You win, you crazy skipping sympathizers

YES, Lisa got to go to her skipping class. Homer picked her up from the babysitter’s house and they cooked up a compromise before coming to get me: she could go to the skipping class, but she could not play Webkinz until Saturday.

So, about the skipping. We were at the Santa Claus Parade and a team of precision skippers was on one of the floats. Lisa was intrigued. She’s actually a really good skipper; she mastered Double Dutch at 5 years old. So, I told her I would look into it.

She’s in a class with an age range of 7 to 12 years old. She is the youngest in the class at 7; the other girls are all 10 to 12. She looks like such a tiny, flat-chested little thing with all these big girls.

They do endurance skipping. They do a pyramid of times with increasing lengths each week. Last night it was 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 4 minutes, 3 minutes, 2 minutes. So, a total of 14 minutes straight skipping, with a 30 second break between levels.

They also do trick skipping. Tricks they do: crossovers, backwards crossovers, can-can kicks, partner skipping (where you hold one end of your partners rope and they hold yours, then you skip together), double skips (turn the rope really fast so it goes around twice before the next jump), and other things that I can’t recall right now.

Then, they get out the big ropes and do all the playground songs and also Double Dutch. Lisa never has to turn the rope because she’s too small to get the rope over the big girls’ heads! This pleases her.

Anyway, she is good. Definitely the second best in the class (behind a particularly good 12-year-old who could seriously teach the class). Lisa’s good because she is light on her feet and has a lot of stamina. Like many of you, I would LOVE to take a grown-up version of this class. It’s a phenomenal work-out.

Now, don’t you dare start asking me about Webkinz, because this marks the end of my 7-year-old extracurricular activity tutorials. Hee.

We’ll see.

Yesterday was actually fine. The kids were in great moods, which definitely helped my mood. I finally gave in and went to bed at about 10:30 last night and slept until 5:30 this morning with just two minor interruptions in the night. Homer had to go and check on a night shift he had going at about 2:30, so I heard him leave and then come home.

This morning was not so good. Lisa gets in these moods where she is just irrational and stubborn. It was time to get ready to catch the bus and she said she couldn’t put her snow pants on herself. She just sat there in a lump while I tried various methods to coax her into submission.

There was the bribe:
If you get dressed quickly, we’ll have time to play foot hockey at the bus stop.

There was the positive encouragement:
You’re usually the best snow pant putter-oner. C’mon, you can do it. Go, Lisa! Go!

There was the shaming:
Look at Bart, he’s ready to go and you’re still sitting there whining about your snow pants. And he’s only 4.

And finally, the threat:
If I have to help you with those snow pants, there will be no skipping tonight (she takes a skipping class).

Well, I did have to help her with her snow pants and every other piece of winter gear (it’s –27 degrees here today with the wind chill), then drag her down the street, barely catching the bus. While boarding the bus, she asked with teary eyes, “Do I get to go to skipping tonight?”

My response? “We’ll see.”

The response should have been NO. I know that should have been the response, but I didn’t want her crying on the bus. “We’ll see” gives her some hope and an opportunity to think about how she might fix it. Whenever she snaps out of the mood, she realizes she was being a brat and, while she never actually apologizes, she makes up for it by being super sweet.

What will happen with the skipping tonight?

I suppose we’ll see.

I am beyond pissed…

… at my children. I finally got out of bed at 5:25 AM because I resigned myself to the fact that I had lost the musical beds game.

Maggie was having a lot of trouble sleeping the night before. She kept waking up and screaming – I thought she was having a nightmare. After the third trip to her room, I finally brought her into our bed at 2:45 in an attempt to get some much need sleep. She did sleep, but thrashed about for the rest of the night. I was afraid she would bounce herself right off the bed, so I kept sitting up to rescue her and never really fell back to sleep. As a result, I was working on about 3-1/2 hours of sleep yesterday.

Last night, I SHOULD have gone to bed early, but the kids were all asleep by 8:30, Homer was playing a computer game and I was trying a new (to me) puzzle, thanks to Shauna, and catching up on some of my recorded shows. By the time I watched the 11:00 news, my head actually hit the pillow at about 11:30. I felt like I had just fallen asleep when Bart crawled into bed with me, soon followed by Lisa. Normally, I would just leave them for Homer to carry back to be when he came up, but at some point they started fighting over the covers, pulling the duvet off me. At about 1:00, I carried them back to bed. Homer came up soon after, tried to start a conversation with me, but gave up when I groaned and told him I needed to sleep.

At about 5:00, Lisa was attempting to crawl back in between me and Homer. I asked her to go around to the other side (beside Homer), but she said she had already done that and Bart was already there. So, she continued to squeeze in between us. Now, I’m not that big, but I do require more than 6 inches at the edge of the bed to have a comfortable sleep. And so it is that I have had the equivalent of one full night of sleep over two nights.

And so it is that I’m afraid I won’t be very nice to my kids when they emerge from my bed in an hour or so. Grrr.

What’s that?

Over there -->

On my sidebar (in the green part) -->

That’s right. I’m going to tally my RRRoll up the Rim to Win winnings.

Because I am a loser and these things matter to me.

With my luck, I'll win the boat. Do. not. want. the. boat. Give me a donut over the boat.

I could do the same with my lottery tickets, but that would just be so sad.

Ha! I made it to 100!

1. I am pretty handy around the house. I can do most minor electrical and plumbing work and I don’t hesitate to take on a carpentry project. I built the centre island in our kitchen.

2. I have one coffee mug that I use at home and one that my mom keeps because she knows it’s my favourite

3. I ‘found myself’ backpacking through Europe.

4. The best thing I did for myself on that backpacking trip was to travel by myself from Croatia to Scotland, making my way through train stations, boat departures, travel schedules, language barriers and meals without my (travel) partner in crime, my best friend.

5. I played girls football all four years of my undergrad at university. I started out in the position of Centre (I was all of 115 lbs, but no one else would do it). I settled in at the position of Middle Linebacker and served as Captain for 2 years. I was actually pretty good.

6. In the last game of my first season, I tore the ligaments in my right knee.

7. While in the emergency room waiting for diagnosis of my knee injury, the doctor informed me that I also had suffered frostbite on both ears.

8. I looked into playing football after university, but any women’s leagues were for, um, bigger girls who liked other bigger girls. I didn’t fit in.

9. The only other time I was in the hospital emergency room was when I was 11 years old and got a gash near my eye. I needed a tetanus shot, but not stitches.

10. If I had to pick only one sport to play for the rest of my life, it would be basketball.

11. My greatest fear 10 years ago was that I wouldn’t be able to have children when I wanted them.

12. Now, I fear I will have an unexpected pregnancy if he breathes on me the wrong way.

13. I have always been quiet, but never shy. I hate it that people don’t know the difference.

14. I was part of the “in crowd” in high school, but was not that popular outside of the crowd.

15. I won quite a few academic and music awards in school, but I really wanted to be recognized in athletics.

16. The closest I got was the Award of Excellence in the Canada Fitness Challenge.

17. I purposely chose a university that no one else in my group of friends would be going to so that I could have my own identity outside of the one I had with my friends. That turned out to be a very good decision.

18. I entered university with the goal of becoming an accountant.

19. After two years, I chose a different business path, because I just couldn’t picture myself doing only accounting for the rest of my life.

20. Every job I’ve had has had a significant accounting component to it. People are surprised to learn that I do not have an accounting designation. Even real accountants are surprised.

21. I have an older brother and a younger sister.

22. My brother has been very successful in his career and is a nationally-ranked athlete; he’s always striving for something better/stronger/faster. My sister is gorgeous and sweet and funny; she is extremely content with whatever good fortune comes her way. My personality lies somewhere in the middle of those two extremes.

23. I consider my childhood to have been charmed. I had (have) a great family, a terrific neighbourhood, good lifelong friends, no major illness or injuries, no tragedies.

24. I always think that something horrible will happen in my adult life to balance out my great childhood.

25. I don’t wear pink. It’s not a colour I can pull off. I don’t have a sweet disposition, so pink feels stupid on me.

26. I always have a crossword puzzle in my purse, just in case I find myself with a spare moment. It’s always one that has been cut from the newspaper.

27. I don’t like the books of crosswords because the answers are always in the back and it’s too tempting to cheat.

28. I am a morning person. I can wake up at 5:30 AM, hop out of bed and get straight to work.

29. My TV obsession makes it difficult for me to get to bed before 11:30 PM.

30. I am not a napper. If I take a nap in the day, I will wake up disoriented and groggy. No matter how tired I am, I’m much better just getting through the day and going to bed a little earlier.

31. I am a list-maker, at work and at home. I wake up in the morning running through the list in my head.

32. I hate clutter in a house. Except for pictures, I don’t have knick-knacks. I spend a great deal of time tidying up and putting things away.

33. Christmas decorations are the only exception to the no-clutter rule.

34. I am not a great house cleaner. I hate mopping floors and cleaning the bathtub. Anything else, I can manage, but I still don’t like it.

35. I am not a great gardener. I always hear people saying how relaxing they find gardening to be – I don’t get that at all.

36. I am competitive. I avoid doing things I’m not good at and I practice like crazy to get better at the things I am good at. I’m secretly competitive with my kids. Lisa inherited the competitive gene, not so much Bart. The jury’s still out on Maggie, but I would put my money on “competitive”.

37. I have an irrational fear of those spiky things that you stick memos on. If it’s on the desk of someone I’m meeting with, I am fixated on it, willing it not to spontaneously poke out my eye.

38. I also have an irrational fear of the bowling balls that you have to put your fingers in. I picture my fingers getting stuck and me hurtling down the aisle to the pins.

39. My eyes are green, which is weird because both my parents have blue eyes (as did all 4 of my grandparents).

40. Two of my kids have blue eyes, the other has green, which is also weird because Homer’s eyes are brown, which is supposed to be dominant.

41. My favourite colour is blue.

42. I’m not all that into food. I love to bake, and I love the topic of nutrition, but I don’t obsess about eating food or worry about when my next meal will be.

43. If someone asks me about my favourite meal or my favourite restaurant, I scramble to come up with an answer, because I don’t have favourites.

44. Except cheese. Especially if the cheese is warm and melty.

45. I don’t drink much. On a daily basis I might have one or two coffees, a big glass of milk and one can of caffeine free Diet Pepsi. Occasionally I’ll have a glass of water, but not often.

46. My favourite cocktail is a Bloody Caesar (extra spicy), which I have learned is a uniquely Canadian drink.

47. I love to make special birthday cakes for my kids and my extended family. If you give me a theme, I can usually create something pretty great using candy and other edibles.

48. I prefer cool weather because I like don’t like wearing clothing that shows my skin.

49. I’m really pale. Pasty pale, not porcelain pale.

50. I am the disciplinarian in my house.

51. I spearheaded a very large construction project 8 years ago, so now I know more than a little about a lot of construction-related things.

52. I wore a hardhat and work boots through most of my first pregnancy.

53. I was the technical “owner” on the project, so workers on-site always noticed when I was in the building. As a result, I run into trades people who know me almost everywhere I go, much to Homer’s chagrin.

54. I also got to shop for and select more than $500,000 worth of furnishings for the building. Imagine a whole building done in colours, fabrics and styles I like.

55. My family used to do month-long camping trips every summer when I was a kid.

56. We covered all of Canada on those trips and many parts of the US.

57. The first time I ever stayed in a hotel was a band trip to New York City in grade 10.

58. My first plane trip was at 18 years old when I went to Mexico with 3 of my friends.

59. I still prefer camping trips to hotel trips. Homer, not so much.

60. I can’t imagine letting my kids go to Mexico with their friends at age 18.

61. I can’t imagine letting my kids drive at 16.

62. I am slightly claustrophobic.

63. I can’t wear a shirt with tight sleeves because I get kind of panicky about being restricted. Ditto for turtlenecks.

64. I had a dream when I was 10 years old that my younger sister drowned in my grandmother’s bathtub. It still haunts me today.

65. The dream probably explains my well-documented fear of kids and water.

66. I have a recurring dream that I am at a track meet in the 100m dash and when the starter’s gun fires, I can’t move my legs.

67. I also have a recurring dream that I open a secret door in my house (which is never actually my house) and I discover a hidden room. The room is always a 70’s basement-style family room.

68. I once went on a week-long canoe trip with my friend’s boyfriend (now husband), because she didn’t want to go and it was mostly a couples thing.

69. I discovered on that trip that I’m a lot stronger than the average gal, both physically and emotionally.

70. I have a group of four best friends. I have known one since I was 4 years old, two since I was 11 and the other since I was 13.

71. I’ve discovered that this kind of life-long friendship is fairly uncommon.

72. I once flew to the west coast of Canada to meet up with my Scottish cousin’s friend (whom I had met once), to drive back to Ontario with him and his girlfriend. They fought a lot, but all in all, it was a great time.

73. Sometimes I lose my taste for coffee and switch to tea for a bit. After awhile, I want coffee again.

74. If I’m involved in a project, I always end up being the leader. I almost never intend to be, but it always works out that way.

75. The leader thing usually emerges because when we walk away from the initial meeting I’m the one who goes back and does the most work.

76. I might be a control freak.

77. My celebrity crush is George Clooney.

78. I would like to run a marathon one day, but I never stick to the training program that would help me achieve that goal.

79. I’ve owned 2 cars in my life. Both were bought brand new.

80. I’m never bored.

81. I play the piano. I got 98% on my Grade VIII piano exam and 99% on my Grade II Music Theory exam.

82. I hate the word fart.

83. I could watch Evita (the movie version with Madonna and Antonio Banderas) over and over again.

84. My resting heart rate is really low (52bpm).

85. My blood pressure is also quite low, leading my doctor to ask at almost every prenatal appointment “are you okay? Do you feel dizzy?”

86. I have a low tolerance for crowds and lines. You’ll never find me waiting in a long line for the newest Harry Potter book, concert tickets, a great nightclub or a good deal at a store.

87. I’ve been known to drive all the way to the grocery store, get a kid situated in a cart, walk in, see long line-ups at the checkout and then turn right around and go home.

88. I am about as low-maintenance a girl as you will find.

89. I only get my hair cut about twice a year. My “salon” of choice is SuperCuts, but will go to a different one if there is too long a wait, or if I have a coupon.

90. I have 6 pairs of shoes/boots total, including summer, winter and athletic shoes.

91. I have had one professional manicure in my life and that was for my friend’s wedding. I did my own nails for my wedding.

92. I have never had a pedicure, massage or any other spa treatment. The thought of it gives me the creeps.

93. My preferred “brand” in cosmetics is whatever is on sale. Not one item in my cosmetic bag (which has 6 items) cost more than $8.

94. My favourite designer is Tommy Hilfiger.

95. I have never paid full price for anything by Tommy Hilfiger.

96. My idea of a luxury day for myself would be to be alone in my own (clean) house, with a pot of coffee, warm muffins, a bowl of fruit and a good book.

97. I like to read, but will choose non-fiction over fiction 90% of the time.

98. My favourite things to read about are running/fitness, nutrition, personal finance and true crime.

99. I am a real procrastinator, but I have never asked for (or needed) an extension on a deadline – not for school or work.

100. I didn’t think I would be able to make it to 100. Yay me!

Just pictures...

This is my 99th post, which means the next time I post will be the big 1-0-0! I've been trying to do one of those "100 things" deals, but I am just not that interesting. So, the next post may be a l--o--n--g time from now, you know, due to the pressure of it all!

Anyway, this post is just a bunch of pictures from the last couple of weeks. I haven't posted pics in quite awhile because Homer took the cable thingie to work, then claims to have lost it. I threatened to withhold sex until it came home and, lo and behold, it came home. With some expectations. Ahem.

Enjoy!

The gang skating on the sloped rink

Lisa doesn't actually need the chair. Do you love the pink skates?

You probably weren't aware of our musical talents.

Bart LOVES to sing. Here, he's doing Fabulous! from High School Musical 2.

And then there's Maggie, who prefers to dance on her drum

Have a great weekend!

1 2 3 4… tell me that you love me more.

Today it was either another birth story or a meme. Lucky, lucky you, I chose the 4 things meme. You can go ahead and thank JMC for your good fortune.

4 Jobs I have had:
Cashier at a drug store
Maintenance crew at a Conservation Area
Salesperson at a swimming pool store
Business manager for a college student union

4 places I've been:
Charlottetown, PEI
Moab, Utah
Manchester, England
Zagreb, Croatia

4 movies I've watched over and over:
The Sound of Music
Dead Poets Society
Evita
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (thanks to my kids)

4 shows I watch:
Dexter
Flipping Out
Entourage
America’s Next Top Model

4 places I'd rather be right now:
At the lottery headquarters place, collecting my millions
Home in my kitchen
Travelling Australia
Anywhere on a road trip

4 favourite things to eat:
Swiss cheese fondue with sourdough bread and pears
Warm brie cheese
Warm artichoke dip
Nachos

4 places I've lived:
Wayne Gretzky’s hometown
Home of RIM (maker of the Blackberry)
Home to the Argos, the Raptors and the Maple Leafs
My home now, within 40 miles of all these other places


4 things I look forward to this year:
My girls weekend in Chicago
Lisa dancing in her school’s opera
A new dishwasher (because I have suffered long enough)
Hearing my sister is pregnant. No pressure.

I would like to hear what these four have to say:
If you haven’t done it yet, go ahead… do it!