Hey, Mrs. Wilson!

Welcome to the first NaBloPoMo post of 2008!  What the deuce is NaBloPoMo? It is National Blog Posting Month, as in you sign up to post every. single. day. of November.  Crazy?  Yes.  Possible?  I hope so.

Without further ado, Silent Saturday.

Ya know, I have to admit that I think it’s cute to dress up little kids (like these and these and these and these and these and these and these and these and these) and take them around your neighborhood collecting candy from neighbors. I’m alright with that. Ginormous teenagers with pillowcases? Not so much.  Also, carved pumpkins can be pretty cute.  Like these and these and these and these and these.

What I don’t get, is why the deuce does there have to be the scary stuff? The ghosts, goblins, blood, gore, skulls, skeletons … things that have to do with DEATH? Is death funny? I do not see the entertainment in scaring children, and hanging someone by a noose. It’s not funny, it’s not entertaining.  I could keep going on my hatred for this stupid day, but I’ll stop.  Right now.

I gave in to the cute kids and candy part.  One of Kaylie’s friends called and invited her to go trick-or-treating (WITH the girl’s mother) and I let her go.  She had a BLAST.

After Carson (little babysitting client) left, I got the urge to dress up my little Liliana.  Kaylie has some dress-up clothes in her closet, so Liliana became Red Ridinghood.  The cutest one yet. We walked over to Craig & Jen’s, three other houses, and then called it quits.  She was enjoying herself, but her hands were ice and I didn’t want her to get sick.

When we got home, Liliana sat in her highchair for the next hour putting her treats in her basket and dumping them back out.  Putting them in, dumping them out.  Lather, rinse, repeat.  Proof below.

Kaylie got home at about 8:30 with two grocery bags full of candy for me.  We dumped out all her candy and checked out her stash.

We dug into it while we watched the Survivor episode that I DVR’d yesterday.  The age difference of my girls had been such a blessing.  I still get to do the baby stuff with Liliana, but Kaylie is getting to the stage where we can be friends.  Not ONLY friends, I am first and foremost her parent and will never sacrifice discipline for friendship, but the friend moments are getting more and more frequent.  It’s absolutely wonderful.

We chowed on her candy for a while, straighted up the house together, and then I let her stay up while we waited for Noah to get home.  I think she finally went to bed just after 10 after a last minute phone call to her Grandma to say Happy Birthday.  I have to say, I enjoy my times when it’s just me and Kaylie.  I get so much alone time with Liliana while Kaylie’s at school, that it’s nice to switch it up once in a while.

Without further ado, a bit of Liliana’s Halloween adventure, and Kaylie’s recap of hers.

Kaylie & Liliana’s Halloween Adventure 2008 from Jen on Vimeo.

I’ll give you a hint.

It’s about this tall

and about this long.

Now you can stop wondering.

Other Odes:
My dad
My mom
My brother, Nick
My brother, Brandon
My sister, Erica

Much to someone’s chagrin (not mentioning any names, but his name rhymes with “us”), I’m going to continue in my Odes to my family with my in-laws. At this point there are eight of them, so look out guys.

I’m starting with my brother Nick’s wife, Teresa.

*****

I first met Teresa during May Long Weekend 2004. She and Nick were engaged and had come up to Terrace for a visit. Since I hadn’t met her yet, my boyfriend, Kaylie, and I made the trip down from Grande Prairie to see them. It was then that I learned that she was a cradle robber.

Nick met Teresa when they were both going to school in New Zealand. Before Nick left, I did not like him very much. He and I clashed on every level. When he came back to Canada, he was a changed man. I give all the heavenly credit to God, and all the earthly credit to Teresa.

I did not really get to know Teresa until we started chatting on MSN one day a little while after she and Nick were married. I liked her instantly. I had liked her when I’d first met her, but I don’t do well with new people so she kind of scared me.

The more we MSN’d, the more I got to know her, and the more I saw what a blessing she was (is) to me, our family and especially my brother. Why didn’t we talk on the phone? Well, the phone scares me. What if there’s that awkward silence? What if I’m boring? What if she realized how truly nerdy I am?

I went to visit Nick and Teresa’s home for the first time when their daughter Eva was 5 months old. Kaylie and I enjoyed our visit so much that we couldn’t wait to return.

When Liliana was born, Teresa and Nick came to Terrace just to help me with adjusting to having another child. They cooked, cleaned, babysat, and did pretty much anything that needed to be done. In addition to that, it was nice to just spend some time with them.

The lasts visit I had with Teresa, when the girls and I went down to visit them shortly after Kaitlyn was born, was my favorite. It was fun to hang out, just the six of us girls. She gets the same glee I do out of dressing our girls alike, even though our husbands probably roll their eyes at us.

The things about Teresa that stand out the most to me are: coffee addict, great friend, and amazing mom.

I’ve loved the last 4 1/2 years of knowing Teresa and count those years as a blessing. She is a great woman of God, the perfect wife for my little (but taller) brother, and an amazing mother to my nieces. Also? I love her blog and do a little happy dance every time I see that her blog’s been updated.

Teresa, thanks for joining our family and making it all that much better!!

Remember when I said that Noah and I were going to take a picture every day for 31 days? Well we kind of failed at that.  We made it 14 days, and they were not consecutive.

It’s alright though.  I got what I needed.  Maybe we’ll try it again in November, what do you think honey?

***
Had to write this bit, since this blog is also Liliana’s baby book, but she learned to say “Carson” (the little dude I babysit) today. She calls him “Tartin”. Love it. She’s started to mimic absolutely EVERYTHING. Unless we ask her to, of course.

Let’s go fly a kite
Up to the highest height
Let’s go fly a kite
And send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let’s go fly a kite!

When I was a couple months pregnant with Liliana, I found for Kaylie a kite for a dollar at a garage sale. I told her that when the baby was born, we’d go fly it. I was in no shape to be running at the time.

Well, now “the baby” is 18 months old and we finally took the kite out.

Liliana came out with us to see what all the fuss was about. We have a huge field right by our house, which made for a perfect kite-flying area.

Daddy wanted in on the action as well, and ended up taking Liliana in early since it was freezing cold with 60 km/h winds. She was wearing a toque and mitts, but we didn’t want to risk having a sick baby.

I put together a little video for you. Let me tell you, it was no treat. Have you ever tried to put iTunes songs into Windows Movie Maker? Did you want to throw your laptop through the window too? Or throw it at your husband when he said it wasn’t a big deal? Well, an hour and a half of anguish and I finally found TuneClone. It made my day. Completely. So, without further ado, the video. You’d better friggin’ enjoy it. Sheesh.

Let’s Go Fly a Kite from Jen on Vimeo.

I was tagged by one of my Jen friends. Jen Glen. I find great enjoyment in saying her name, it cracks me up. (Hi Jen!) She just offered to have my kids for a week. She just doesn’t know it yet. (Hee!)

I am … sarcastic. Also? A woman, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a child of my Heavenly Father.

I want … someone to come and clean my house from top to bottom to give me a clean slate. I also want $200,000. My PayPal address is …

I have … the most unboring baby I have ever met.

I wish … I knew the Bible better. Yes, I’m working on it.

I know … how to drive my husband insane. It’s my best quality, although he’d beg to differ.

I hate … being late. I also hate being early, although I’d rather be early than late, unless it puts me in some awkward position.

I fear … being vulnerable or embarrassed. All. The. Time.

I hear … the Patriots/Rams game.

I crave … hot sandy beaches.

I search … for ways to convince Noah that Sunday is my day off from diapers.

I always … sort the dishes before I do them and I always do them in the same order. Bottles/sippy cups, silverware, plates, big utensils, bowls, cups, pots/pans.

I usually … remember to bring my keys with me when I leave the house. Usually.

I am not … patient. At all. Just ask Noah. Now! Go ask him now!

I miss … a couple Terrace friends, but not Terrace.

I love … going out with my family. Shopping, walking, adventuring … if the four of us are out together, that is what I love.

I never … go to bed without checking on my girls. I tuck them in if they’ve kicked the covers off, and I give them each a kiss on the cheek.

I rarely … chew gum. I’m just not a fan.

I cry … very rarely. It goes with being vulnerable. I just don’t like those two things.

I lose … my temper often. I’m working on that too.

I am confused … about HTML, XHTML, CSS, phpMyAdmin, and mySQL. Soon I will not be. More on that later.

I should … be cleaning my house and doing laundry right now. I guess I’m waiting for the “I want …” above.

I worry … too much. I have to learn to give things to the Lord and then leave them with Him.

I dream … about things that I do not want to dream about. I have more nightmares than dreams. I dream of dreaming about sandy beaches.

I tag … Erica, Chelsey, Teresa.

I think that the universe (God) (and my husband) is trying to give me a hint. In a big way. A hint that I need to get my jello-y butt off the couch and start exercising. I’m kind of lazy. Can I hear an “AMEN!” Noah?

I’ve been told by my doctor that one of the best things I can do to make my depression disappear or get better or whatever is exercise. But, who the deuce feels like exercising when you have to force yourself to even get out of bed in the morning? Exactly.

Since I don’t have time to go to the gym (besides at 6 am, and that is NOT going to happen) and I will soon be living in a winter wonderland of snot-freezing coldness that will prevent me from doing anything outdoors, I have to resort to doing something at home.

Last year, Kaylie and I got into the routine of doing a work-out video every day. She LOVED doing it with me and would use her stuffed animals as weights. Kaylie is now in school all day, but I’m sure I could convince Liliana and Little C (the dude I babysit) to do it with me. They’ll probably find it hilarious. Noah says I should do it when he’s home, but that is NOT going to happen. Sorry dude.

I have a few DVDs that I will not mention due to the fact that my father-in-law reads this blog and will make fun of me for them. (Yes you will!) I am going to try to start doing one every day. Actually, it’ll be every day that Noah works or is in school (which is six days a week), because, like I said, he is NOT allowed to watch. No way. He said I should tape myself doing it and put it on youtube. I think that people either will want to gouge their eyes out or will die laughing after watching, so that is NOT going to happen either.

On a happier, non-exercising note, I just booked myself a weekend in Edmonton in January with a couple of my girlfriends. We’re attending a Christian worship conference there that I haven’t been to in five years. The last time I went, it was with a group from my home church. On one of the pit stops, my father-in-law and a friend of his tried to play matchmaker. (Yes you did!) Awkward.

This year, two of my favorite worship song writers are going to be there. Paul Baloche and Brian Doerksen. I love singing and listening to the words of their songs every Sunday morning (and sometimes throughout the week), but to hear the songs sung by the guy who wrote them is even more incredible. Noah and I had friends of ours sing at our wedding the Brian Doerksen song that is linked. (Hi Nita!) Such a beautiful song.

I’m splitting my hotel bill in three, as I’m staying with two friends. Should be a gong show. In a good way. Also exciting about the trip is the possibility of meeting a blog friend. (Hi Amy!) Meeting my favorite bloggers is probably in the top five of my favorite things to do. Nerdy? Maybe. Exciting? Yes. Another great thing about this trip is that there will be no matchmaking. At least not for me. (Hi Ann!)

***

Kaylie and I started a new tradition tonight. Mommy-Kaylie Movie Night. She loves her Mommy-Kaylie time, and since Liliana goes to bed eary and Noah works late, it’s just the two of us. Tonight we made a ginormous bowl of popcorn and watched Monsters Inc. I have to admit that I actually laughed out loud. More than once.

When the movie was over, it was about 9pm. I told Kaylie to go brush her teeth. She objected, and said, “I thought this was our movie night!” Um, dude. It was. We watched a movie. And now it’s BED TIME! Apparently “movie night” to a 7-year-old means that we watch movies ALL NIGHT LONG. Not just yet darling. Maybe next week next year when you’re 30.

Click on the photo and it will lead you to my Flickr set of photos from their stay.

My friend OMSH finds absolutely the coolest links. Like this one.