Hey, Mrs. Wilson!

My kids have been driving me absolutely mental the last couple days. Especially yesterday. I think it’s mostly due to the fact that I’ve spent every waking moment with them for two solid weeks. And due to the fact that I’m naturally moody and irritable, but let’s not go there. I’m used to having 25 hours per week away from them (aka being at work) and I kind of miss it. I’m not saying that I don’t love being around my kids, it’s just that breaks are wonderful. I truly believe that breaks make you a better parent. Maybe it’s just me.

The last couple nights, or I guess for the last week, Noah and I have had a ritual in the evening that has been totally calming. The kids are in bed and asleep by 9:00 pm. We put Liliana down between 7:30 and 8:00 and we wait until she is good and asleep before we put Kaylie down since they share a room and Liliana thinks it’s a party if they go to bed at the same time. And it’s summer, so we’re letting Kaylie stay up a little later. She doesn’t get into the cupboards and try to drink almond flavoring like some other kid that lives here.

Anyway, after the kids are in bed, we each spend a bit of time on the computer (we’re nerdy like that) and then at about 10:00 we grab a snack and sit and watch a movie together. This ritual started because we did not have the internet or cable and we cannot go out due to the fact we do not know anyone and the fact that we have not yet found a babysitter (due to the not knowing anyone).

This is my favorite time of the day. Watching a movie with a hot guy beside me and a bowl of dill pickle flavored popcorn on my lap with no kids around. It’s peaceful and quiet and absolutely wonderful. Right now we’re in the middle of the Mission Impossible trilogy. We’ve been staying up late and sleeping in due to the fact that we do not work. Yet. One day (hopefully REALLY soon) reality will set in and I’ll have a job to go to in the morning and will no longer sleep in until 9:00 am. (This morning it was 9:17. It was niiiiiice.)

Another great break we had recently was the visit of our friend ODB Bethany. It was so wonderful to see and visit with her. Besides earlier this week, I hadn’t seen her since her wedding in November, and Noah hadn’t seen her since our wedding, two and a half years ago.

Kaylie and Bethany haven’t seen each other in just over two years when we made a trek down south. When Bethany lived with us, Kaylie was only three, but she remembered all our trips to Wal*mart.

Liliana, as usual, had no intention of hanging out with anyone, but went and did her own thing.

My goodness I married a hottie.

Any time Liliana is snuggling with Noah or me, Kaylie has to join in. I think she’s still getting used to the idea that she has to share us with some other kid.

Liliana had enough after a while and tried with no avail to get into the building herself.

After we brought Bethany to the airport yesterday, I decided to try to catch up on some blogs. My Google Reader was still over 300, so the task was large. I started with some of my favorites.

As I was reading Dutch Blitz, I ran into this post. It blew out of the water anything I’d heard about photographing in sunlight. Amazing.

Noah wanted to take the kids to the park and he dragged me with him I decided to go too. He encouraged me to bring my camera, so this was my perfect opportunity to try out what I’d learned.

Unfortunately, the slide was not at an appropriate angle, so there are shadows on most of the following pictures. Oh well, they tell the story anyway!

Liliana is our little dare devil. She does not have any concept of danger. At all.

She decided it was a good idea to just walk down the slide. Yea, good one kid.

She also wanted to walk up the slide.

And go down any way that Kaylie did.

Tomorrow I’m back to the internet job boards. I’m hoping that by the time we get back from Laura-Mae’s wedding in 10 days, I’ll be going to work right away. Apparently it’s hard to live when you don’t have any income. I’ve applied to quite a few in the last couple days, so hopefully something comes of them.

We went and checked out a church near our house today. It started at 11:00 am, so I could still sleep in until just after 9:00 while Noah hung out with the kids. It’s a great system. While there, I got to meet a blog friend who’d told me about the church. We talked with Laurie and met her husband and adorable baby boy and we’re planning a play date later this week.

While we were talking after the service, Liliana took a face plant into a stair and now has a rug burn/big gash between her eyes. We’re hoping it heals before next Monday when she has to be in wedding pictures.

Liliana has been learning some new words in the last couple days. She’s been getting into the cupboards since we moved in and yesterday I put latches on them. Since we’ve been saying “no” to her when she got into the cupboards, she now tries unsuccessfully to open them, all the while saying “nonononono”. It’s quite hilarious. She’s also learned to sign please. I’ve half-heartedly been trying this one for a while, and tonight at dinner she finally did it. She wanted some salad, and after the first “please”, she signed please for every bite. What a polite little kid.

Kaylie and I went shopping today for something to wear to Noah’s sister’s wedding next week. I got dressed up a bit to do it but still the sales people ignored me so I should have just went in the big white t-shirt and cut-off grey sweats that I was wearing while cleaning the house before I left. Then at least I would have been comfortable while the sales people ignored me. Maybe it’s just that mall, or maybe I had a big red flashing light on my forehead saying “I CAN’T AFFORD THIS PLACE”. Unfortunately, even in the stores I couldn’t afford, I still didn’t find a dress I even remotely liked.

I did eventually find a dress, but I don’t think I’m going to keep it. It’s a bit too cleavagey for me. Although Noah doesn’t mind this fact, it makes me a little uncomfortable. I’m not a big fan of the whole dress thing. I can remember the last two times I wore one. My wedding and my prom. That’s it. But, since this is a very special occasion, I figured I’d put a little effort into it.

In addition to the play date with Laurie, Kaylie and I have one tomorrow with another blog friend we haven’t met in real life yet, Jen and Abby. Kaylie is quite stoked for us to hang out with people with kids. She’s doesn’t care the age of the children, as long as there are other little people around. Let’s just say she’s looking forward to tomorrow just a little bit, as am I.

Alright, I think you’re caught up now. There’s been a lot going on around here lately. Apparently there’s a lot that’s involved in moving halfway across the country. Noah and I got our Saskatchewan licenses on Friday, and tomorrow I’m applying for Saskatchewan health cards. Noah said it was his most embarrassing moment when he had to tell the insurance guy that he drove a mini-van. Poor guy. It’s almost as bad as his dad constantly reminding him that the only other person who drove a mini-van in their family was his grandfather.

He’ll get over it.