two 13 yr old boys, and one nearly 16 yr old...they're loud in everything they do.  Going down the stairs is a stomping ordeal,  combined with smashing someone up against the wall while you do it.  Never named the music from their rooms,  the constant kitchen use and the whooping and hollering surrounding anything X-Box related.  Then add in little boys that have sound effects for every part of their life, and one lone girl that can get anything she wants by shrieking a little.

Anyway,  you get the drift....LOUD.

We picked them up on Sunday afternoon and headed to the house of horrors to begin our fun filled week of Christmas and Festivities.  Movie night at home on Sunday.

Introducing... (poor neglected children who have to find their own food)...

Monday my kids had dentist appointments (always a fun way to kick off Christmas) and then home for a warm day hanging out.

Tuesday is started to warm up,  so we headed to our ever favorite toboggan hill.  If you have too many children,  here's how you get rid of some...

Followed by Games night,  and there you have it....not all facing the camera,  not even all that clear...but that's all of them.

Wednesday was movies,  big Kids....Tron.  Little Kids...Tangled.  Big Kids rating - meh,  not that great.  Little Kids Rating - Awesome!

Wednesday we added another child,  cause what's one more at this point.  Big boys = girfriends...so we brought home Miss K who is loved by all in our home...

Thursday,  the highlight of the week.  Snowboarding.  I took the four oldest and Miss K to COP for a lesson in the finer points of falling on your bottom end muliple times.  T-Dog and B-Boy have been once before,  so of course they were pro's.  But the rest of use learned step by step.  Even the Mom pulled of a few impressive moves.  They loved it,  L-O-V-E-D.  There's talk about foregoing a car (not that he's getting one) and buying a snowboard. 

None of me....ha ha....I had the camera.  And no action shots,  I was too busy rippin down the hill...mostly upright.

Originally Big K was going to be leaving on Christmas Eve.  So we decided to ask Santa if he could stop by our house before heading to China,  thus (yes I said thus) putting Christmas a Day early.  Big K decided to stay,  but Santa was already on his way....so Christmas came early.

I decided to not have stockings.  Reason 1 - couldn't find any I liked,  Reason 2 - I like be different.  So,  Christmas Buckets is what you'll find at our house.  I asked Miss S if it was okay to have Buckets instead of Stockings,  "Are they big?".  Seems tradition is not that important.  The Bucket decorating.

Christmas Eve....the traditional gift,  the regular pandamonium,  always fun.

And (Chinese) Christmas....cause nothin' says Christmas like Mohawk touques and mini m&m's.

One week to crazy....

One week of work left....and it will be a busy one.  I hate it when  project you figure will take a day,  maybe two,  ends up taking the entire week.  Stupid stupid stupid.  Little glitches,  little things turn into a four hour delay,  or this and that turns into another entire day of working on it.  Anyway,  project from last week is complete,  but put me behind on a massive list of  "need to finish before holidays"

On sunday we pick up the masses for a fun filled week of craziness.   The kids are all here for Christmas and the week leading up.  We have plans,  both activity and food related,  to keep them entertained,  fed and having fun.  We're also,  as you know,  frantically finishing the basement so we don't have to all sleep on the same level.  Well,  not frantically finishing at this moment,  seems that UFC trumps basement finishing.  Too bad I already know who wins...and he doesn't...and won't let me tell him,  and would be very annoyed if I blurte it out to you,  as he's reading over my shoulder.

So, 4/7 children's christmas shopping is done.  Seems it's the three big boys who are not quite there, and who are the most expensive.  When "car" is on one of their lists....you can see where this is going.  (he's not getting a car)  Little boys are easy still....Star Wars = win.  10 year old Princess...she's always very specific with lists on the fridge,  including store suggestions.  C man and I are not buying gifts for each other.  (well,  that's not exactly true,  he thinks that 'we' should get a new TV for christmas...I'm pretty sure that is not a 'we' gift) ...(I think a 'we' gift would involve a beach and fruity drink with an umberella and a shirtless 6 pack boy named Alexandro...that's an exellent 'we' gift)....(or just Alexandro)

What's on the lists of our children?  All the obvious of course,  iPods (the 4th Generation of course,  as they have the 3rd gen ones...which are now "so out"...since last year?!)  cell phones,  Paper Jamz (who thought this up?  flat,  useless guitar cuts outs that only play 5 songs...but it's on her list)  Anything Star Wars...but be careful,  cause it has to be Clone Wars...not just any kind of Star Wars.  Then there's the default...Wii games,  Xbox games,  DS Games....any type of game that fits into their brain draining game systems that inhabit every house they call home.    Interesting that this year there isn't anything West49 on the lists of our boys.  I guess West49 has gone south.  Higher on the list is Aeropostale.  Guess they're going preppy rather than skater.  Whatever,  good for the budget..Aero has better sales.

What's on my list?  World peace and elinating hunger of course.  And when that's done....well.  There's this girl I work with.  She's been at our office for 3 months....today is the first day I've seen her wear the same outfit twice.  3 months....INCLUDING SHOES!!!  Oh,  my dream life.  But as she tells me...."Remember Tiff,  I don't have kids".....dang kids.  C man adds,  I've also rarely seen the same winter coat.  (drool and whine...oh the life)

Of course she's also my height and comes in a size 6,  groan.

This holiday season is also bringing some great movies.  The Tourist looks funny,  I enjoy Johnny Depp in nearly any faculty.  21 Jumpstreet,  I love you.  Tron is high on someones list,  seems I have to watch the old one first.  (yippee)  Love and Other Drug...maybe.  Can't think of other ones at this exact moment,  but some good possilibities.  Watch the new Narnia over the weeked with the Big T (horray for big life steps!!)  Pretty good,  better than the second one that I had to watch the night before,  seems I missed it somewhere along the way.  Oh,  the kids want to see Tangled...and I'll likely be seeing Narnia again.

Holiday Schedule - feel free to call and book your slot,  hurry,  times a wastin,  available slots filling up quickly.

Dec 19-25,  unbelievable noise,  mess,  eating,  crazines  and so much fun and quality good time with our kids.

Dec 26-Jan 3 - movies,  staying out late,  friends,  time with you?  ... no kids.

We're both off for two weeks,  need the break,  looking forward to christmas with our children and being together.

Hope your're excited about your plans too.

Add to my Resume

Where have I been?

Adding abilities to my resume.

Drywall Screwer inner
Taper putter upper
Mudder
Make super messer
Continue to be a mudder

Prevous to this I was:

Electrical cord puller thru-er
Electrical socket screwer inner
Taper upper

Later this week I will be:

Sander downer
Primer-er (?)

And hopefully next week:

Painter-er (??)
Carpet Admirer (this is the only item we didn't do ourselves)

Ugh,  I'm tired-er.

I have no words....

Since we last spoke....

So much has been happening.   All our time and energy at work has been devoted to putting on the Canada's Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner.

Read full details here.

Such an amazing event,  but wow...took so much work.  55 Honoured Members,  800+ guests.  Big names,  big personalities and big big money.  Little outside my regular circle.  Pretty great though. Always interesting to be stand taking minute without your shoes on,  and watch Jim Peplinski have a conversation.

17 hour day and we pulled it off.  Then was at the office helping with lunch for our Board of Directors...and met Tony Gabriel.  CFL legend.  Very cool,  very cool guy.

Anyway...rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous is new,  and a lot of work.

Due to the big event,  the office was closed for an extended long weekend.  Friday through Monday...so we used up some points and took off on a jet plane for the weekend.  Currently typing from Victoria.

Spent our first night at the Swans Hotel. Spent our afternoon getting our bearings and checking out the scene,  which is our usual schedule when visiting a new city.  The pub downstairs had live music playing for most of the night,  which was fine...though we were too tired to go down and enjoy. 

Was a bit chilly,  had been raining during the night.

Had breakfast at John's Place which is very popular,  line up outside the door at 10 am on a chilly Saturday morning. No space once you're seated,  just like European restaurants where you're put right next to the couple at the next table,  which is touching your table.  No prob,  I always visit with strangers.  Very cool,  very yummy.

Next a bus ride up to Craigdarroch Castle,  a staple visit whenever in Victoria.  I've been here a couple times before,  this is C's first visit.  What I don't remember reading on the last visits was the Joan Dunsmuir had a net worth of 20million in 1890...that's crazy!

We stayed only one night at Swans as the condo we were renting wasn't available Friday night.  The rest of the weekend we're in The Morley,  booking through Vacation Rentals by Owner is always the way to go.  Same price as a hotel,  if not better...full fitted and furnished.  Save a little cash by getting groceries rather than eating out for every meal.  We are loving this quaint little place,  couldn't live here at all,  but a weekend get away is perfect.

Later gater's.

When Lacking...

When lacking witt and humour on your blog...simply turn to the children.

Big L - O you should share your DS with me.

O - No,  I don't think I should.

Big L - Ooooo,  you should always share.

O - No praying is better than sharing.

Huh?

Miss S - (upon arriving at a NE park)  Why did that family take a taxi to the park?

Casey - uh,  their dad owns that taxi.

Miss S - How do you know?

Casey - ummmm...

And finally...

Mom - O,  you should eat your crusts,  it will put hair on your chest.

O - no it won't.

Casey - sure it will O,  just as your mom.

O - (looks at me with suspicion)   (looks at Casey with more suspicion)  How do you know?  Is it cause you've seen her chest,  one time,  by accident?

Yes O,  he has seen my chest one time,  by accident,  and it was hairy.

Back from the dead?

Yes, it's been a while since I posted....a long while.  Busy.

The job is busy and when I get home I crash.  Dinner, veg out,  bed.  That's usually our night.

The mice are cleaned up at the office,  never to return we hope.

So...I have nothing witty or sarcastic to say,  no stories of grandeur,  nor comments on life...just a note to say "I'm still breathing,  no worries,  will be back,  but not today"

T